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EMERGENCY

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Make a new start in your Nursing and Midwifery career with our GradStart Program

Applications now closed.

New to practice registered nurses and midwives are an integral part of our nursing and midwifery workforce. Each year hundreds of new to practice nurses and midwives choose to start their professional career with our local health district. The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) GradStart Program provides you with a structured program within which you will be supported to develop your clinical practice, leadership, professional knowledge and skills.

Our region is blessed with beautiful, world-renowned natural resources, stunning beaches and lush hinterland, the climate is astounding, and our history of strong community connectivity makes us unique and loved.

NNSWLHD delivers a broad range of health services in state-of-the-art facilities, with access to general and specialist services. Staff are connected to best-practice patient care throughout Australia thanks to a growing network of training opportunities and relationships with local and metropolitan tertiary education providers.

Join us at a place that allows time and space to learn and grow in your career and in your life. 

Why choose NNSWLHD? 

High quality healthcare. Quality of life. 
We understand that high quality healthcare and quality of life go hand in hand. Our Educators and GradStart coordinators are here to support and develop your career. 

Learn and grow in your career and life. 
Join us at a place that allows time and space to learn and grow in your career and in your life. Choose to work part-time or full-time throughout your program.   

More opportunities to broaden your experience.
Our hospitals, multi-purpose facilities and mental health services are a well-balanced modern network connecting the communities we serve. We offer graduate positions across all clinical specialties, choose a program that rotates across several specialties or hospitals.

Join a supportive team, built on a culture of care. 
We care about creating a healthy work environment, where each of us feels listened to and supported. We are here to support you. Towards the end of the Program, we will work with you to find a position within NNSWLHD aligned to your preferences. 

Live and work in a place of great beauty. 
We live and work in some of Australia’s most magnificent locations, that are rich and diverse in culture and creativity.

We have a culture of learning, innovation and research, that can build and transform your career. 
Join us in a place where there are diverse career pathways and opportunity for professional development with access to a range of funded and subsidised post-graduate studies.

Applying for GradStart

GradStart is a statewide campaign that facilitates recruitment of new graduate registered nurses and midwives and matches them to a suitable position. GradStart is coordinated by NSW Health Nursing and Midwifery Office in collaboration with (NNSWLHD Our Nursing and Midwifery Service - OurNAMS).

You can apply for a position in our 2025 GradStart Program if you: 

  • are completing your nursing and midwifery degree between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025
  • will meet all the requirements to become a registered nurse or midwife with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) before the agreed date that you’ll start work
  • Hold Australian citizenship or gold a visa that allows ongoing full-time employment in Australia.

Important:

  1. Completion means that you have received your final results from your education provider that allow you to apply for registration as a nurse or midwife.
  2. You can start your application for registration with the NMBA up to 6 weeks prior to completing your studies.

To be eligible for a Northern NSW GradStart Program, students MUST apply through the NSW Health website.

For further information about the NSW Health GradStart program including how to apply and the GradStart Handbook 2025. 

Applications open Tuesday 18 June, at 9am.

GradStart Nursing Program

NNSWLHD GradStart Program offers flexibility and options in relation to where you work and how many hours per week you work. The Program offers you a permanent position with a choice of part-time or full-time hours. Most graduates will be required to work a 7-day rotating roster, including morning, evening and night shifts. Shift patterns will vary according to the unit / hospital to which you are allocated. Depending on your Program location, you may rotate through 2 or 3 units or remain in the one unit for the length of your Program.

NNSWLHD GradStart Registered Nurse Program commence in February, March, and May 2025. All graduates can discuss their rotation preferences prior to allocation.

Registered Nurse GradStart programs are available in the following locations:

                 

About the NNSWLHD Registered Nurse GradStart Program

The program includes: 

  • Online corporate orientation
  • Clinical and workplace orientation
  • Paid study days
  • Some sites offer rotations across a wide range of clinical specialties to support career development and future specialisation.

Our Graduate Nurses are supported to:

  • Reflect and identify their individual learning and development needs
  • Enhance their self-directed and lifelong learning skills
  • Develop and maintain a professional portfolio that demonstrates attainment of clinical competencies and continuous professional development

Support during the Program

  • All graduates should be allocated a preceptor to support them during the first few months of the Program.
  • We have a team of dedicated registered nurses and clinical nurse educators who will work with you and provide clinical leadership and mentoring.
  • Our managers are committed to providing a work environment that is supportive, responsive to your individual needs and designed to enhance consolidation of your knowledge, skills and attitude as a new to practice registered nurse.
 
GradStart Midwifery Program

Midwife and baby

Midwifery GradStart positions are being offered in the following locations in 2025:

Grafton Base Hospital  
Lismore Base Hospital
Tweed Valley Hospital

Rotations include:

  • Antenatal Clinic
  • Birthing Unit
  • Postnatal Unit with an opportunity to experience Midwifery in the Home
  • Special Care Nursery

We offer permanent full-time positions. Graduates work a 7-day rotating roster, including the requirement to work morning, evening, and night shifts.

Orientation and Educational Support

All graduate midwives will attend a three-day orientation to the NNSWLHD. 

You will receive an additional orientation to the Maternity Service – Women’s Care Unit where you will meet the amazing team of midwives and become familiar with where you will be working for the next 12 months.

During your orientation period you will be given a plan for your Program. You will have some supernumerary time in each new area to become familiar with the location and to allow supervision of your clinical practice in a new environment. 

As part of our Mentoring in Midwifery program, you will be allocated a mentor. Your mentor may not necessarily be working beside you but will be someone you can meet with to reflect on your practice, celebrate your achievements as well as for learning opportunities. 

There will be opportunities to attend a number graduate study days throughout the year. The study days will include the mandatory Perinatal Safety Education required for foetal and maternal safety. There may be the opportunity for additional study days depending on areas of interest and skill development. 

You can also request to attend other education sessions offered at other Maternity facilities across the District. We offer many of these sessions virtually to enable you to attend sessions without travelling. 

Your on-going clinical education and support is provided by the whole Maternity team including the midwives, Clinical Midwifery Educator, Clinical Midwifery Specialists, Clinical Midwifery Consultants and Obstetricians. As a team, we are committed to providing you with the best transition possible into the Midwifery profession. 

Contact

Helen Phillips
A/Clinical Midwifery Consultant
Mobile: 0409 751 812    
Email: Helen.Phillips1@health.nsw.gov.au

Our Region and Facilities

Our Region

Traditionally defined by Clarence, Richmond and Tweed Rivers, NNSWLHD brings together 300,000 residents residing in an area of 20,732 square kilometres.

The Bundjalung, Githabul, Gumbaynggirr, and Yaegl Nations are traditional custodians of the land covered by the District.

Our footprint extends from Tweed Heads in the north to Tabulam and Urbenville in the west and to Nymboida and Grafton in the south. It’s all about the lifestyle!

Our region is blessed with beautiful, world-renowned natural resources, stunning beaches and lush hinterland, the climate is astounding, and our history of strong community connectivity makes us unique and loved.

Live and work in a place of great beauty. Learn more about living and working in NNSWLHD. 

Our Facilities 

Our hospitals, multi-purpose facilities and mental health services are a well-balanced modern network connecting the communities we serve. We offer graduate positions across all clinical specialties, choose a program that rotates across several specialties or hospitals. Learn more about our hospitals. 

General Information 

Accommodation

There are a variety of accommodation options available throughout Northern NSW in our regional centres and the beautiful villages that surround them. For those working in the northern end of our District, those options extend into Queensland. Some of our facilities can offer short-term accommodation to help you move to our region.

Getting around the District

Please be aware that there are limited public transport options in the more rural and remote locations in our District. A driver’s license and access to your own transport are highly recommended if you want to access all that our local area offers.

Social Activities

Northern NSW is renowned for its natural beauty, from lush green mountains to our spectacular coastline that boasts some of the best surfing beaches in Australia! You will be spoilt for choice with the range of things for you to do outside work: great food, theatres, music festivals, universities and outdoor activities. We are a short drive to the Gold Coast and Brisbane when you need a big city fix.

Northern NSW is serviced by a number of airports including Ballina-Byron; Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour.

Nursing and Midwifery Honours Scholarship Program

A full-time 2-year scholarship of $20,000 is available at Tweed Valley Hospital, Lismore Base Hospital or Grafton Base Hospital in collaboration with Southern Cross University. 

The scholarship is provided by NNSWLHD Nursing and Midwifery Services, further details can be found here: 

Nursing and Midwifery Honours Scholarship Program Contact 

Debra Hayhoe
Nurse Manager, Nursing and Midwifery Education and Professional Development
Phone: 02 66230507
Email debra.hayhoe@health.nsw.gov.au

Testimonials 

 

 

 

 

Contact
NNSWLHD GradStart Coordinator: 
Narelle Al-Manro 
Nurse Manager, Nursing and Midwifery Workforce 
Email: Narelle.Al-Manro@health.nsw.gov.au or phone: 0427 646 124