GradStart 2025
2025 GradStart applications open 9am, 18 June - 11:59, 1 July 2024
Click here for the 2025 GradStart HandbookHunter New England Health strives to support and nurture Registered Nurses kickstarting their career. With a mix of metropolitan, regional, and rural facilities located in coastal towns of the lower mid-north coast to the agricultural fields of the North West; our facilities offer you an opportunity to work with diverse caseloads to excel your skills while being supported by Educators and our New Graduate team.
Meet Tamworth's 2023 New Graduate Registered Nurses Benjamin Schieb and Charlotte Mills
Meet 2023 New Graduate Registered Nurse, Jane
I am on my third rotation in the Emergency Department. My advice for someone considering Hunter New England's GradStart program is to jump in and do it! Don't overthink it, hit the floor and get to know everyone. The Educators are very supportive and everyone's constantly learning no matter how long they have been here for.
Meet 2023 New Graduate Registered Nurse, Meg
I moved to Newcastle for John Hunter Hospital because it's a level 6 tertiary hospital which exposes you to a lot of trauma cases without having to move to Sydney. Newcastle also has a good work-life balance; you can drive to the beach in the afternoon, and it doesn't take you an hour to travel to and from work. It’s kind of a small country town in a big city and the lifestyle here is just very cruisy.
Meet New Graduate Registered Nurse, Steven
I chose Tamworth for a change of lifestyle and a new career path. I love Nursing because it gives you the ability to really help people and make a positive impact in the community. I’m hoping to eventually specialise in Orthopaedics.
Meet New Graduate Registered Nurse Lauren from Tamworth,
I chose to go into nursing because I've always been a person who helps others. I chose Tamworth because I've always worked in a rural area, and I wanted to expand my role, background and knowledge in a bigger hospital.
Important Dates
Tuesday 18 June - Applications open at 9am
Monday 1 July - Applications close at 11:59pm
Tuesday 23 July - Invitations to interview are emailed
From 23 July - Invite at least 2 referees to provide a reference for you
Tuesday 30 July - Make sure you accept or decline your interview by today
Monday 5 to Friday 30 August - Interviews held state-wide
Tuesday 15 October. - All applicants receive their recruitment outcome
Monday 21 October - Successful applicants must respond online to conditional offers
Eligibility
Are you eligible to apply for graduate employment with NSW Health in 2025?
You must be able to answer “yes” to these questions:
- Are you completing your nursing or midwifery degree between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2025?
Completion means the final result received that leads to initial registration as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Midwife (RM). - Will you meet all the requirements to be registered as an RN or RM with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) prior to the agreed date of your employment commencing?
- Are you an Australian Citizen or hold a visa that allows ongoing full-time employment in Australia?
Facilities
We will be offering GradStart positions in the following HNELHD facilities:
- Armidale Hospital
- Armidale Hospital Paediatric Program
- Barraba MPS
- Belmont Hospital
- Bingara MPS
- Boggabri MPS
- Drug and Alcohol Clinical Services
- Glen Innes Hospital
- Gunnedah Hospital
- Gloucester Hospital
- Inverell Hospital
- John Hunter Hospital
- John Hunter Children's Hospital
- Kurri Kurri & Cessnock District Hospitals
- Maitland & Dungog District Hospitals
- Manilla MPS
- Manning Hospital
- Manning Hospital Paediatric Program
- Manning Mental Health
- Merriwa MPS
- Moree Hospital
- Morisett Mental Health
- Muswellbrook Hospital
- Narrabri Hospital
- Newcastle/Maitland Mental Health
- Quirindi Health Service
- Singleton Hospital
- Scott Memorial Hospital, Scone
- Tamworth Hospital
- Tamworth Hospital Paediatric Program
- Tamworth Mental Health
- Walcha MPS
- Warialda MPS
We will be offering Midwifery GradStart positions in the following HNELHD facilities:
- Armidale Hospital
- John Hunter Hospital
- Maitland Hospital
- Manning Hospital
- Scott Memorial Hospital, Scone
- Tamworth Hospital
Scholarships
NSW Health offers a range of targeted scholarships to provide financial support for nurses and midwives.
Tertiary Healthy Study Scholarship Program
NSW Health offers an $8,000 subsidy paid one-off to students graduating study with employment in NSW Health in a profession resulting from their study in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Find out more at Tertiary Health Study Subsidies.
New Graduate Nursing and Midwifery Rural Support Incentive
This incentive provides a one-off payment to support relocation costs for non-local graduate registered nurses and midwives seeking employment in rural LHD locations. Find out more at New Graduate Nursing and Midwifery Rural Support Incentive
See the range of scholarships and financial assistance available from the Nursing and Midwifery Office at Nursing and midwifery scholarships and financial assistance.
Recruitment Tips
- Regardless of when you finish- apply and get on the e-list- you aren't penalised for applying!
- We have mid-year sessions that you may be allocated for.
- Consider your preferences and the order of them carefully.
- If you are looking to diversify your skills with professional development support, grab your friends, move to a regional location, rent a house together and excel your career in one year.
Helpful Contacts
For technical assistance with online applications on the NSW Health recruitment system, contact the Customer Experience Team on 1300 679 367 (Option 3).
For enquiries about locations, intakes and interview information contact the Hunter New England Health's Coordinator Justin Galvin at 0428 117 671 or Justin.Galvin@health.nsw.gov.au.