Why Western NSW

In Western NSW, you can live your best life while growing your career at a much faster pace than in the city. Whether you choose us as part of your career plan, or are ready to use your skills in an inclusive and collaborative team, we want you to join us.
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Cowra region

Join our team

Western NSW Local Health District is unlike anywhere else. We attract clinicians with a sense of adventure and a ‘can do’ attitude, who work to the top of their scope and enjoy a fulfilling life outside of work

We promote greater autonomy and responsibility and support you in an inclusive, collaborative and caring team environment with a better work-life balance and more time for you.

Learn more about our organisation

Three regional NSW Registered Nurses smiling
Challenge yourself

Bring your purpose to life, broaden your scope and fast track your career, experiencing a broad range of interesting presentations. Be supported through training and education.  

Nurse having video consultation
Make an impact

We’re world-recognised leaders in the delivery of virtual care as we strive toward our goal of healthier rural people, close the gap on Aboriginal health and build thriving communities.

A midwife holding a baby
Shape the future

Join us be a part of shaping the future of rural health. Our world-renowned models of care including Virtual Rural Generalist Service, Virtual Allied Health and Virtual Pharmacy, all deliver care closer to the homes of our clients.


Our Employee Value Proposition

"You’re here to experience a broad range of interesting and challenging work scenarios that will bring your purpose to life, broaden your scope and fast track your career.

You’re here because greater autonomy and responsibility is your thing, your skills will be developed to reach your potential, and we’ll support your wellbeing in an inclusive and collaborative team where diversity is valued.

You’re here because we are world-recognised leaders in the delivery of virtual care as we strive for healthier rural people and thriving communities.

But the main reason you’re here is because you want to be part of shaping the future of rural health.

Sometimes it will be hard, other times demanding, but we promise it will always be extremely rewarding."
 

Incentives

We offer a range of clinical roles in unique and interesting locations. Our team need you to help them deliver our services. Join us and enjoy a range of great perks – whether it's a year or a lifetime – it will be an experience you'll never forget.

Incentives are available for a range of positions that have been identified as hard to fill by NSW Health. Any position can qualify, but they are usually Nursing and Allied Health roles in our smaller multipurpose sites.

Financial incentives
  • Up to $20,000 to sign on
  • Up to $10,000 each year you stay
  • $6,000 each year for RNs in Multipurpose sites with aged care.
Help to move and live

We'll help you start fresh in Western NSW with some positions providing relocation benefits such as moving costs and family travel assistance.

We'll also provide accommodation assistance when you get here for certain roles.

Leave to learn

We'll support your career progression by providing additional leave for professional development, so you can keep learning.

You'll get time to gain new skills to reach your full potential.

Common questions about incentives

What positions and locations are available?

Positions and locations receiving incentives are subject to certain criteria that can change over time.  AIN roles do not currently qualify for incentivised positions. View an up-to-date list of positions attracting incentives.

How do I know if it's an incentivised role?

‘Incentives offered’ will be clearly displayed in the advertisement.

How long do I have to stay?

We ask that you stay for a minimum of 18 months, that way you’ll get access to a retention bonus too. If you leave before 18 months you'll have to pay back a component of your sign on bonus.

Do existing staff receive incentives too?

Yes, if your role is deemed hard to fill then you will also receive the retention bonus according to your facility's remoteness. If you're not already receiving this, please talk to your manager.

How do I find out more?

Got more questions about incentives? You can email us: wnswlhd-incentives@health.nsw.gov.au 


Our region and lifestyle

Feeling the stress of daily life? Living in Western NSW comes with many benefits for you and your family. Enjoy a slower pace of life, become part of our friendly and diverse communities, take part in a range of sporting and leisure activities and experience improved work-life balance.

Explore our region and way of life 

Picture of a young family enjoying a picnic

Getting around and away

Fly direct to Dubbo from Sydney in just 1 hour or Melbourne in 2 hours. Direct flights are available to Sydney from Dubbo, Orange, Parkes, Mudgee, Cobar and Bourke and to Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle and Broken Hill from Dubbo and Orange.

Once you land at Dubbo or Orange, enjoy a scenic drive through Australian bushland to any of our smaller hospitals or Multipurpose Services, which will take between 1 to 4.5 hours, depending on the location.

Download our map with approximate travel times (PDF 195.65KB)

Learn more about our facilities and communities

Map of approx. travel times around Western NSW LHD

Our hospitals and facilities

We care for close to 270,000 people in our hospitals and health facilities, which include:

  • the largest rural mental health service in Australia
  • 3 major rural referral hospitals at Orange, Dubbo and Bathurst
  • 38 inpatient facilities including 25 Multipurpose Services and District Health Services at Mudgee, Cowra, Parkes and Forbes.

From large regional centres to small community health facilities – Western NSW LHD covers our vast and diverse community.

Featured facilities

See a snapshot of some of our unique facilities and learn about our communities.

Orange Health Service building

Orange Health Service

With a focus on innovative models of care, Orange Health Service is the largest rural hospital in New South Wales and the regional teaching, referral and trauma centre for the Central West. 

Dubbo Hospital

Dubbo Health Service

Dubbo Health Service is a large rural referral service, situated 450kms North West of Sydney. The Health Service has a 160 acute bed inpatient service, Emergency Department and provides nearly 200,000 specialist outpatient appointments per year. 

Mudgee Health Service

Mudgee Health Service

Mudgee Health Service consists of Mudgee Hospital, with a level 3 emergency department and inpatient beds, as well as community health services.

Bourke Health Service

Bourke Health Service

Bourke Health Service consists of a Multipurpose Service with an emergency department, inpatient beds and residential aged care beds, as well as community health services. 

Our people

Get a feel for what it's like working in our LHD by hearing the stories of our dedicated team.

5:01

Meet our Western NSW GP VMOs

Our GP VMO team talks about their experiences and support they receive to be their best while working in regional NSW.

Read transcript
3:41

Kidney Specialist James Collett, Physiotherapist Melinda Collett

"The opportunities I could get in Dubbo far outweighed anything I could get in Sydney."

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0:59

Meet Isabella - GradStart Western NSW

After moving from Wollongong, newly graduated Registered Nurse Isabella is loving relaxed country life, working in both Dubbo and Gilgandra.

Read transcript
3:54

Tim Stanley, Head of ICU , Dubbo Health Service

"Everybody tends to get to know each other and that makes it a very warm and friendly place to work."

Read transcript
3:35

Rural Generalist Nurse Training

Get an introduction to our Rural Generalist Nurse Education Program in Western NSW with an overview and the benefits of participating.

Read transcript
3:15

Dr Kate Crossley, Neurologist, Dubbo

“My proudest achievement is establishing a stroke pathway which is improving the care of patients."

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3:55

GradStart in Western NSW LHD

Our regional and rural Gradstart graduates get ‘hands on’ much earlier than their metropolitan counterparts.

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1:19

Virtual Clinical Pharmacy Service in Western NSW

Our Virtual Clinical Pharmacy Service gives NSW pharmacists access to patients, doctors and nurses in remote hospitals via telehealth.

Read transcript
1:10

Rural Generalist Nurse Training in Western NSW

Sonia is a passionate Regional Nurse Educator at Western NSW Local Health District who works with new rural nursing graduates.

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2:59

The new Western cancer centre - Dubbo

Discover the new world-class Western Cancer Centre in Dubbo which is advancing cancer care for regional patients.

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2:15

Rima – Nursing Unit Manager

A lifestyle change in Dubbo has provided everything that Rima and her family could ask for and more.

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3:39

Careers and canapes

Senior medical students and junior doctors joined Western NSW LHD senior medical specialists for an unique night of medical 'speed dating.'

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3:38

4T's Single Employer Rural Generalist model

We're leading an innovative whole-of-health approach to care in rural communities, servicing the 4Ts (Tottenham, Trangie, Trundle, Tullamore).

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1:03

Christal Ayton - Nurse Endoscopist

"Never did I think I would be a surgical assistant for a general surgeon or a nurse endoscopist - the first in NSW."

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4:06

Orange Staff Wellness Dogs

Two paw-fect puppies are making the Orange Health Service ED staff smile. Orange has initiated the staff support and wellness dog program.

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2:36

Meet our rural JMOs - Emergency

Junior Medical Officer Experience in Emergency at Western Local Health District Dubbo facility.

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1:19

Virtual Clinical Pharmacy

Our Virtual Clinical Pharmacy Service gives NSW pharmacists access to patients, doctors and nurses in remote hospitals via telehealth.

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4:44

Rural and remote nursing in Western NSW

How is nursing different in our rural sites? Hear how nursing in rural and remote areas can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your career.

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1:21

Kristy Hatswell, Physiotherapy Manager, Dubbo Health Service

Making the move to Dubbo from the city, Kristy has accelerated her career growth.

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3:25

New Dialysis Unit at Dubbo Hospital

See how Dubbo's new purpose-built Dialysis Unit is making a real difference for patients who regularly use the service.

Read transcript

Diversity and inclusion

As the largest employer in Western NSW, we understand building a workforce that represents the community it serves is vital in delivering inclusive and responsive services.

Our workplace is one of respect, inclusion and belonging. This means treating everyone with courtesy and valuing everyone’s contribution, regardless of their position, role, gender, ethnicity or ability.

We're committed to building an environment that is physically and psychologically safe for women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, and all our staff.

Our statement of commitment

NSW Health welcomes people from diverse backgrounds. We are committed to building a workplace that reflects the community we serve.

Attract and keep good people

We support our staff to continue professional development while living a balanced life.

Deliver the best health outcomes

We believe an engaged workforce delivers the best health outcomes for our community.

Promote a respectful culture

We encourage a culture that reflects our core values and respects the differences that everyone brings.

Understanding our community

We aim to have a workforce that understands the unique needs of our communities.

Our commitment in action

Our team is working on a number of diversity and inclusion initiatives that reflect our statement of commitment.

Working group

We have established a Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging working group to collaborate on, champion and achieve diversity, inclusion and belonging outcomes for our District.

Indigenous female in a meeting

Diversity and inclusion strategy

We are developing an organisation wide Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy. Find out more about our strategies and plans that guide our service delivery.

Read more
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