A government tender agreement in healthcare is a formal contract between a government health department and approved nursing agencies, allowing those agencies to supply nurses and midwives to public health facilities in Australia
Whether you’re a first-time travel nurse, or an experienced midwife, you may have heard the word ‘tender’ when comparing recruitment agencies and contracts. But what exactly is a government tender, why do agencies have them, and most importantly, how do they affect you on the ground?
Knowing what tender agreements are can give you a real advantage when choosing between agencies and contracts. Below, we break down what tenders are, why they exist, and how they directly benefit you.
What Is A Government Tender In Healthcare?
Simply put, a government healthcare tender is a formal agreement between state or territory health departments and nursing and midwifery recruitment agencies.
Health departments go out to tender to appoint agencies that can consistently supply travel nurses and midwives to fill workforce gaps across regional, rural, and remote healthcare facilities. The end result is that they secure a reliable workforce of qualified clinical staff.
Why Do Health Departments Use Tender Agreements?
State health departments use tender agreements to assess and appoint recruitment agencies that can safely, reliably, and cost-effectively supply clinical staff.
There are three main reasons that health departments go out to tender:
- To ensure a pipeline of staff to fill vacancies over a long period of time
- To minimise risk through screening with the goal of appointing quality agencies
- To create healthy competition within the industry
As taxpayer-funded organisations, state health departments must ensure they are engaging agencies that can provide both the volume and quality of nurses and midwives required, at the most optimal cost. To do this, they open formal submissions and invite agencies to apply for a healthcare tender.
Agencies that are successful in this application process are awarded the tender and are formally recognised as approved, quality suppliers for that health department. Facilities within the department will then look upon submissions from these agencies more favourably when filling nursing and midwifery vacancies.
How Do Tender Agreements Affect Nurses and Midwives?
Simple put, if an agency is tendered it means more job opportunities for you! While many agencies offer perks and specialisations, tendered agencies have a distinct advantage when submitting candidates for government health roles.
Advantages When Working With a Tendered Nursing Agency
When you work with a tendered agency like Affinity Nursing, you can expect:
- More jobs: Access to the widest range of nursing and midwifery locum roles statewide
- More money in pocket: Competitive pay packages aligned with government contracts that are locked in for the duration of the tender
- First dibs: Priority notifications when new travel nurse and locum midwife placements are available
- Greater visibility: Health facilities review tendered submissions first before non-tendered ones
- More flexibility: Enjoy the freedom of choice and multiple options when exploring regional, rural, and remote contracts
In short, being represented by a tendered agency gives you the competitive edge in securing your dream contract.
How Long Do Government Tender Agreements Last?
The length of a tender agreement varies by jurisdiction:
- State-wide health department tenders typically last 3 to 5 years
- Local Health Districts (LHDs) and Hospital & Health Services (HHSs) often have agreements lasting 2 to 4 years
This means greater job security, continuity of work, and a consistent flow of travel nursing and midwifery contract opportunities throughout the life of the agreement for the agency.
What Makes Affinity Nursing Different To Other Agencies?
Affinity Nursing is proudly the only recruitment agency in Australia tendered on a national basis, meaning we hold contracts with every state and territory health department.
This is the result of Affinity’s long-standing relationships, proven compliance standards, and decades of service in the nursing and midwifery locum workforce sector.
What This Means for You as an Affinity Contractor
When you are with Affinity Nursing, you benefit from:
- National access to government-funded contracts
- Priority consideration for roles across all states and territories
- More consistent, reliable placement opportunities
- Strong advocacy and trusted representation with health departments
We leverage these partnerships to give you the best possible chance of securing roles within each government health system – especially in regional, rural, and remote communities, where your skills make a real difference.
Want to see what it’s like working with a tendered agency? Register with us now.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Contracts and Tenders
No, nurses and midwives are not required to work with a tendered agency. However, tendered agencies are typically prioritised for government-funded roles, which means better access to public hospital contracts, more consistent work opportunities, and earlier consideration for placements.
Yes, tender agreements often influence pay rates. Government healthcare tenders usually set standardised pay structures and allowances, which can result in competitive, transparent rates. Nurses working through tendered agencies may also receive additional benefits aligned with government contracts, such as travel or accommodation support.
Tendered agencies are often better positioned because they have direct access to government-funded vacancies. This typically means a wider range of regional, rural, and remote roles, faster placement times, and more consistent contract availability throughout the year.
Yes, if an agency holds tender agreements in multiple states or territories, you can access roles across different regions without re-registering with new agencies. This makes it easier to move between contracts and maintain continuity of work as a nurse or midwife.
You can ask the agency directly whether they are tendered with state or territory health departments. Reputable agencies will be transparent about their tender status.
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