Budget Delivers for Aged Care

The Labor Government delivered significant gains for aged care nurses and care staff in the May budget. Treasurer Wayne Swan announced a total package comprising $132 million of new spending on aged care, including:

  • $60 million for existing aged care nurses and personal care workers to upgrade their qualifications through further training
  • $21 million for 900 new nursing scholarships, 600 for ENs and 300 for RNs
  • $19 million to trial new models that expand the roles of Nurse Practitioners in aged care, improving career pathways and nursing care
  • $3.5 million to explore a national regulation system for personal care workers, ensuring high standards of care and recognising professionalism
  • $500,000 for a research study on staffing levels, skills mix and resident care needs

LGH ICU Works Towards NHpPD Benchmarking

In June 2009 nurse members from ICU at the LGH commenced an NHpPD Stage 1 Grievance. The grievance related to safe staffing, excessive workload, overtime and a demonstratably insufficient establishment (FTE).

ANF is proud to announce that the LGH ICU has been successful in not only gaining the 10 FTE positions on a permanent basis but an additional 14 FTE (total 24 FTE) have now been fully funded. This is a fantastic result for nurses at the LGH ICU and for the LGH.

The additional 24 positions will ensure the LGH ICU has sufficient available nursing staff to cope with the current demand.

Public Holiday Dispute

In July 2009 the TIC handed down a decision which stated that, in accordance with the Award, a shift working nurse working on a public holiday is entitled to either double time payment for hours worked or the double hour equivalent added to their leave balance, as well as having 11 or 11.5 PH days added as part of their leave.

ANF and DHHS were directed to confer and provide documentation to give effect to the decision, but after several meetings DHHS indicated it was unable to agree on draft orders. On October 30 2009 the Commission ordered that, by no later than 20 April 2010, the DHHS was to correct any public holiday underpayment for shift working nurses backdated to January 1 2006.

The Agency has since appealed this finding, and ANF are still working towards the rights of members for backpay for previously worked public holidays. We will keep you informed of any advances in the matter.

Biennial Conference 2009

The 2009 Biennial Conference was attended by Neroli Ellis, Julie Driver (Branch President), Ian Nethery (RHH), Peter Sharp (Hobart Private Hospital) and Tanya Jones (Central Highlands Community Health Centre). Around a hundred Delegates and Branch Councillors attended from all States and Territories.

Various topics were covered including the Fair Work Australia Act 2009, the Because We Care campaign and National Registration.

The Tasmanian Branch also took two resolutions to the conference:

  • The request for the other ANF branches to investigate a National Career Structure in conjunction with National Registration and the Federal Nurses Award which will be implemented in 2010.
  • The request for the Federal Office to lobby the Australian Government to undertake a complete review in Aged Care.

It was a great way to network and meet other members, and an opportunity to work together for the benefit of members and the wider community our profession cares for.