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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Joe Hinchliffe and Australian Associated Press

Free degrees for Victorian nurses could cause workforce shortages elsewhere, unions warn

An intensive care nurse
Peak bodies for nurses in NSW and Queensland have said there should be a national initiative to make training free. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins/The Guardian

Free university degrees for budding nurses in Victoria could exacerbate nationwide workforce shortages and pit states against each other, unions and peak bodies have warned.

The Victorian government on Sunday announced plans to pay the entire HECS debt of more than 10,000 nursing and midwifery graduates. Under the $270m scheme, all new domestic students enrolling in undergraduate nursing and midwifery courses in 2023 and 2024 will receive up to $16,500.

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