Workers flock to Victoria amid pressure on state’s healthcare system

International healthcare workers are flocking to one Aussie state as the government splashes cash to incentivise staff to remain in the system. 

Hundreds of international healthcare workers have relocated to Victoria in the past year, in what has been heralded as a major boost for the state’s hospital system.

Doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals have been recruited over the past year from overseas to help ease pressure on Victoria’s public system.

Premier Daniel Andrews said almost 700 workers have arrived in the state in the last year alone from Ireland, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, New Zealand, the Philippines and the United States, with one in five working in a regional area.

Almost 700 healthcare workers have arrived in Victoria over the past 12 months. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Almost 200 have accessed the Andrews’ government’s travel allowance scheme to help with relocation costs, benefiting those moving to metro areas $10,000 and regional areas $13,000.

“People are our healthcare system’s greatest asset, and as demand for care continues to rise, the biggest support we can give our healthcare workers is an extra set of hands.” Premier Andrews said.

“Our health system continues to see record demand and our recruitment blitz is making a big difference on the ground, helping provide the timely, world-class care that every Victorian deserves.”

Government pushes to hire 2000 extra workers form abroad mid-2023. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

In an effort to keep workers in the sector, the state government rolled out an initiative to include $3,000 payments for staff working in public hospitals and ambulance services.

The state is pushing to hire an extra 2000 staff from abroad by mid 2023 to make up for a shortfall of 7000 staff.

The opening of the international borders after the Covid-19 closures has meant interest from other countries has grown, with many workers “keen to experience the Australian way of life”.

Originally published as Workers flock to Victoria amid pressure on state’s healthcare system