❓ Hon Nick Goiran's question seeks data on nursing numbers, shortfalls, recruitment efforts, and spending in WA. The answer provides FTE numbers, vacancy details, recruitment strategies, and recent expenditure.
AnsweredQoN 539Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to all references to employees on pages 313-320 of Budget Paper No.2, Volume 1, and I ask: (a) what are the current nursing numbers in: (i) Metropolitan Western Australia (WA); and (ii) Regional WA; (b) what is the current shortfall in nursing numbers in: (i) Metropolitan WA; and (ii) Regional WA; (c) what numbers are currently being sought by way of recruitment: (i) locally; (ii) interstate; and (iii) overseas; and (d) what is the current recruitment spend for nurses?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health
Response time
6 days
(a)
15,625 full time equivalent (FTE) in the metropolitan area and 4,381 FTE for Regional WA as at August 2025.
(b)
Vacancy rates are a point in time figure which occur for a range of reasons, including
Retirement and changes to positions. WA Health continues to deliver a range of recruitment
strategies including attraction and retention initiatives.
Current Health Service Provider (HSP) direct care front line nurse vacancy as FTE, is as follows: Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) 57.4 FTE; North Metropolitan Health Service (NMHS) 338.83 FTE; South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) 214.34 FTE and East Metropolitan Health Service (EMHS) 75.9 FTE; WA Country Health Service (WACHS) have 208 FTE nurse vacancy.
(c)
WA Health Service Providers (HSPs) recruit to nursing vacancies through targeted recruitment drives and recruitment pools advertised via the WA Government Jobs website, which is available globally. HSPs do not have a set FTE target for local, international or overseas nurses. Recruitment is merit based and WA Health recruits to fill all vacancies.
(d)
For total recruitment spend for nurses from 1 July 2025 to 1 September 2025 across WA Health was $38.389.
15,625 full time equivalent (FTE) in the metropolitan area and 4,381 FTE for Regional WA as at August 2025.
(b)
Vacancy rates are a point in time figure which occur for a range of reasons, including
Retirement and changes to positions. WA Health continues to deliver a range of recruitment
strategies including attraction and retention initiatives.
Current Health Service Provider (HSP) direct care front line nurse vacancy as FTE, is as follows: Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) 57.4 FTE; North Metropolitan Health Service (NMHS) 338.83 FTE; South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) 214.34 FTE and East Metropolitan Health Service (EMHS) 75.9 FTE; WA Country Health Service (WACHS) have 208 FTE nurse vacancy.
(c)
WA Health Service Providers (HSPs) recruit to nursing vacancies through targeted recruitment drives and recruitment pools advertised via the WA Government Jobs website, which is available globally. HSPs do not have a set FTE target for local, international or overseas nurses. Recruitment is merit based and WA Health recruits to fill all vacancies.
(d)
For total recruitment spend for nurses from 1 July 2025 to 1 September 2025 across WA Health was $38.389.
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