The Victorian Government will deliver $3000 surge payments to frontline health workers to recognise the work they do to protect the community.
The sector is battling burnout after two years of heightened response to the pandemic.
The Healthcare Worker Winter Retention and Surge Payment is designed to support and help attract and retain critically important staff.
The $353 million package will offer payments of $3000 to all staff working in public hospitals and ambulance services — including nurses, midwives, doctors, allied health professionals, paramedics, ward clerks and patient services assistants.
Thousands of health staff in both clinical and non-clinical roles who have also been working under immense pressure in roles critical to the functioning of our health system will receive the payment, including those working in cleaning, food services and laundry services.
“Our people are our health system’s greatest asset and this is just one way for us to recognise and support their efforts and ensure nurses, doctors, paramedics, allied health and support staff are there when we need them most,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
In response to the challenges health services face in filling night shifts, the package will also include free meals for workers who put their hands up to work overnight from July until the end of the year.
The government said the package wouldn’t end the ongoing workforce challenges but instead represented a modest but meaningful way to support and retain healthcare workers within the public system.
“We know the next few months will be tough for our hospitals and paramedics as they continue to battle COVID, the flu and increasing demand. These measures are designed to improve the day-to-day working environment for workers on the front line,” Parliamentary Secretary for Health Steve McGhie said.
To be eligible for the full package, workers will need to be employed by a public health service by July 1 and still be employed on September 30. The payments will be made in two rounds, one after August 15 and one after September 30.
Those who start between July 1 and September 30 will be eligible for a pro-rata payment, providing an added incentive to attract staff to public hospitals.