With one year remaining on the current contract, The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) has announced that it is to extend the successful Nursing and Allied Health Rural Locum Scheme (NAHRLS) until 30 June 2015. This announcement recognises the vital strategic role played by NAHRLS in meeting the demand within the Australian rural and remote health sector for locum support.

NAHRLS was established by the Australian Government to support nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in rural and remote Australia to take leave from their work for up to 14 days.  Over the past twelve months NAHRLS placements have increased threefold with 1213 completed nursing and midwifery placements and 103 completed allied health placements as at 30 June 2013. Efficient and cost-effective recruitment processes have allowed remote health centres using the NAHRLS locum service to save money and administration time, thereby allowing them to focus on providing quality patient care.