Murrumbidgee Innovation Recognised At 2023 Premier’s Awards

Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) celebrated success at the 2023 Premier’s Awards.

The Murrumbidgee Rural Generalist Training Pathway, also known as the Murrumbidgee Model, was named as a winner in the Highest Quality Healthcare category at the annual awards ceremony.

This latest honour came just weeks after the Murrumbidgee Rural Generalist Training Program won the People and Culture category of the 2023 NSW Health Awards.

Two other District programs were finalists at the Premier’s Awards:

• Murrumbidgee Emergency to Community Initiative in the Building a Resilient Economy category
• Murrumbidgee Growing Our Own school-based traineeship program in the World Class Education and Training category.

MLHD Chief Executive, Jill Ludford commended all MLHD staff involved in the three projects.

“At Murrumbidgee Local Health District, we are committed to innovation, collaboration, resilience and true engagement with our rural people,” Ms Ludford said.

“All three of the finalists demonstrate these strengths.”

The Murrumbidgee Rural Generalist Training Pathway aims to attract, train, retain, and support rural generalist doctors who work in the local health district.

This four-year pilot project with the Australian Government began in 2021.

The pathway, developed in collaboration with the UNSW Regional Training Hub, provides a rural workforce model where GP trainees receive support and certainty during their training.

Trainees know where they'll work, how much they'll earn, and their working conditions.

The pathway, now expanded to 80 places across NSW, focuses on supporting GP trainees to develop the advanced rural generalist skills needed to support our rural hospitals.

Director Primary Care Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Finley GP Dr Alam Yoosuff said he was delighted by the award win.

“The Murrumbidgee Model not only sets a new direction for our state, but for the entire country,” Dr Yoosuff said.

“We have pioneered in transforming Rural Generalist Training in our nation.”

Ms Ludford said the Emergency to Community initiative aimed to reduce the number of avoidable Emergency Department presentations for vulnerable patients.

“Our team of highly skilled nurses work closely with patients to improve their treatment, self-management plans and quality of life in the community,” Ms Ludford said.

The Murrumbidgee School-Based Traineeship program provides a career pathway from school to work for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students interested in health careers.

The traineeship helps students attain a nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training qualification and their Higher School Certificate while gaining valuable work skills and experience through paid employment.

“Over the past four years this program has been very successful, with three students gaining entry into university to study medicine and 19 students gaining employment with Murrumbidgee Local Health District,” Ms Ludford said. IMAGE: Murrumbidgee Local Health District’s Director of Integrated Care and Allied Health, Emma Field accepting the award from NSW Premier Chris Minns. (Photo by MariaBoyadgis)

• Topics:

• Awards
• Health & Wellbeing