ANF News
DHHS Public Holiday TIC Appeal
The Application by the Minister seeking leave to appeal the decision of DP Shelley (Public Holidays) was heard by the Full Bench of the Tasmanian Industrial Commission on 23 and 24 August 2010.
Click here for details relating to the Hearing.
LGH Staff Parking Arrangements
LGH Management, ANF and HACSU have been working together to minimise staff parking concerns. Click here for information on the new parking arrangements, and click here to see the free Tiger Bus timetable.
Information Sessions - Poisons Regulation 95EA
The Department of Health and Human Services is conducting information sessions for anyone working in aged care to provide an:
- overview of the new Poisons Regulation 95EA
- overview of the Guidelines in relation to residential aged care
- opportunity to seek clarification
For more information on these sessions, please click here.
Public Sector 2010 EBA
Your Public Sector Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) expired on 30 June 2010, but will continue until a new Agreement is registered with the Tasmanian Industrial Commission. ANF is looking forward to negotiating a new collective agreement on your behalf. With the Tasmanian election process completed, now is the time to influence the conditions that will assist in retaining and recruiting nurses into the future.
Public Sector EBA IBB List of Interests and Bargaining Plan
National Registration & Accreditation Scheme
New arrangements for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia commenced on 1 July 2010.
Important Information for Nurse Practitioners and Eligible Midwives
New Era In Regulation from 1 July 2010
Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Frequently Asked Questions
Nursing Board of Tasmania - E Bulletin - Early Renewal For Midwives and Nurses
Further information is available on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website
www.ahpra.gov.au
www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.
Guidelines for the ‘Administration of certain substances by aged-care workers in residential aged care services’
ANF is currently drafting a submission on the second consultation paper of the draft guidelines for the administration of certain substances by aged-care workers.
ANF letter April 2010
Draft 2B Consultation Paper April 2010
Draft 2 Consultation Paper April 2010
Draft 1 Consultation Paper March 2010
ANF letter addressing key issues regarding safe medication administration in residential aged care
Public Holiday Dispute
Find out the latest information regarding the Public Holiday Dispute.
ANF Notice - Public Holiday Dispute Update
Tasmanian State Election - 2010 Key Nursing Issues
The nursing team in Tasmania want recruitment and retention issues addressed. They are looking for a government committed to putting real measures in place so they have the nursing skill mix and resources to provide high quality nursing care.
With this in mind, the ANF wrote to the leaders of the three major political parties, seeking their commitment to a range of policy matters crucial to nursing in Tasmania. Click here to see their summarised responses.*
Neroli Ellis
Branch Secretary, Australian Nursing Federation (Tas Branch)
March 2010
* The information summarised is based on the parties’ written responses to the ANF’s letter of 12 February 2010. For full policies released through the election campaign, visit party websites or contact candidates in your electorate.
ANF Now Welcomes Personal Care Assistants
ANF Tasmanian Branch is excited to announce that Branch Council has resolved to embark on an exciting expansion of industrial and professional services and support for our eligible members employed as Personal Care Assistants (PCAs), however titled.
These expanded services include access to professional support and training through ANF as an accredited Registered Training Organisation; insurance cover; monthly nursing journals; professional updates for the nursing team; conferences; professional advocacy; and access to the ANF Aged Care Special Interest Group.
This important development in part recognises the growing role of PCAs in assisting in the provision of nursing care to residents and patients throughout Tasmania. The ANF campaign “Because We Care” also promotes the value and benefits of care staff in Aged Care.
This expansion brings the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Nursing Federation in line with other ANF state branch representation. ANF looks forward to working with and providing support to PCAs.
PCAs with queries regarding ANF membership are encouraged to contact the ANF Office - 6223 6777 or 1800 001 241 (outside Hobart area).
Ged Kearney - Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation - Because We Care Campaign
Ged Kearney's Address to the National Press Club
NSW full bench knocks back nurses' penalty rates case
A NSW IRC full bench has knocked back the NSW Nurses' Assoc application to increase penalty rates for night shift work under the Public Health System Nurses' and Midwives (State) Award.
Pres Justice Roger Boland, Vice Pres Justice Michael Walton, DP John Grayson and Cmr David Ritchie said for the union's application to succeed in increasing the penalty rates that were first determined in 1973, it would have had to have proven nurses were experiencing more detriment from unsocial hours than they were back then.
The union claim had two parts - to increase penalty rates for night shifts from 15% to 25%; and to introduce a "new" 25% night shift penalty for weekend shifts starting at 4pm and before 4am, to be paid on top of the existing weekend penalty rates.
"Many years have passed since a full bench of this cmn or its predecessors have been required to consider that part of the landmark decisions of the cmn in court session, which concerned the quantum of shift penalties," the bench said.
The union would also have had to prove that increasing the shift penalties for night work would "directly ameliorate ... a proven, actual risk arising from the performance of night shifts by nurses (or a class of them) in the public hospital system", it said. The union had failed to do both, it said.
We do not consider that, on the evidence in the proceedings, the negative social and domestic consequences of working night shifts, such as the effect on social life and marital quality and the work/non-work life balance, has worsened since under the Shift Workers' Case," it said.
It did, however, leave it open to the assoc to re-apply within 12 months after conducting a further review of night shift arrangements.
It advised parties to the case to jointly conduct a study or survey of nurses working night shifts to properly assess the medical issues raised in the proceedings.
(Public Health System Nurses' and Midwives' Award. NSWIRC 129. 18/09/09)
Poisons Amendment Bill (no.2) & Poisons Amendment Regulations 2009
Public Holiday Dispute - TIC Agrees with ANF Position!
A decision has been handed down on the public holiday dispute.
ANF Announcement
TIC Decision Paper
Swine Flu - Employment Conditions Update
Ministerial Direction No. 22 Pandemic Leave Provisions
Pandemic Leave Guidelines
Amendments to the Children, Young Persons & Their Families Act 1997
The Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997 (the Act) commenced in 2000. Its objective is to provide for the care and protection of Tasmanian children and young people who are at risk of abuse or neglect in their family unit, in a way that maximises their ability to reach their full potential. On 1 August 2009 amendments to the Act came into effect. In summary, they provide:
- the ability for mandatory reporters under section 14 of the Act to report concerns about the care of children within their family to the new non-government Gateway Services. This complements the ability to notify Child Protection Services when a child is at risk of significant harm;
- broader powers allowing the sharing of information relevant to the best interests of a child; and
- the Secretary of the DHHS with the ability to receive information concerning unborn children to ensure effective planning is in place at the birth of the child.
Further information about the legislative amendments is available on the DHHS website at: http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/dcyfs/legislation/cyptfa/.
To coincide with the commencement of the amendments, new non-government Gateway Services, incorporating intensive family support services, opened on August 2009. The contact number for Gateway Services is 1800 171 233. From 9am-5pm Monday – Friday, this number will divert to the appropriate regional Gateway Services office. Baptcare is running the Gateway Services in both the South West and the North; and Mission Australia is operating the Gateway Services in the South East and the North West.
- Gateway Services are for children and families which are in need of family support; and
- Child Protection Services will respond where there is alleged harm to the child.
If you have any queries please contact Diane Caney, Manager, CAFS Team, Policy and Programs, DCYFS, on 6233 8540 or diane.caney@dhhs.tas.gov.au
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Important changes to the Subclass 457 business (Long Stay) visa program.
Retirement Age up to 67 Years has Adverse Affect for Nurses
Initiative for Nurses to return to Aged Care
A new initiative to encourage nurses back into residential aged care (Bringing nurses back into the workforce)