On Sunday 24 July Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, together with Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas announced funding to support the employment of Registered Undergraduate Students of Nursing (RUSONs) whilst visiting Sunshine Hospital.
The 2022-23 State Budget announced a $59 million investment over two years to support health services employ RUSONs in the workforce. The RUSON role has been highly valued during the COVID-19 pandemic through improving the working environment for staff.
Western Health employs 361 RUSONs across most of our clinical wards/departments, as well as 56 RUSOMs in our maternity areas. The roles are on top of the mandated nurse and midwife to patient ratios, and this funding will support the ongoing employment of RUSONs, which is fantastic!
Whilst Premier Andrews and Minister Thomas were at Western Health, they visited the Coronary Care team on Ward 2F, and spoke to one of our patients who was full of praise for our nurses.
Jenny (NUM 2F) and Alana (RUSON, 2F) got to talk to the Premier (Alana pictured above with the Premier) and the Minister (Jenny and Alana pictured right with the Minister). Alana was joined by a RUSON from Royal Melbourne Hospital and a RUSOM from Werribee Mercy Hospital, and spoke at the press conference about how much she enjoyed the role and how it is really complementary to her studies as a second year undergraduate student nurse.
Western Health is expecting a separate announcement on funding to support RUSOM employment into the future.