Nurses and midwives can take their careers to the next level during the health workforce shortage, according to one of Australia’s leading recruitment agency experts.

Healthcare Australia national and key accounts head Dr Greg Rickard said the agency, the country’s largest supplier of temporary and permanent nursing staff, is unable to meet workforce demand.
“We can’t meet demand. Our hospitals are coming to us because of their workforce requirements. We can supply but we certainly can’t meet all demand,” he said.

Dr Rickard said nurses were in demand particularly on the country’s east coast while mental health nurses, midwives, operating theatre and intensive care nurses were also in “significant demand”.
And he said the time was right for nurses and midwives to take control of their careers.

“There are so many opportunities for them, whether it is in the public or private sector, or working for an agency, there are so many options,” he said.

“The ball is in their court. I would encourage them to be really going for it.

“When you think of the future over the next five to 10 years with all of the Baby Boomers retiring, particularly for new nurses, they will have the opportunity to really call the shots.”

Dr Rickard, who previously worked as the Northern Territory State Government’s principal nursing and midwifery adviser, was awarded an Order of the Medal of Australia in the Queen’s Honours Birthday List earlier this month for his services to nursing.

Dr Rickard said the agency, which supplies about 7000 nurses annually across Australia, had opportunities for nurses with the Defence Department and had also submitted a tender for customs and border patrol nursing opportunities.

“There are a whole range of clients who are wanting nurses in particular - they are a very valued commodity,” he said.