25 Colleen Street 
Berkeley Vale 2261
Phone: (02) 43 884603
email: jcdroguett@optusnet.com.au
24th June, 2001.

The Secretary 
Senate Community Affairs References Committee
Suite S1 59
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

I have just completed my Bachelor of Nursing at Newcastle University. I applied for the position of New Graduate through the New Graduate Nurse Recruitment Consortium, which comprises of a panel interview with a set group of questions. These positions cover the whole of New South Wales, and applicants nominate where they wish to work. Academic or clinical results were not examined at all. I was given a ranking of 126 out of 251 applicants. I am willing to work within an 80 kilometer radius from my home but have found there are no positions available unless I am willing to travel. This is not an option for me as I have family commitments. I live in the second biggest growing area of New South Wales so why can’t I get a position? I have through great sacrifice, undertaken and completed my studies with good results. I have enjoyed my studies and have gained much knowledge. If the shortage of nurses is to be believed, then why do I have no position? I cannot apply for other positions advertised in my area for registered nurses, because I have no post graduate experience, and the only way to obtain post graduate experience, is by completing a new graduate nurse position. If new graduates like me are not given new graduate position within a reasonable distance from their homes, people will be lost, and this is a wasted resource. I might point out, through my university degree I have gained academic skills which have given me computer skills, and a typing speed of more than sixty words a minute. I could probably gain employment in other areas. Is this what is to become of me. New graduate positions should be offered to all. Are doctors lost this way? I don’t think so. Working is a necessity for me, I cannot wait until it is convenient for the hospital, or when someone else drops out of the program, or when a young graduate decides to travel overseas. I live in the area, I am available, I have ties to the community, I am not going anywhere. Where is my position? If the hospital has a lack of clinical nurse educators then this needs to be addressed. There needs to be better consultation between universities and health care institutions. My classes were all undertaken at Gosford Hosptial not on campus at Newcastle. This was obviously to keep a steady number of graduates going through the hospital to cover shortages. They are now in a position to treat new graduates with a touch of arrogance, with no indication of when a position will be available.  I have done all the hard work to date, when is Central Coast Area Health going to do their bit? They need to continue to train new graduates even if they have better numbers then other areas.    
Yours faithfully

Julie Droguett