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.
Solidarity and activism: The vital role of nurses and midwives in the union
Nurses and midwives, the backbone of healthcare, provide essential patient-centred care across the health system, yet experience diverse challenges. Active involvement in the ANMF’s state and territory branches empowers them as advocates for change. This includes improving wages, safety, patient care, and influencing healthcare policy, benefiting both health professionals and people. Retired Victorian registered nurses […]
Report backs paid clinical placements for nursing students
The federal government should provide financial support for nursing students undertaking mandatory clinical placements as part of their courses, the highly-anticipated Universities Accord final report has recommended.
How the Northern Territory trailblazed Australia’s voluntary assisted dying laws
In 1995, the Northern Territory made history by becoming the first place in the world to legalise voluntary assisted dying after a private member’s Bill, championed by then Chief Minister Marshall Perron, secured a 15-10 vote in the early morning hours after intense deliberation in Parliament. Following its implementation in 1996, only four people facing […]
Earn and learn: How Victoria’s RUSON employment model is helping attract more nurses into mental health
When she was an undergraduate nursing student, Monisha Lagreca worked on a mental health ward as part of the ANMF (Vic Branch) pioneered Registered Undergraduate Students of Nursing (RUSON) paid employment model. Under the delegation and supervision of mental health nursing staff at Peninsula Health, she gained invaluable firsthand exposure to the specialty, which quickly […]