27 June 2008

Minister Delivers Pay Increase for Nurses

NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher today delivered a 7.95 per cent salary increase over two years for the state’s nurses and midwives.

Ms Meagher said nurses and midwives in the state’s public hospitals receive amongst the highest nursing salaries compared with all other states and territories.

“We’ve undertaken many initiatives to attract and retain high quality nursing staff for the state’s public hospitals at a time when there is high international demand for nurses,” Ms Meagher said.

“Better pay and better conditions are helping to increase the numbers of nursing staff in our hospitals.

“This package means that since 1999 our nurses have enjoyed salary increases of over 59 per cent and these increases reflect the important role that nurses play in the provision of health care services in NSW public hospitals.

"Nurses are a vital component of our health system and we are working hard to build a highly skilled nursing and midwifery workforce that will meet the health needs of the people of NSW into the future.

“Since 2002 we have increased the number of nurses in our public hospitals by more than 25 per cent, with more than 42,700 nurses employed in April 2008.”

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au