Yahoo Finance $20,000 to $275,000 cash incentives to fill Aussie jobs no one wants: ‘Critical’
Aussies are being offered major cash incentives if they are willing to relocate to regional areas.
Aussie governments are hoping cash incentives will help fill roles in regional parts of the country. The New South Wales government is offering a $20,000 cash incentive to draw in key healthcare workers, while South Australia’s Coober Pedy has bumped up its CEO salary to nearly $275,000 in a bid to fill the top job.
Midwives who choose to relocate and start work in rural, regional and remote NSW will be eligible to get a new $20,000 sign-on bonus. It’s part of a six-month trial that will run from September 30, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
The government hopes the lump sum bonus will help fill “critical vacancies” in the regions and support the regional health workforce. It will be offered to midwives who relocate from metro NSW or interstate.
RELATED
State's $200,000 offer to lure Aussie workers: 'Significant'
Australian iron ore set for a catastrophic shock as China crisis deepens: 'Relentless'
Centrelink cash boost for millions of Aussies this week: 'More money in pockets'
“I’ve said this countless times, worker shortages in our regional, rural and remote communities is the biggest single challenge facing our health system,” Health Minister Ryan Park said.
“Midwives support the birth of almost 100,000 babies right across our state each year, regardless of where a family lives the importance of providing women, their partners and families with high quality, compassionate care cannot be underestimated.”
The cash boost is part of the broader Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme, which aims to fill healthcare shortages in regional and rural areas.
NSW Health also offers a $20,000 incentive package for health workers who relocate to rural and remote locations until June 30, 2025.
Do you have a story to share? Contact tamika.seeto@yahooinc.com
$275,00 job no one wants
The outback town of Coober Pedy is also hoping extra cash will win over a new CEO.
It is offering a hefty $274,437 salary to lure in a qualified executive to navigate the “opal capital of the world” towards financial prosperity.
This is the third time administrators of Coober Pedy council have tried, unsuccessfully, to recruit a CEO. The council previously offered the prospective CEO $234,437 a year, but have now added another $40,000 on top.
A recruitment specialist brought in to help with the search said salary limitations were “representing the major recruitment impediment”.
The noted it was “highly unlikely” the council could attract a candidate with the right level of experience to relocate to the remote area without the increase.
It noted hiring someone with less experience would be “challenging and a risk to council and the community”.
The new salary brings it in line with other council leaders in South Australia, such as in Yankalilla, Tumby Bay, Clare and Cilbert Valleys and Berri Barmera.
In comparison, the Adelaide City Council CEO Michael Sedgman reportedly has a pay package worth $425,000 for running the state’s largest local government.
Coober Pedy Council has been a defaulting council since January 2019 and has been overseen by administrators. This will continue until local government elections in November 2026.
Get the latest Yahoo Finance news - follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
