Why Western NSW
Our nurses find rewarding careers in Western NSW, join us for a more relaxed lifestyle where you can make a difference.
We have a range of career options in nursing – from Rural Generalism in our rural and remote sites, through to specialty positions in our 3 rural referral hospitals at Dubbo, Bathurst and Orange.
Rural and remote nursing offers the opportunity to expand skills and fast-track your career. You'll gain experience faster than at larger facilities. You’ll use your full scope of clinical skills and be hands-on and practical every day.
We're focused on your development. Clinical specialties in our larger facilities are supported through transition to practice programs, with scholarships and additional leave for further study.
Enjoy living at a slower pace with more space in our friendly open community, where you can make meaningful connections.
A great place to live and work
Our region is so diverse, there's something for everyone. You can create a lifestyle where you live your best life, focusing on the things that really matter to you.
Learn about the Western NSW region and unique lifestyle.
Incentives to join
Being a part of the Western NSW team, you’ll get access to salary packaging to save on tax, Fitness Passport for discounted gym membership and free counselling services.
Specific registered nurse and enrolled nurse roles in rural and remote NSW locations may be eligible to receive $10,000 – $20,000 sign-on and annual retention bonus (amount depends on position and location).
Find out about our incentives for nurses.
Assistants in Nursing
Assistants in Nursing (AIN) are well respected, in-demand and play a crucial role in the delivery of healthcare in all our facilities.
Working as an AIN means that your days will be busy and varied. You’ll work closely with patients to make sure they’re comfortable, well cared for and will provide support to other nursing staff.
If you’re considering a career in healthcare, training to be an AIN is a great place to start. We'll support you to progress your career with training for Enrolled or Registered Nursing.
As an AIN you can work close to home and receive all the benefits of working at NSW Health including, an accrued day off a month (if full time), salary packaging to save on tax, fitness passport for discounted gym membership and free counselling services.
- To qualify for an AIN role you must complete HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance which is available at TAFE in Dubbo, Orange, Parkes, Forbes, Lake Cargelligo, Condobolin.
- This course takes 12 months to complete with course start dates throughout the year.
- When you start work you will earn $48,400 - $53,102 per annum (plus super) / $24.41 - $26.78 per hour (plus super).
Financial support to become an Assistant in Nursing
Other financial support options for rural and remote nursing students include:
- rural and remote student scholarships
- rural and remote scholarships for Certificate III study
- Indigenous student scholarships.
Search careers for Assistants in Nursing
Explore our AIN vacancies in Western NSW.
Search Assistants in Nursing careers
Enrolled Nurses
In a career as an Enrolled Nurse (EN), you’ll assist to protect and improve the health of people under your care including:
- physical and emotional care
- monitoring patients
- administering medication
- infection prevention and control
- clinical assessments
- contributing to care planning.
Western NSW ENs have the opportunity to work in a range of different clinical specialties including:
- medical
- surgical
- mental health
- paediatrics
- orthopaedics
- rehabilitation
- oncology
- operating theatres
- rural and remote
- emergency
- ambulatory care
- community healthcare settings.
Whether you choose to work in a large hospital and specialise in a certain practice or thrive on the variety and excitement of work in a Multipurpose Service close to home, a vocation as an EN in Western NSW is a rewarding career.
- To qualify for an EN role you must complete HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing which is available at TAFE in Dubbo and Bathurst.
- This course takes 18 months to complete with course start dates throughout the year.
- When you start work you will earn $60,704.55 - $65,958.93 per annum (plus super)/ $28.39 - $33.27 per hour (plus super).
- Western NSW provides an EN transition to practice program for recently graduated EN’s which is a structured program of training, mentoring and personal development.
- Certain EN positions in Western NSW qualify for an incentive of up to $10,000 when you start and an additional $10,000 on top of your wage each year. Learn about incentives and search positions.
Financial support to become an Enrolled Nurse
- Qualified students can complete a Diploma of Nursing course for free.
- You may qualify for a living allowance while you are studying full-time ($332-$562 a fortnight).
- Our EN cadetship provides a living allowance, paid employment during holidays and additional clinical training and support.
- Rural and remote student scholarships.
- Rural and remote scholarships for Certificate IV and above.
- Indigenous student scholarships.
Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse
We value the skills and experience that our Enrolled Nurses bring to Registered Nursing.
If you're an EN and are considering becoming a Registered Nurse, we offer:
- Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse/Midwife Conversion Scholarships
- NSW Health Aboriginal Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse Scholarships
to support you on your study journey.
Learn about our scholarships for Enrolled Nurses
Search careers for Enrolled Nurses
Explore our Enrolled Nurse vacancies in Western NSW.
Search Enrolled Nurse careers
Registered Nurses
Registered nurses (RNs) are skilled professionals providing evidence-based, compassionate care in hospital, the community and residential settings.
RNs support patients, often at critical times in their lives. Nursing requires critical thinking, clear communication, technical skills and empathy.
As a central role in the healthcare team, RNs assess, plan, provide and evaluate care for people with acute, chronic and complex health conditions.
In Western NSW, our RNs have the opportunity to challenge themselves, make an impact and shape the future of rural health through experiencing a wide range of presentations and working to the top of their scope.
But it is not just all on the ward, RNs also work in education, management, research and policy positions.
With a focus on education, a career in Western NSW will provide you with ongoing training and support, scholarships and time off for study, collaborative working relationships and the opportunity to develop and advance your nursing career.
Rural generalist nursing
As well as many large hospital specialties, Western NSW has a team of highly specialised rural generalist registered nurses.
Rural generalist nurses work across settings in emergency, acute care, aged care, chronic disease, child health, primary care, mental health, dialysis, palliative, and health promotion. Nurses work in small teams or on their own and are supported 24/7 by a world leading virtual care model utilising state of the art telehealth technology.
Rural nursing is nurse-led care, so nurses are a key part of the decision-making process for client care and have more influence on healthcare delivery.
Learn more about this specialty of nursing on our rural generalist nursing specialty page.
- To qualify for a RN role, you must complete a Bachelor of Nursing which is available at Charles Sturt University at Dubbo and Bathurst.
- Nursing degrees are a mix of theory, simulation lab work, and clinical placements in various settings.
- This course takes approximately 3 years full time to complete with course start dates throughout the year.
- When you start work you will earn $67,357 - $94,568 per annum (plus super)/$33.97 - $47.69 (plus super).
- We offer a comprehensive GradStart program in nursing, mental health nursing and midwifery for new graduate registered nurses to nurture and encourage them to achieve their full potential and providing role models and a supportive environment with learning and skill development.
- If you move to a rural location for your work, you can receive $1,000 for moving expenses with the NSW Health Graduate Nursing Midwifery Rural Support Incentive.
- Certain RN and Midwifery positions in Western NSW qualify for an incentive of up to $20,000 when you start and an additional $20,000 on top of your wage each year. Learn about incentives and search positions.
Financial support to become a Registered Nurse
You may qualify for a living allowance while you are studying full time ($332-562 a fortnight).
Other financial support options for rural and remote students include:
Rural and remote student scholarships.
Rural and remote scholarships for Certificate IV and above.
Scholarships while studying a Bachelor of Nursing degree including Our Rural Undergraduate Scholarships.
Scholarships for clinical placements.
Indigenous rural and remote student scholarships.
In addition, each university has a range of scholarships and grants for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students. Please refer directly to the university chosen for study.
Learn about our scholarships for Registered Nurses
Search careers for Registered Nurses
Explore our Registered Nurse vacancies in Western NSW.
Search Registered Nurse careers
GradStart
Are you a new graduate? Get your nursing and midwifery career off to a great start with our GradStart program in Western NSW. You'll develop clinical skills, critical thinking and confidence in a supportive environment. Applications open 18 June 2024.
Nursing specialities
What is a mental health nurse?
Mental health nursing is a diverse and highly specialised area of nursing practice. Mental health nurses are Registered Nurses with a recognised specialist qualification in mental health. We offer great career opportunities in Mental Health Nursing including our specialised Mental Health Gradstart program.
What to expect in the role
- You'll work closely with patients, their families and their carers to support their physical, social, cultural and spiritual needs. Your work is fundamental to the success of the mental health system.
- You'll work with clients to plan recovery, educate about mental illness and treatment and support them to talk to their doctor about mental health.
- You’ll provide counselling and strategies to deal with emotional difficulties and stress and help with managing any side effects of medication taken for treatments.
- You'll link professionals involved in care (i.e. doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist) and also to support services available from government or community.
Why Western NSW
Western NSW has the largest rural mental health campus in the southern hemisphere. We care for 33% of the mental health, drug and alcohol patients in NSW.
We provide access to a wide range of models of care, where you'll have the opportunity to learn and be supported.
Our service is a hub, spoke and node model providing a full range of inpatient and community services. Our teams work together and with partners to deliver:
- inpatient mental health care
- community mental health and drug and alcohol services
- virtual services
- specialised programs and initiatives.
To start your career we offer our Mental Health GradStart Program, which is a contemporary, evidence-based, theory and practical program designed to enable you to be an effective clinician in the field.
We offer more professional development hours than any other program in NSW. We have also developed a leadership program with Notre Dame University, which provides you credits to approximately 50% of a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing, once you finish your Gradstart year.
Internationally qualified nurses
We're looking for experienced overseas nurses who qualify to gain registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). You must either have AHPRA registration or be close to gaining registration to be considered for a position.
We're particularly interested in nurses who have triage training and ED experience. Our District provides sponsorship for your VISA and a contribution towards your moving expenses and setting up your new home. Before getting in touch, we encourage you to start your registration process with AHPRA.
Our Stories
Contact Western NSW LHD Recruitment
Express your interest in working in Western NSW.