‘Underpaid’ and now unemployed: The new challenge for graduate nurses

Worrying new reports are showing that Aussie nurses are struggling to find employment once they graduate.

An average of 1500 newly qualified Victorian nurses are struggling to find work almost five months after finishing their degrees.

Appearing on 3AW Mornings, Head of the Australian Catholic University’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Professor Beth Jacob, said that cost of living is a key effect on less positions being available.

Press PLAY to hear why so many nurses are struggling

“The reality is that the health boards have not put on extra people in hospitals to help train us,” 3AW caller Penny said, with the drop in demand for nurses since COVID now taking full effect.

Many of these recent graduates chose to study following the state government’s offer to wipe the cost of nursing and midwifery degrees, an initiative that was supposed to assist in boosting Victoria’s staffing at state hospitals.

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