Nearly 200 healthcare professionals across NSW have made a temporary tree change and accepted short term positions in the bush, as part of the NSW Health Deployment Program.
To date, more than 1,000 deployments have been completed, giving healthcare professionals the opportunity to travel and work in regional, rural and remote parts of NSW they may never have visited, with accommodation and travel costs covered.
The program offers positions of between two and 13 weeks across a range of priority roles including nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech pathology, physiotherapy and more.
One of those to benefit from the program is Speech Pathologist Emma.
After several years working in metropolitan health services Emma was ready for a change. Since joining the program in 2024, Emma has completed eight deployments across NSW, including Narrabri, Griffith, Broken Hill, Tumut, Port Macquarie and Inverell.
One of the most unexpected outcomes of deployment was meeting her partner, Issa, during a placement in Griffith in 2024. Issa also joined the Deployment Program in September 2025.
The Minns Labor Government has introduced a broad suite of reforms to further strengthen and rebuild the state’s health workforce including:
- Abolishing the wages cap and delivering the largest wage increase to healthcare workers in a decade;
- Implementing safe staffing levels in our emergency departments;
- Saving 1,112 nurses which the Liberal Government planned to sack; and
- Supporting our future health workforce by providing them with study subsidies
For more information on the NSW Health Deployment Program, including details on how to apply, visit the NSW Health website.
Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
“This is an important program that is providing much-needed support to our hardworking health staff in rural and regional NSW, in hospitals or health services where they are most needed.
“For many regional communities, deployment clinicians mean they can access services locally instead of travelling long distances.”
“By applying their skills and experiences, these health professionals have the opportunity to make a real difference.”
Speech Pathologist Emma Devrell:
“I’d always wanted to work for NSW Health. I was also looking for something different — a chance to experience new places, grow professionally and have a bit of adventure.
“Every deployment is memorable in its own way, but what stands out most is the community. Teams welcome you with open arms, and patients are genuinely grateful you’re there. It reminds you how important access to health services is in regional communities.
“It’s allowed me to grow professionally, explore regional NSW, and build connections I’ll keep for life. And I know the work we do makes a real difference in communities.”