NSW Gov Link NSW Health Far West Local Health District



     Print this page Reduce font size Increase font size


Media

The Far West LHD Media Unit is responsible for all media inquiries and interviews with Far West LHD staff members. The Unit regularly advises on major public health issues and disease outbreaks, through media releases, media conferences and, sometimes, special telephone hotlines.

Contact us

The Media Officer for Far West LHD is Branko Licul on 0411 119 592 or email branko.licul@health.nsw.gov.au

The Media Unit is the primary point of contact for news organisations. All media enquiries must come through the Media Unit in the first instance. This includes:

  • Requests for interviews
  • Photo requests of staff, patients or our facilities
  • General enquiries about health issues
  • Any condition updates on patients who have been injured in an accident or are otherwise of interest to the media

Please do not call our hospitals directly as they are not allowed to provide this information.

Staff are not permitted to speak to journalists or representatives of media organisations without the knowledge or permission of the Media Officer.

An On-Call Media Officer is available after normal business hours to assist media with urgent enquiries. This is organised on a roster basis and the correct person to contact is available via a voicemail message on 0411 119 592.

 

 

 

 




View Far West LHD Media Releases for

<< The archived Media Releases from the Greater Western AHS can be accessed here >>





19 February 2018

Nurses Start Their Careers With Far West Local Health District 2018


Twenty Registered Nurses (RNs) and one Midwife (RM) have today begun their nursing careers with Far West Local Health District.

The 21 nurses and midwife will begin their employment with Far West LHD in its Rural and Remote Transition to Professional Practice Registered Nurse / Midwife Program. The Far West LHD program is one of the most sought after in the state with over 40 applications received for 2018.

The Far West LHD was extremely pleased to welcome the new graduate nurses and midwife, said Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Ms Dale Sutton.

“On behalf of the District and our communities, I wish to congratulate all of them on graduating and beginning their nursing and midwifery career with the Far West LHD,” she said.

The 2018 Graduates will experience clinical practice in: Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit/Critical Care Unit, Medical and Surgical wards, Mental Health, Community Nursing, Child and Family Health, Maternity, Operating Theatres and the Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Unit.

Nurses beginning work in the Far West also get the opportunity to experience both rural and remote nursing through the TPP. The program places nurses in Broken Hill, Ivanhoe, Wilcannia, Tibooburra and Balranald. These remote placements provide the opportunity of a unique remote nursing experience of which metropolitan programs cannot.

“Our TPP program exposes our graduates to many different clinical skills which improves their nursing and midwifery knowledge. They also get a first-hand experience of working in our remote facilities and living in those communities. It all works towards encouraging recruitment of those nurses to work in our remote facilities,” said Ms Sutton.

Seven of the graduates are locals of Broken Hill and a number of graduates have previously undertaken clinical placements here in Broken Hill.

“It’s always a delight to have nurses and midwives who have completed a placement with Far West apply to join us but doubly so when they are residents who have decided to return to work and live here,” said Ms Sutton.

Ms Sutton said the TPP continues to be a successful program. Twenty graduates started with Far West in 2017 and 16 have decided to stay on in Broken Hill and across the District. They will be offered contracts at the end of their program in February.

The 21 nurses and midwife will undergo orientation this week featuring both practical and classroom activities. They will also meet staff and mentors who will support and guide their transition from university student to responsibilities of being a Registered Nurse / Midwife. They will begin work in their respective departments and facilities soon after.

The District is also for the third year participating in the Metro/Rural exchange program for its new nurse graduates. This program provides a six month rotation to Far West LHD and a six month rotation at Gosford Hospital. This is a unique opportunity afforded to graduated nurses to gain experience from both a rural and metropolitan perspective.