The Narrandera Shire Council has approved two applications for financial assistance to medical doctors to assist in their relocation to Narrandera.

The applications were assessed in accordance with the Council’s Doctor Attraction and Retention Incentives Policy 2025 and found to meet the criteria.

In December 2024, council resolved to endorse the actions of the Narrandera mayor in offering a recruitment incentive of $35,000 to cover the cost of subsidised rental of a suitable dwelling and enrolment fees for the next phase of the doctor’s training.

Further to this, a Doctor Attraction and Retention Incentives Policy was adopted by council effective June 30 2025.

The policy provides for financial assistance to medical doctors to support doctors in relocating to the Narrandera Shire local government area and retaining them in the local health workforce.

This support also includes reimbursement of visa application expenses and relocation assistance, with doctors required to engage in medical practice in the Narrandera Shire local government area for a minimum period of two years.

In September 2025, Narrandera Medical Centre approached the general manager seeking support of two doctors under the Doctor Attraction and Retention Incentives Policy 2025.

In considering the applications, it was confirmed that both doctors met the criteria and required timely approval to meet the application close requirements of the visa process.

Based on the need to support the incoming doctors, the general manager and mayor made the decision to enter into agreements with both doctors. It was noted that they would not be seeking any funding until early 2026.

The current council budget is adequate to fund the arrangement in the current financial year. The same allocation will be required in the 2026-27 financial year.

The potential risk to council in providing the assistance is said to be mitigated by the agreement that has express terms with the obligation to refund any monies in the event that the doctor leaves the practice within two years.

The two doctors were identified as suitable for the assistance.