Why work in NSW?
New South Wales (NSW) is probably best known for its iconic capital city, and while Sydney may be spectacular there’s a whole lot more to this state than you might think.
Did you know?
- NSW’s Snowy Mountains receive more snow than Switzerland
- NSW has the second largest fleet of taxis in the world
- Mining town Broken Hill was featured in the film ‘Mad Max’
- Crocodile Dundee himself was born in Lightning Ridge, NSW
NSW lies on the east coast of Australia and is a major global and Asia-Pacific cultural hub. As Australia's oldest and most cosmopolitan state, it is also home to a diverse population of 7.3 million people.
Lying in a temperate zone the climate is generally free from extremes, with temperatures usually ranging between 12°C and 21°C and an average rainfall of 1,138mm.
Boasting vibrant cities, pristine beaches and stunning mountain scenery, as well as the awe-inspiring outback, NSW is Australia’s ‘First State’ and one of the most varied and unique places in the world.
New South Wales is perfect for dynamic individuals with a real sense of adventure who are not afraid of a challenge! The rural and regional parts of New South Wales can be far more fast paced and exciting than their Metropolitan counterparts, giving Doctors a much broader scope of practice due to the lack of medical specialists and specialist clinics outside of larger cities. As a result, you will find that hospitals based in rural areas have access to more facilities and can often achieve more in much shorter timescales. You will also find a high level of positive collaboration and multidisciplinary support. Working in rural areas will also give you the opportunity to practice Indigenous Medicine, with Aboriginal health covering not only the physical well-being of an individual but also the social, emotional and cultural well-being of the whole Community.
Countryside and coastal regions
Country NSW itself is criss-crossed with food and wine trails and touring routes amidst beautiful natural landscapes while the outback boasts a mix of vast national parks, quirky towns, a thriving arts scene, rich and lasting Aboriginal heritage and the awe-inspiring magic of the desert. There’s also the Snowy Mountains, offering a year-round destination for winter sports and summer hiking.
The North Coast of NSW provides a taste of classic Aussie surf culture with great beaches and a relaxed lifestyle, as well as the beautiful and unique, World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island. Meanwhile the South Coast has a collection of stunning natural treasures, including more than 30 national parks, marine parks and reserves.
Working in regional and rural Australia is not just a job – it’s a way of life! This is not to say that it’s an isolated life though, you would be an integral member of a friendly and thriving local community.
Seven Local Health Districts (LHDs) cover rural and regional NSW, below is just a flavour of some of the hospitals contained within them:
Far West - Broken Hill is a Regional Referral Hospital with 88 beds.
Hunter New England - John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle is a Tertiary Referral Hospital with 550 beds and Tamworth Hospital is a Rural Referral Hospital with 282 beds.
Mid North Coast - Coffs Harbour is the Regional Centre for Health Services with 208 beds and Port MacQuarie is an Acute Major Rural Referral Hospital with 161 (currently undergoing a major redevelopment which to be opened in 2015).
Murrumbidgee - Wagga Wagga Hospital is the largest Rural Referral hospital in the region with 220 beds.
Northern NSW - The Tweed Hospital is a Regional Referral hospital and the most Northerly Healthcare facility in NSW with 220 beds.
Southern NSW - Goulburn is a District Hospital with 280 bed and Queanbeyan Hospital is a District Hospital with 55 beds.
Western NSW - Orange Health Service is the amalgamation of Orange, Bathurst and Bloomfield Facilities and, upon completion, will have capacity for 450 beds.
Sydney and surrounding areas
Sydney is home to two of the most well-known structures on the planet, in the shape of its iconic Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, as well as the world famous Bondi Beach, Sydney is renowned for its beauty as well as the high quality of life it offers.
Brimming with history, nature, culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design, the city has a dynamic, multi-cultural environment, enhanced by miles of ocean coastline and sandy beaches, making it a haven for city slickers, culture vultures and laid back surfer types alike.
A range of other natural attractions surround Sydney - from stunning wine regions in the Hunter Valley and Southern Highlands, to beaches on the Central Coast and around Wollongong and spectacular World Heritage national parks in the Blue Mountains and at Barrington Tops, so combining city life with country pursuits couldn’t be easier.
Eight Local Health Districts (LHDs) cover the Sydney metropolitan region and we’ve highlighted some of the hospitals within each:
Central Coast - Gosford Hospital is the largest Public Hospital with 484 beds.
Illawarra Shoalhaven - Shoalhaven Hospital is a District Memorial Hospital with 96 beds and Shellharbour Hospital is the major District Hospital with 75 beds.
Nepean Blue Mountains - Nepean is a Teaching Hospital with 420 beds.
Sydney - The Royal North Shore is a major Public Teaching Hospital with 740 beds and St George’s Hospital is a Tertiary Referral Hospital with 547 beds. Liverpool is the largest hospital in New South Wales and one of the leading Trauma Centres in Australia with 855 beds while Westmead is a Major Tertiary Hospital located on one of the largest health campuses in Australia with 975 beds.
So, are you looking for a challenge? The opportunity to gain a better work/life balance? A five minute commute to work in the glorious sunshine? Better access to a broader range of medicine and excellent facilities in some of the most amazing countryside you’ll ever see? Then this is your chance to have it all.
Head Medical are proud to be chosen as an approved PORA supplier to New South Wales Government Health.
Photo credit - Broken Hill scuplture image courtesy of Lauren Cameo / Shutterstock.com