Scheme to support rural nurses to gain training

Rural nurses and midwives will be supported in undertaking further training.

Nurses and midwives will be supported in undertaking further training away from their place of employment under the Nursing and Allied Health Rural Locum Scheme.

The scheme, to be managed by Aspen Medical, will also play a role in workforce retention in rural areas.

Part of the federal government’s national health reform agenda, the NAHRLS has been established to enable rural nurses, midwives and eligible allied health professionals, including dental health professionals, to take short-term leave from their positions in rural Australia in order to access Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Aspen Medical will recruit and support suitable health professionals as locums to assist in the continuing service delivery in these rural practices while the rural health professionals take leave for CPD.

“Rural health professionals often face barriers to accessing CPD. This scheme
enhances and supports CPD access for those that might not otherwise have had the chance to undertake further training away from their place of employment.”

The NAHRLS has now opened its first round applications for locum support. Applications close June 24 for CPD activities to be undertaken from July 1 to September 30, 2011.

To apply for locum support, health professionals need to complete an online application and NAHRLS will find a suitable locum for their workplace during the period of CPD. The scheme supports all locum recruitment, travel and accommodation costs. Organisations can also apply for locum support for their staff.

Those interested in working as a locum in rural Australia are also encouraged to apply, with a number of incentives offered.

Go to www.nahrls.com.au.

Get the news delivered straight to your inbox

Receive the top stories in our weekly newsletter Sign up now