Families across New South Wales are set to see better access to children’s health services following the recruitment of 32 paediatric allied health professionals funded through the Minns Government’s $17.9 million investment. The new roles span speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work and dietetics, and have been placed across 15 local health districts as well as the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
The government says the move will help bring down waiting times for assessments and therapy, an issue raised by clinicians and parents for years. Rural and regional communities, where gaps in paediatric care have often been most noticeable, are among those expected to benefit from the additional support. The new positions include full-time and part-time roles working in community services and hospital settings.
This recruitment drive forms part of the wider $130.9 million Family Start Package outlined in the 2024–25 NSW Budget, which aims to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for children. Initiatives within the package include $2.3 million for Royal Far West to expand its paediatric developmental services for families living outside metropolitan areas, and $45.5 million to establish Australia’s first Aboriginal owned and midwifery-led freestanding birth centre and community hub in Nowra.
Further investment through the 2025–26 Budget includes more than $83 million towards maternity care, family care centres and vaccination programs. The measures include $44.8 million to increase access to midwifery continuity of care models with 53 additional midwives in regional NSW, expanded clinician training in respectful maternity care, and improved antenatal education resources. Funding has also been allocated to maintain seven family care centres, mobile services and the Macksville residential unit that supports families facing complex challenges. A separate $5.7 million commitment will support free vaccination for pregnant women to help protect against whooping cough, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. Another quarter of a million dollars is being put into virtual paediatrician support for GPs.
The government frames these measures as part of a broader effort to strengthen the health workforce. Since taking office, it has abolished the wages cap and introduced what it describes as the largest wage rise for health workers in a decade. Ratios have been implemented in emergency departments, and funding has been provided for study subsidies for students entering the sector. Ministers say this work is complemented by a $274 million investment to recruit an additional 250 healthcare workers at hospitals that had previously been operating below required staffing levels.
The government continues to draw a line between its approach and that of its predecessors, criticising the former Liberal administration for planning staff cuts, maintaining the wages cap and not introducing minimum staffing ratios. While those points remain contested in political debate, workforce shortages have been widely acknowledged as a longstanding challenge in the state’s health system.
Health Minister Ryan Park says the latest round of recruitment is an important part of improving access for children. He argues that placing more allied health professionals in community health centres and hospitals will help build a more responsive system that can better meet demand. “We are committed to ensuring children across the state have access to the right care, at the right time, close to home,” he said, adding that this is one of the largest investments in paediatric allied health NSW has seen.
HSU Secretary Gerard Hayes AM welcomed the expansion, saying the additional clinicians will make a “real difference” for families. He highlighted the union’s Award Reform program, which aims to support greater scope of practice for allied health professionals and improve recognition of advanced skills.
While the recruitment is expected to improve access in many areas, it will take time for communities to feel the full effect. Paediatric wait lists vary across the state, and demand for specialised therapy remains high. Clinicians say ongoing investment in training, retention and regional support will be essential to sustaining improvements.
For now, the extra staff represent a boost for services that have been stretched, and families in regional NSW in particular will be watching closely to see how the changes translate into day-to-day care.
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