95bFM Labour's Andrew Little: Shortland Street to help promote nursing careers
4 August, 2022
Interview by Tuva'a Clifton, adapted by Jack Horsnell
Health Minister Andrew Little has revealed that the popular medical TV show, Shortland Street, will promote a career in nursing as part of a new government initiative. Photo: Unsplash.
Health Minister Andrew Little has announced the government's plan to address Aotearoa's health sector workforce shortage, including a collaboration with the soap opera Shortland Street to “assist with promoting nursing as a fantastic career."
This comes as the government faces pressure to allow more international nurses into Aotearoa, as the strain of both COVID-19 and winter illnesses has put pressure on the health system.
Other initiatives confirmed today include a streamlined system for international health workers to get their qualifications recognised in Aotearoa and a “one-stop-shop” for international recruitment within Health New Zealand.
Funding will be provided for overseas nurses to complete the competency test needed to get registration and non-practicing nurses who want to return to nursing but need to be re-registered
The number of of nurse practitioners trained each year will also be doubled from 50 to 100.
Little said these changes will remove many of the barriers that overseas health workers face coming to New Zealand.
“We’ve changed immigration rules to make New Zealand one of the easiest places in the world for health workers to come to."
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