The Government funded Nursing and Allied Health Rural Locum Scheme (NAHRLS) celebrated its 3000th placement at an event in Parliament House last night.

Since 2011, NAHRLS has been placing nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in remote rural areas across Australia. Over the past year alone, in excess of 200 rural clinics have benefitted from the NAHRLS scheme.

Marking this milestone event recognised those who have helped their peers across the country to take time away from their roles for professional development and other reasons.

Senator The Hon. Fiona Nash, Assistant Minster for Health, presented the NAHRLS 3000th Locum Award to Ruth Osadebay, a registered nurse and midwife, who recently took up a 14 day placement in rural New South Wales.

Senator Nash said, “One thing that is absolutely vital is making sure that we get services out to regional areas where they’re needed most and NAHRLS has done a great job in putting health professionals out into those areas to provide health services where they are so important.”

The NAHRLS system is efficient and cost effective, able to provide health professionals to rural and remote health practices for short periods of time with no extra costs to those practices. There is little for the health professional to do other than do what they do best - provide great healthcare. NAHRLS pays for and organises the travel and accommodation, placing health professionals in communities where they will hit the ground running.

Mark Ellis, General Manager - Australian Subsidiaries at NAHRLS’ parent company Aspen Medical, extended his appreciation to all NAHRLS locums who have contributed to the significant milestone.

“The most important thing about the programme is that it is about helping people. Ruth Osadebay embodies all that is best about NAHRLS. Ruth recently completed her 14th placement at Temora Hospital in NSW.

Ruth is a person who is prepared to go whenever she is needed.”

Glenn Keys, Managing Director of Aspen Medical said, “We are extraordinarily proud that we are able to deliver NAHRLS to help and support nurses and allied health professionals in rural and remote regions across Australia.”

The NAHRLS programme was extended until 30 June 2015 to ensure continuity of health services in rural and remote Australia.

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