by Tessa Hoffman
A $5000 cash incentive to attract maternal and child nurses to Moreland appears to be working.
A state-wide maternal nurse shortage, compounded by a baby boom, has left parents waiting up to a month to get their child in to see a nurse at some of Moreland’s maternal and child health centres.
The sign-on bonus was first advertised in July to recruit one full-time and a part-time nurse.
Social development director Jenny Merkus said the incentive “seems to be helping” with a number of queries leading to four applications from nurses who were now being interviewed.
Acting Mayor Kathleen Matthews-Ward said the council was experiencing unprecedented demand for the free service – which offers health and developmental assessments for children up to six years old and provides parents with advice, information and referrals. Read more…
