TAFE NSW, Inverell Hospital partner to tackle regional staff shortages

TAFE NSW is addressing critical healthcare staff shortages in regional NSW through an innovative partnership with Inverell Hospital. The program is providing Year 11 and 12 trainees with real-world experience while easing pressure on local healthcare services.

Now in its third year, the partnership has already seen more than 20 students securing casual roles as Health Service Assistants at Inverell Hospital and other facilities in the Hunter New England region.

Unlike traditional placements, this model provides workplace immersion training for trainees by allowing them to shadow qualified nurses during their 80-hour hospital-based program. It also offers additional support to help nursing staff manage their workload.

The partnership keeps TAFE NSW teachers industry-current, enhancing their teaching practices and connecting them to evolving healthcare trends.

With health care and social assistance now Australia’s largest employment sector¹, recent data shows four out of five health occupations facing shortages in 2023², and an estimated shortfall of 123,000 nurses is expected by 2030.³

Katherine Randall, Health Service Manager at Inverell Hospital, said, “The partnership with TAFE NSW is a critical part of addressing the healthcare staffing issues in our region.

“By embedding students in the hospital environment, we are not only giving them the skills they need but providing invaluable support to our existing staff.

“The real-time support from teachers ensures students are not just thrown into the deep end; they will leave the course confident and with first-hand experience of the realities of our line of work.

“This approach goes beyond training; it is about building a pipeline of job-ready healthcare workers still in school, ready to ease sector pressure as they transition into the workforce.”

Candace Destefani, TAFE NSW Nursing Teacher, said, “Building the partnership is incredibly rewarding, because we see students grow from theory-based learners into confident and resilient healthcare professionals.

“As their teacher, I am proud to see them ready to face the challenges of working with patients and cross-disciplinary teams, with the support and skills they need to succeed.

“Through innovative teaching, TAFE NSW is equipping students with the skills they need today, helping to fill crucial roles in tomorrow’s regional healthcare system.

<sup>1. Australian Bureau of Statistics
2. Jobs and Skills Australia
3. Australia’s future health workforce</sup>

Image: Supplied.