NSW budget 2024: $200m for homes for healthcare workers in the bush

More than 100 motels, houses and apartments will be bought by the Minns government to house key health workers moving to the bush in a $200 million spend.

More than 100 motels, houses and apartments will be bought by the Minns government across the state to house key health workers moving to the bush in a $200 million spend in Tuesday’s budget.

The government will purchase around 120 dwellings in regional towns to serve as a temporary home for nurses, doctors and allied health professionals who make the move to work in the bush. The accommodation can be used while health workers find more permanent homes within the local towns.

The $200.1 million program is expected to support the recruitment of over 500 new frontline healthcare workers across regional NSW.

The Minns government will look at buying up properties such as motels and existing units, as well as building brand new homes over the next four years.

Lismore and Tweed Heads in the state’s north could be some of the first towns to receive the new accommodation, with early government assessments indicating those areas are in dire need of additional frontline health care workers.

Premier Chris Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Eurobodalla in the state’s south and Lake Cargelligo in the west have also been identified as areas where more housing is sorely needed.

The length of time health workers can stay in the accommodation will differ between areas and is designed to allow health staff to establish themselves securely within the community when they move.

The money to be included in Tuesday’s state budget comes after the NSW government announced a $45.3 million spend on healthcare worker accommodation in the Murrumbidgee, Southern and Far West local health districts earlier this year.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said making accommodation more accessible was crucial to boosting the regional health workforce.

“We can afford to do this because cutting the state’s debt means we’ve cut the state’s interest bill,” he said.

“We’re using those savings to make a difference for health workers and the communities they live in.”

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said making accommodation more accessible was crucial to boosting the regional health workforce. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the locations for the new housing would be determined based on where the most need was for primary healthcare workers.

“Based on early mapping and surveying of key worker accommodation requirements, we know that it is ‘not a one-size-fits-all’ approach,” he said.

“There will be a variety of solutions for each selected location. This is about tailoring solutions to the needs of the specific communities.”

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]