❓ (1) How often in the last three years has the Government advertised for maternity staff to work in the Gascoyne region, specifically Gascoyne Junction and Carnarvon? (2) Through which platforms and ch
AnsweredQoN 748Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How often in the last three years has the Government advertised for maternity staff to work in the Gascoyne region, specifically Gascoyne Junction and Carnarvon? (2) Through which platforms and channels have these maternity positions been advertised? (3) How many applications have been received for maternity service roles in the Gascoyne region in the past three years, and how many appointments were made? (4) What fringe benefits, allowances, or incentives are maternity staff in the Gascoyne region eligible to receive, including but not limited to: (a) Housing; (b) Relocation assistance; (c) Remote or regional allowances; and (d) Professional development support? (5) What assistance is currently provided to maternity staff with moving costs and relocation to the Gascoyne region? (6) Has the Government assessed whether the current allowances and incentives are competitive compared to other regional or remote postings in Western Australia? (7) What additional measures, if any, is the Government considering to improve recruitment and retention of maternity staff in Gascoyne Junction and Carnarvon?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
6 days
(1) From February 2022 to August 2025, there have been five regional and two open ended recruitment pools for WA Country Health Service for Midwives.
(2) Advertising has occurred via the government website Jobs.wa.gov.au, SEEK and Australian College of Midwifery website.
(3) From February 2022 to the end of August 2025 there were eleven applications received. Two midwifery appointments have been made from this process. Both successful applicants commenced in 2025.
(4)
(a) WA Country Health Service offers subsidised residential accommodation in accordance with Staff Residential Accommodation Policy and has available Rental Subsidy and Home Ownership Subsidy Schemes.
(b) The Industrial Agreement provides an entitlement to relocation expenses in certain circumstances including payment for the removal of household goods or personal effects and travel expenses.
(c) Staff in the Gascoyne receive district allowance, air conditioning subsidy, an additional one week’s leave for living north of the 26th parallel and annual leave travel concessions. WA Country Health Service officer salary packaging. In accordance with the industrial award shiftwork allowance, laundry allowance, special allowances and qualification allowances are applicable.
(d) Full time and part time Registered Nurses and Midwives accrue professional development leave and receive a professional development allowance as per the industrial agreement. Nurses working in locations more than 400km from Perth GPO are entitled to additional professional development leave. The Award also provides for study leave.
WA Country Health Service has a dedicated Learning and Development service for Nursing and Midwifery with in-house and external professional development opportunities available to staff. WA Country Health Service Midwest provides support to employees when they apply for the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer scholarships. WA Country Health Service has several partnerships with universities for postgraduate programs for nurses in a range of areas with WA Country Health Service Scholarships available for course fees. WA Country Health Service offers a paid student midwifery model for interested WA Country Health Service Registered Nurses to undertake training to become a midwife. WA Country Health Service offers scholarships for existing Midwives to undertake endorsement to become Endorsed Midwives with advanced scope.
(5) Where a staff member is not eligible for the provisions related to relocation expenses in the industrial award, assistance to cover reasonable actual relocation expenses are considered for applicants.
(6) - The current allowances and incentives are negotiated by individual unions on behalf of their members as part of bargaining. These cover all regional and remote postings in Western Australia. Government Sector Labour Relations also set rates for many items such as annual leave travel concession and district allowance.
(7) A dedicated project has commenced to improve the sustainability of Gascoyne maternity services and assist with recruitment and retention.
(2) Advertising has occurred via the government website Jobs.wa.gov.au, SEEK and Australian College of Midwifery website.
(3) From February 2022 to the end of August 2025 there were eleven applications received. Two midwifery appointments have been made from this process. Both successful applicants commenced in 2025.
(4)
(a) WA Country Health Service offers subsidised residential accommodation in accordance with Staff Residential Accommodation Policy and has available Rental Subsidy and Home Ownership Subsidy Schemes.
(b) The Industrial Agreement provides an entitlement to relocation expenses in certain circumstances including payment for the removal of household goods or personal effects and travel expenses.
(c) Staff in the Gascoyne receive district allowance, air conditioning subsidy, an additional one week’s leave for living north of the 26th parallel and annual leave travel concessions. WA Country Health Service officer salary packaging. In accordance with the industrial award shiftwork allowance, laundry allowance, special allowances and qualification allowances are applicable.
(d) Full time and part time Registered Nurses and Midwives accrue professional development leave and receive a professional development allowance as per the industrial agreement. Nurses working in locations more than 400km from Perth GPO are entitled to additional professional development leave. The Award also provides for study leave.
WA Country Health Service has a dedicated Learning and Development service for Nursing and Midwifery with in-house and external professional development opportunities available to staff. WA Country Health Service Midwest provides support to employees when they apply for the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer scholarships. WA Country Health Service has several partnerships with universities for postgraduate programs for nurses in a range of areas with WA Country Health Service Scholarships available for course fees. WA Country Health Service offers a paid student midwifery model for interested WA Country Health Service Registered Nurses to undertake training to become a midwife. WA Country Health Service offers scholarships for existing Midwives to undertake endorsement to become Endorsed Midwives with advanced scope.
(5) Where a staff member is not eligible for the provisions related to relocation expenses in the industrial award, assistance to cover reasonable actual relocation expenses are considered for applicants.
(6) - The current allowances and incentives are negotiated by individual unions on behalf of their members as part of bargaining. These cover all regional and remote postings in Western Australia. Government Sector Labour Relations also set rates for many items such as annual leave travel concession and district allowance.
(7) A dedicated project has commenced to improve the sustainability of Gascoyne maternity services and assist with recruitment and retention.
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