To kick start another year of international healthcare recruitment, ICE Group’s Director Margaret Cox made the exciting journey over to Australia, to visit the local health districts in New South Wales (NSW) that we are fortunate to work with.
Adventure 1 – Visiting the legendary outback city of Broken Hill
Known as the Silver City, Broken Hill is Australia’s first heritage-listed city, rich with history, culture, Aboriginal heritage, and a vibrant artistic community.
Even 30 years on from the release of the classic Australian film ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’, Broken Hill is also home to a thriving drag scene featuring drag bingo nights at The Palace Hotel and the annual Broken Heel Festival.
To top it all off, you will also find great coffee, delicious food, and large country pubs – all under a diamond-studded night sky. As Margaret found out from Natasha an RN, who started recently in Broken Hill Emergency Department, you can even get your eyelashes done after you finish work!
There is no shortage of outdoor activities or unique areas to explore when you live in this part of outback NSW. You can visit Mutawintji National Park and learn about the sacred hand stencils of local Aboriginal communities or see the ultra-fast mob of Emus known to the area. You could head to the historic town of Silverton and visit the spectacular Mundi Mundi Plains or you could take a road trip to the Corner Country, where the landscape and wildlife are epic and endless.
Far West Local Health District – “Excellence in rural and remote health”
Broken Hill sits in the Far West Local Health District (Far West LHD), which is geographically the second-largest local health district in NSW. Broken Hill is just one of many locations in this region, with Wilcannia, Balranald, Menindee, and others sharing the beautiful landscapes that make up the Far West.
Across both regional centres and remote locations, Far West LHD has hospitals and multipurpose facilities, offering an extensive range of services including emergency, mental health, and allied health services. Far West LHD also partners with major Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne hospitals for those who require high-level specialist care.
While in the Far West, Margaret met with members of the workforce team, as well as some of the Nurse Unit Managers in the ICU, Maternity and ED at Broken Hill Base Hospital. Margaret commented
“I really felt a huge sense of professionalism from the nursing team at Broken Hill. You could really see the commitment to the region and their love of their job from everyone I met while visiting the Far West, especially the MPS’s”
Opportunities at Far West LHD
Broken Hill Hospital is seeking nurses with a background in:
- Medical/surgical
- ICU and critical care
- NICU
- Maternity
- Paediatrics
- Mental health
- Sub-acute/rehabilitation
- Dialysis
- Theatre.
There are also vacancies available at Balranald and Wilcannia Multipurpose Service locations, who are seeking medical, emergency and aged care nurses.
Career Benefits and Incentives on Offer
You will be trained to provide high-quality care to rural and remote communities and learn to respond to situations not experienced in a city or regional setting. Work with Far West LHD is varied and challenging but the lifestyle is like no other, a truly unique Australian adventure with a tight-knit friendly team and community.
Far West also offer:
- Free accommodation for up to 12 months.
- $10,000 AUD payment on completion of 12 months, of full-time employment with Far West LHD.
- Reimbursement of the cost of primary applicant visa after commencement.
- Travel expenses from Sydney paid for.
- Opportunities to work with Sydney Local Health District, thanks to a partnership with the Far West LHD.
“It was such a great experience working with Jessie and the team at ICE Group. They made my transition to Broken Hill so easy by helping every step of the way. I settled in very quickly and I am loving working in the Emergency Department with a wonderful group of nurses. The genuine welcome I received was so nice, it really made the move to Australia all that bit easier.” – Natasha
Interested? Here is what to do next!
- Submit your CV via our website or email us at nurse@icegroup.ie
- We will contact you to discuss your experiences and opportunities that may be suited to you.
- Meet online with a hospital in the Far West if your CV is shortlisted.
- Move to Australia! With our ongoing support.
Learn more about the Far West:
- Far West LHD on YouTube
- Far West LHD – NSW Health
- Visit Broken Hill
- Love the Far West
