BENDIGO Health has welcomed a state government initiative that will gift $3000 to staff working in public hospitals and ambulance services.
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Chief executive officer Peter Faulkner said the organisation welcomed any initiatives that supported staff who had worked tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's been a challenging period for staff which will continue through the winter months with high levels of respiratory illness already prevalent in our community," he said.
The Victorian government funds announced on Thursday are aimed at supporting the sector as it prepares for its busiest winter yet.
The healthcare worker winter retention and surge payments make up part of a $353 million package and, alongside other practical help like free meals, will seek to retain and attract critically important staff.
The payments will also be provided to thousands of staff working in the vital non-clinical roles of cleaning, food services and laundry services.
Premier Daniel Andrews said this was just one way to recognise and support the efforts of the people who were "our health system's greatest asset". He said the work for the sector was not over as staff continued to perform under unprecedented pressure.
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Parliamentary Secretary for Health Steve McGhie added: "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".
The financial measures are designed to improve the day-to-day working environment for workers on the frontline.
To be eligible for the funds, staff need to be employed by a public health service by July 1 and still be employed on September 30.
One payment will be made after August 15, while a second will be made after September 30.
There will also be an added attraction for new staff, with those who join between July 1 and September 30 eligible for a pro-rata payment.
Free meals for night-shift workers from July until the end of the year are another incentive to keep health services adequately staffed and supported.
A further 7000 workers will be brought on under the $12 billion pandemic repair plan joining more than 440 international workers who have entered the public hospital system since August, 2021.
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