The joint initiative between Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) and Griffith City Council was launched earlier this year to address the chronic nursing shortage.

The fundraiser hopes to encourage the city’s businesses to donate funds to assist in attracting 12 registered nurses to Griffith and so far just under $60,000 has been raised.

Last Thursday a special morning tea was held in honour of the first recipient. In what has been described as a coup for Griffith and the Western Sector, nurse practitioner Simone Hazelman has been appointed.

The 33-year-old, who is originally from the Leeton area and has worked in Melbourne, Alice Springs, Wagga and the UK, admits she was enticed back to the region because of the incentives offered by the local recruitment campaign.

“My decision to come back to this area was encouraged by the relocation grant and also the opportunity to take up a position that is not available elsewhere,” she said. “My role as a transitional nurse practitioner allows me to see and treat patients autonomously. It will enable the ED to fast track things like simple fractures, lacerations and infections and free up doctors for more serious cases.

“I’ve worked all over, but I’ve never actually worked in a hospital with so much community support and backing.”

Western Sector general manager Ken Hampson said with this exciting development things looked promising for Griffith Base Hospital. “As well as Simone, we have two other applicants who have expressed interest in moving to the city,” he said.

During the morning tea, the Abruzzi Association president Tony Fattore presented mayor Dino Zappacosta with a cheque for just over $3000 for the cause, while Robert Fattore also made a donation of $500 and threw down a challenge for other small businesses to meet or beat that amount.