Qld to mandate ratios in public aged care homes
The Queensland Government has pledged to legislate nurse-to-resident ratios across its 16 state-owned public aged care homes to ensure elderly residents receive the full care they need and deserve. Premier Annastacia Palasczuk made the announcement this morning at the annual conference of the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) in front of hundreds of delegates. […]
NSW delegates urged to keep fighting for ratios
NSW nursing and midwifery delegates have been urged to take belief from the success of Victoria and Queensland in legislating public hospital nurse-to-patient ratios as the union’s campaign to make this a reality pushes ahead. Addressing delegates at the NSWNMA’s 74th Annual Conference in Sydney last Thursday, President O’Bray Smith implored nurses and midwives to […]
ALP pledges to start taking action to address aged care crisis
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) has promised to start taking action to improve the current crisis in aged care, including increasing staffing levels and skill mix and ensuring there is a registered nurse (RN) on duty 24/7, if elected at this Saturday’s federal election. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten released a statement yesterday outlining Labor’s plans […]
Getting Australia on the right side of history
Hope has lifted that Australia’s new government following the 18 May federal election will do the right thing and join the UN treaty banning nuclear weapons. This should of course be a paramount and unifying humanitarian issue above party politics, as Australian governments both Coalition and Labor have previously signed us up to the treaties […]
Aged Care Royal Commission: What does it mean for the ANMF?
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety provides a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to identify, examine and address the multitude of issues facing the aged care sector. Paramount being the objective of ensuring the safety, health and wellbeing of older Australians who rely on care. The ANMF is uniquely placed to participate […]
Nursing Now campaign launches in Australia
Australian nursing organisations, including the ANMF have welcomed the Australian launch of the global Nursing Now campaign. Nursing Now aims to improve health globally by raising the profile and status of nurses worldwide influencing policymakers and supporting nurses themselves to lead, learn and build a global movement. Nursing Now Co-Chair and UK All Party Parliamentary […]
Change the Rules: change the government rallies
ANMF members and officials rallied alongside other working Australians across the country today to protest against the failure of the Morrison government to deliver secure jobs and fair pay. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Change the Rules rallies took part in 14 centres across the country, from Cairns to Launceston, to Perth. ACTU […]
Labor’s health injection welcomed
Labor’s pledge to restore $2.8 billion to the health system and inject $2.3 billion into Medicare will provide much needed relief for Australia’s public hospitals and increase access to the health system for many, says the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten committed to reinvest ‘every single dollar’ stripped from public hospitals, […]
ICN: campaigning health for all
The ANMF has developed an international network of affiliations to advance the interests of the professions and improve health outcomes globally. The ANMJ talks with President Annette Kennedy of the International Council of Nurses (ICN). As President, what do you see as the ICN’s major roles? As the global voice of nursing representing more than […]
Government backflip on paid healthcare for SEATO nurses
Civilian nurses who served during the Vietnam War could soon get access to a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Gold Card that covers the cost of medical treatment for all conditions earlier than first flagged following an Australian government decision to fast-track the vital support. Over 200 volunteer civilian nurses joined surgical and medical teams […]