Hunter New England Health Rural and Regional Executive Director Susan Heyman told The Leader the final touches were being put on the job description, which she hoped will be released “in the coming few weeks.” 

“When Glenn McGrath came we talked about the need to make sure we really care about what the job did and when we went out to advertise it would really reflect and attract the type of person we wanted,” Ms Heyman said.

“So what we have done is spent some time taking to various stakeholders around what it is we want this position to do and how well it can relates to existing positions.

“That position description is now drafted and it is ready to go out so should be out in the next few weeks.” 

The position announced by the McGrath Foundation was for a 0.8 full-time equivalent role, equating to around 32 hours per week.

While Ms Heyman said she would like to see the ideal candidate start “tomorrow”, due diligence must be followed in the advertising and interviewing campaigns.

She said HNEH also had to allow time to give the new nurse who takes on the position enough time to leave his or her former role.

“They are attractive positions in some ways, but they are also quite emotionally draining positions, so it takes a special person,” Ms Heyman said.

“We have made sure that the job advertisement will be spread far and we just hope that we get the right person for the role.” 

Test great Glenn McGrath flew into Tamworth and made the announcement in person on February 13 following a long campaign spearheaded by local volunteer committee, Serendipity, and allied health workers.

At the announcement Ms Heyman said she was excited to be adding another dimension to the North West Cancer Centre and Tamworth services, telling media at the time that the new role would be put in place as soon as possible.