GradStart in Western NSW

The first year's experience in the Western NSW LHD GradStart program is clear:

• Choose from 15 specialty pathways or tailor a pathway to suit your career passions.
• Curated pathways provide exposure to many different situations and presentations to learn and to practice more skills.
• If you're not sure what to specialise in, our general pathway, Rural/Base pathway and WNSWLHD/Justice Health pathway give you a variety of interest areas to explore.
• Specialty Mental Health Drug & Alcohol (MHDA) pathway, with experience in community, inpatient, and drug and alcohol special services. Western NSW LHD is the only District in NSW where completed GradStart year accrues credits for 50% of a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health (course fees valued at around $10,000).
• If you want to change your specialty pathway once you have started your GradStart year, you can discuss with your facility manager other options or pathways within that facility.

There are up to three GradStart start dates in WNSWLHD,  February, June and September.  Please see the location information to see when your preference starts.

Western NSW has a unique support structure to help graduates succeed and stay. 

Our preceptors are trained to support you as a person, not solely focusing on your skills. 

Mentoring is also available and offers further enhancement of skill level, problem analysis and strategic thinking to promote professional and personal growth and boost self-confidence. 

There is regular debriefing for both the nurse and the nursing team to discuss the actions and thought processes involved in clinical situations.

• A GradStart nurse in Western NSW, gets to see more, learn more and do more in a place where every day is different.  
• Spend less time observing and more time hands-on, so your skills and confidence will develop quickly. 
• The wide variety of presentations at Western NSW LHD hospitals, gives you the opportunity to learn as well as master your skills and build a highly desirable portfolio of practice. 
• As well as a minimum of four paid study days per year, accessible educators provide many learning occasions both virtually and in person. 
• In a smaller team and cohort you'll have many opportunities to make a difference.

First nations people make up 13% of our region's population. Our LHD has the largest professional cohort of any health district in NSW, with just over 5% of our workforce identified as Aboriginal and 32 Aboriginal Health Practitioners. 

We have a strong commitment and programs in place, to close the gap in health outcomes and your work will contribute to this goal, every day. 

GradStart orientation and certain learning modules are undertaken as a group, so you get to meet and build friendships with your peers. If you want to be placed for your GradStart year with a friend, let us know and we can accommodate your request, especially at a Multipurpose Service.

With a greater than average proportion of disadvantaged people, many with chronic conditions that are more advanced when presented, you are able to make a real difference – quickly.  In our rural MPS sites you get to manage the patient journey, working with a multidisciplinary team and experience the satisfaction of supporting your patients from admission to discharge.  You really do get to see the results of your work and be appreciated for your care.

GradStart nurses working in a Multipurpose Service are eligible for up to $20,000 in rural workforce incentives. After 12 months, retention incentives of up to $10,000 annually is paid pro-rata at MPS locations. Several locations have facility accommodation available and the cost of living in rural locations is lower, which helps you to save and get ahead. 

Please note accommodation is not available at all facilities and you must contact the facility manager to confirm availability.

Choosing an MPS for your GradStart year, does not limit you to small hospitals for the rest of your career.  Large hospitals value the broad training provided in an MPS GradStart year and you will be very employable – especially in critical care areas.

Working at an MPS site you will learn, acute care, ED and geriatric medicine, chronic care, managing a deteriorating patient and how to use Australia’s leading virtual health technology.

GradStart positions in Western NSW LHD are permanent positions. GradStart nurses move easily into year two structured support, with study opportunities, scholarships and specialised pathways.  Working at an MPS site means you'll be trained in Triage and ALS, which is usually learnt in year 5, and at a base site (Orange, Dubbo, Bathurst) you can fast track to Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nurse Educator or management positions.

For the last two years Western NSW LHD GradStart nurses have won the prestigious NSW Health 'New to Practice Nurse' award - a state-wide honour.  Will you be next?

• 2023 NSW Health 'New to Practice Nurse' winner - Garima, Coonabarabran Health Service
• 2022 NSW Health 'New to Practice Nurse' winner - Stacey-Lee, Gilgandra Multipurpose Service

Consult the 2025 GradStart handbook for more detailed information about the application process.

• Gradstart 2025 applications open:  18 June.   GradStart: - Careers in nursing and midwifery
• Gradstart 2025 applications close: 1 July
• Interview invitation:  23 July by email.  You must accept/decline by 30 July.
• Interviews: 5 - 30 August
• Recruitment outcome:  15 October by email
• If successful, acceptance deadline:  21 October

Eligibility conditions are outlined in the 2025 GradStart Handbook. You require two clinical references as part of the GradStart selection process.

If eligible but no position vacant: you will be placed in the 'eligible applicants bank' (EAB) and be contacted by phone by interested LHDs who may offer you a position.  Applicants on the EAB will be contacted from 28 October 2024.  The EAB will remain open until August 2025.

If you haven't heard from us, you can always get in touch by emailing WNSWLHD-GradRecruitment@health.nsw.gov.au  We are very keen to hear from you!

If you decline an offer made by one of your facility preferences, you will no longer be eligible for future offers. 

If you decline an offer made from a facility outside of your preferences, the you are eligible for one further position offer. If you decline a second offer, there will be no further offers. 

Registered Nurses in their GradStart year are covered under the Nurses and Midwives (state) Award 2023

• Pay rate: $1342.50/ per week or $35.33/ per hour.
• Penalties:Sat 150% | Sun 175% | Pub Hol 200% | PM shift 10-12.5% | Night shift 10-15%
• Overtime (O/T) 10+ hours: Mon-Sat +150% first 2 O/T hours then +200%.  Sun +200% for all O/T hours
• Holidays & sick leave:  Entitlements as per the award

Several facilities provide accommodation for GradStart nurses, you pay the award rate of $98/week.  

You need to organise this with the Health Service Manager of your facility. See also location information.

Download the WNSWLHD GradStart pathway options by location (PDF 133.35KB), for details of the specialties available for GradStart in 2025 in Western NSW Local Health District.

Additional information

• Incentives – additional financial incentives are offered for all MPS sites, Cobar Hospital and Canowindra Soldiers Memorial Hospital.
• Length of placements – Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo only accept 12 month placements, all other locations can be either 6 or 12 months.
• Part-time placements – offered in Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo only.
• Intake dates – All sites offer placements starting in February & June.  Dubbo and Orange also offer placements starting in September.
• Accommodation – may be available at all locations (some only short team), however this is subject to availability and details would need to be discussed with the relevant facility manager.

The GradStart application website can be a little confusing.  

To make it easier for you to select the option that works best for you, we have created the below table.