WA Country Health Service is committed to growing and supporting our nursing and midwifery workforce and is proud to work with WA Government to do so.

Together, we’ve developed the Country Nursing and Midwifery Incentive Program.

Under this program, new and existing nurses and midwives at endorsed sites can receive between $5,000 and $17,000 (pro rata) paid over 12 months.

It has been designed to attract and retain new and existing nurses and midwives to work in the country for longer, with the total incentive amount paid over three milestones including:

• 10 per cent after four weeks
• 40 per cent after 26 weeks
• 50 per cent after 52 weeks

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the incentive, you can be a new or existing staff member working at any of the endorsed sites as:

• A registered/clinical nurse or midwife, nursing and midwifery manager, enrolled nurse, or assistant in nursing/midwifery in a patient facing clinical or clinical/workforce support role in an acute or community setting including population health, mental health, aged care.

• A clinical nurse specialist or manager, or director of nursing in an acute or community setting including population health, mental health, aged care.  
• A full-time or part-time employee that meets the above criteria on a fixed term or permanent contract.

Other support for country nurses and midwives

These financial incentives are being offered above and beyond applicable allowances and fully funded professional development such as:

• Support to complete a Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery.
• Interprofessional education units, including Advanced Life Support I and II NeoResus and Practical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training (PROMPT).
• 12-month Transition to Practice programs.
• Scholarship for midwives to complete a Graduate Certificate leading to endorsement for scheduled medicines with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Special Care Nursery Course Level II in a tertiary setting.
• Postgraduate opportunities in critical care emergency nursing, perioperative nursing and neurocognitive disorders in the older adult.
• Newly qualified nurses and midwives may also be eligible for the CNMI program in conjunction with up to $12,000 in HECS-HELP support.

#WorkAndPlayInCountryWA

There are many benefits to living and working in country WA. A career in country health means a broader scope of practice as well as the opportunity to live in, and explore, some of WA’s most beautiful landscapes.

If you’re a nurse or midwife looking for your next opportunity, there’s never been a better time to make country WA your next adventure.