Those are the words of state Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy, discussing a Liberal and Nationals state election pledge to invest $40 million over four years to help attract and retain the health workers regional communities need.
Under the Victorian Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme, eligible doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals who take up hard-to-fill positions in rural and regional Victoria would receive incentives of up to $10,000.
These incentives include support for relocation, accommodation and professional development.
Mr McCurdy said workforce shortages continued to put pressure on local health services and the people who relied on them.
“Our local health workers do an incredible job, but we cannot keep asking them to do more with less,” the Nationals MP said.
“Across Ovens Valley, we need to make sure our hospitals and health services can attract the doctors, nurses and allied health professionals needed to provide the care our communities deserve.
“This is about giving health professionals a genuine reason to choose a career in regional Victoria and making sure local families can access quality healthcare without having to leave the region.”
The scheme will target communities experiencing the most severe workforce shortages and is modelled on a successful NSW program.
Housing will also form an important part of the plan, with the Liberals and Nationals committing to incorporate accommodation for health workers into suitable new regional hospital developments.
Mr McCurdy said attracting workers to the regions was only part of the challenge; keeping them there was just as important.
“We need to give people a reason to come to Ovens Valley, but we also need to give them a reason to stay,” he said.
“People living in regional Victoria deserve access to the same quality health and mental health services as those living in metropolitan Melbourne.”
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