Aboriginal Nursing and Midwifery Cadetship Program

The Aboriginal Cadetship Program is a strategy aimed at increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives into the NSW Public Health Sector, with the goal of providing better health services to our Aboriginal communities. The program is designed to financially assist Cadets during their study and provide academic support to engage students with their study and the workplace.

The Cadetship aims to provide better health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the delivery of culturally safe and competent nursing and midwifery services.

NSW Health Aboriginal Nursing and Midwifery Cadetships offer:

• $600/fortnight study allowance
• $500 per semester book allowance
• Up to 12 weeks paid employment at a WSLHD healthcare facility
• Clinical support from nursing and midwifery educators
• Mentors

Applicants must be:

• An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
• Currently studying or about to study an undergraduate nursing or midwifery degree at university.
• Be a resident of NSW (or within 5km of the NSW border).

• Engage the Cadet in the workplace and offer support to allow for successful completion of tertiary studies.
• Consolidate knowledge and skills learnt at university.
• Provide a clinical buddy and mentor.
• Offer employment at the completion of the program.

Program length

The program is conducted in line with the cadet’s undergraduate study and is between one to three years (depending on the stage of study). During that time, cadets will be required to complete (up to) 12 weeks of work placement during each academic year. Cadets may opt to work in blocks or designated days of the week – depending on their personal and university commitments.

Work placement

Cadets are employed on a temporary contract for the duration of the work placement during their cadetship.

Cadets are employed under the NSW Public Health system Nurses and Midwives (Award) and are paid as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) or Assistant in Midwifery (AIM).

Although cadets are paid as an AIN/AIM, they work in the role of an Aboriginal nurse/midwife cadet and must meet the requirements of their cadet position description.

Cadets are entitled to accrue sick and annual leave. Cadets may take paid annual or sick leave after three months of full-time employment or equivalent. Cadets do not work on public holidays but are paid for the holiday if it falls on a work placement rostered day.

Cadets are also entitled to cultural leave to participate in NAIDOC celebrations.

Benefits for the Cadet

During the 12 week work placement, Cadets gain extra experience in a supported learning environment. This enables the Cadet to consolidate their learning and make them more job ready by the time they graduate.

Cadets will also be connected to a clinical buddy, the Cadetship Coordinator as well as a Mentor at the commencement of their cadetship.

Additional support such as attending local programs and accessing Clinical Nurse Educators during the program will also be available.