Thousands of NSW nurses and midwives strike for better pay    

More than 12,000 NSW nurses and midwives took industrial action yesterday in their fight for a 15% pay raise.  The 24-hour strike action was bigger than the last one held in late September with rallies held around the state after failed negotiations between the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) and the state Labor Minns […]

NSW nurses and midwives call a second 24-hour strike   

NSW public sector nurses and midwives will go on strike for 24 hours next week, after talks between the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) and the state government failed to reach an outcome on wages.  The second 24-hour strike will start on the morning shift on Wednesday 13 November, the NSWNMA has confirmed.  NSW […]

The mighty ANMF turns 100: Tears, pride, joy

Tears of joy together with feelings of pride, camaraderie and nostalgia were on display amongst nursing and midwifery stalwarts at the official launch of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) 100-year documentary in Sydney last week.   Almost like a family reunion, the guest list boasted long-time nurse and midwife ANMF members from around the […]

The value of the union workplace rep 

ANMF Tasmanian Branch member Monica Werner has been a member of the union since she started nursing in 1981. She talks with the ANMJ about the role of the workplace delegate and the value of unions in not just the work setting but the broader community.  Q: How did you get involved in being a […]

Queensland’s historic 10 days paid reproductive health leave takes effect  

Queensland public sector nurses and midwives are now able to access 10 days paid reproductive leave, with the state setting the bar for the rest of the country to follow.  Announced on Labour Day in May, the historic access to 10 days per annum (non-cumulative) paid reproductive health leave came into effect on Monday. More than […]

Independent expert midwife to lead Tasmanian maternity services investigation 

The Tasmanian Government has announced the appointment of an independent expert to lead the rapid independent investigation into maternity services at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH).  Midwife, nurse and health consultant Amanda Singleton has extensive experience, including in the governance and management of maternity services in both rural and metropolitan settings. She also has regulatory […]

Rollout of nurse and midwife to patient ratios in Western Australia welcomed by ANF  

After years of campaigning for safe staffing levels, nurse-to-patient ratios will be rolled out across Western Australia in October.  WA’s North Metropolitan Health Service (NMHS) will begin implementing nurse and midwife to patient ratios across its general medical and general surgical wards.  This first phase of the staged implementation will commence at the NMHS at […]

SA nurses and midwives petition for rural and remote incentives

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) South Australian Branch has launched a public petition calling for urgent rural and remote incentives for nurses and midwives to address the staff shortage that is putting regional country hospital services under threat of closure. The SA government reached an agreement with the ANMF SA Branch in 2022 […]

Gender pay gap data reveals substantial pay disparity

Dice-like cubes spelling out the word Equal

Unions have welcomed publication of the gender pay gap for nearly 5,000 Australian private sector employers for the first time but urge more needs to be done to close the disparity. “Publicising the gender pay gap is a tool that works – it shines a light on entrenched practices and structural inequalities that see women […]