Health workers in New South Wales will receive a $ 3,000 “thank you” payment for their front-line efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet made the announcement this morning as he unveiled a $ 4.5 billion plan to increase the state’s health workforce.
In addition to the $ 3,000 one-time payment, health care workers – and other state public sector workers – will see an increase in the wage cap in the coming years.
NSW health workers will receive a special “thank you” payment. (Getty)
Perrottet said the salary cap will increase from 2.5% to 3% this year and 3.5% next year.
Following the recent strikes by health workers on wages and staffing levels.
The latter issue will also be addressed in a government plan to increase the workforce by more than 10,000 people.
This will include doctors, nurses, paramedics and related health workers.
“Everyone in NSW is indebted to our healthcare workers for their selfless efforts during the pandemic, remembering for a long time that there was no vaccine and that they risked their lives every day to care for patients,” Perrottet said.
Dr Alex Mackey of Liverpool Hospital in south-west Sydney said COVID-19 had exposed some cracks in the system.
“The emergency service is overflowing, the staff is tired, we need help desperately,” he said.
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