Overseas staff join local workforce

GRAMPIANS Health has welcomed twenty-five overseas trained healthcare workers as part of a State Government initiative that aims to take pressure off Victoria’s hospitals.

Statewide, nearly 700 people including doctors, nurses and allied health professionals have joined Victoria’s healthcare system as part of the recruitment blitz.

Grampians Health chief people officer Claire Woods said “about half” of local health service’s new workers are in Ballarat and their presence is already helping.

“The number one thing our health system needs is workforce, so this is helping us by addressing that with more colleagues and resources,” she said.

“People can get back to maintaining a sense of wellbeing and taking their leave they’ve been putting off for a very long time and hopefully start feeling the pressure isn’t as significant.

“This blitz has also allowed us to broaden our overseas recruitment focus beyond medical staff to include other categories like nurses, midwifes and allied health.”

Ms Woods said Grampians Health is looking to recruit an additional 40 overseas workers by the end of the year, adding to a workforce of about 6500.

Nurse, Pam Salvador, is one of the new recruits, having made the move from following a 10-year career at an infectious disease hospital in the Philippines.

Ms Salvador primarily works in the Ballarat Base‘s COVID ward and said Grampians Health has gone above and beyond in helping with her transition.

“When I arrived, they picked me up at the airport and provided free accommodation until I could find something myself,” she said.

“They especially acknowledged my experience overseas which other institutions that offered me jobs weren’t doing so I really appreciate that.

“Everyone’s so supportive and open to chat so if you feel like you’re not too confident in an area the other nurses and managers are always understanding.”