New scholarships to upskill registered nurses and midwives
The federal government has launched a $50.2 million scholarship program to upskill registered nurses and midwives to become nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives in primary care and aged care settings. The Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program will provide 1,850 postgraduate scholarships over four years and be managed by the Australian College of Nurse […]
‘Prac Payment’: Government to pay nursing and midwifery students $319 per week during clinical placements
Student nurses, midwives, teachers, and social workers will be paid $319.50 per week while undertaking their mandatory clinical placements under a new federal government measure to address rising ‘placement poverty’.
Improving maternity care for First Nations women through midwife led models
Sydney’s Westmead Hospital initiated Midwifery Group Practice (MGP)/caseload care, a decade ago, providing pregnant women with continuity of midwifery care. This gold-standard maternity care involves a team of midwives ensuring consistent care throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. The demand for this model has grown, highlighting its effectiveness and satisfaction for both midwives and […]
Leaders map future of health across Asia and the Pacific at World Health Summit in Melbourne
“By working together across disciplines and sectors we can foster more resilient and equitable systems for health that truly leave no one behind,” declared Sandro Demaio, CEO of VicHealth.
Government seeks to delay aged care wage increases
The federal government has requested landmark pay rises for aged care workers ordered by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) be phased over the next two years, citing concerns including that “large one-off wage increases” could fuel employment shortages across other sectors. Last month, the FWC awarded an historic wage rise of up to 28.5% for […]
Researcher aims to address ‘placement poverty’ among university students
Over the next year, Dr Amani Bell, an academic from the University of Sydney, will tackle one of Australian universities’ biggest challenges – the rise of financial hardship experienced by students required to undertake mandatory, unpaid clinical placements, as part of their courses. Dr Bell, an Associate Professor in the School of Health Sciences, received […]
Nurses poised to help shift dial in fight against obesity
Nurses and fellow health professionals have a critical role to play in helping the growing number of Australians experiencing severe weight issues, according to the nation’s peak body for obesity in Australia. A new report launched last month by The Obesity Collective, A Time for Action, revealed the number of people living with obesity surged […]
PLACEMENT POVERTY: Why nursing and midwifery students must be paid for clinical placements
A growing number of undergraduate nursing and midwifery students nationwide are voicing concerns about the significant challenges posed by hundreds of hours of mandatory unpaid clinical placements. Robert Fedele investigates. Erin Pereira, a former banker turned aspiring midwife, found inspiration in the remarkable work of midwives during the birth of her first child. Now in […]
Government rules out new tax or levy to fund aged care
The federal government has ruled out imposing a new levy or tax to fund aged care costs, as well as steering clear of the means-testing treatment of the family home, at today’s release of the Aged Care Taskforce’s Final Report. The taskforce, chaired by Aged Care Minister Anika Wells, was established to examine how to […]
Government to pay superannuation on paid parental leave
Parental leave is the only form of leave which doesn’t require superannuation to be paid – until now.