QNU Annual Report 08-09.indd - Queensland Nurses Union

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Political Strategic objective: » Maximise the influence of the QNU in political processes. Submissions Over the past financial year, the QNU made submissions to various agencies and authorities to promote the interests of members and raise the political profile of the Union including: » » » The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC) based on the report: A Healthier future for all Australians The Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee Inquiry into the Fair Work Bill 2008 The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Employment and Workplace Relations Inquiry into pay equity and associated issues related to increasing female participation in the workforce » 2009-2010 State Budget » 2009-2010 Federal Budget » » The Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee Inquiry into Residential and Community Aged Care in Australia Response to the Productivity Commission Draft Inquiry Report – Paid Parental Leave: Support for parents with Newborn Children » The National Women’s Health Policy » The Visa Sub-class 457 review » Queensland Health Public Hospitals Oversight Committee report on the scope of practice of anaesthetic technicians » Queensland Health report on plaster/orthopaedic technicians Lobbying Over the past year we sought to capitalise on the success of the Your Rights at Work campaign by lobbying state and federal governments on industrial relations including legislative reforms. In addition we have also undertaken concerted lobbying campaigns to influence health and nursing polices at a state and national level. Of particular significance, late last year myself and other QNU representatives met with federal ALP politicians from Queensland to discuss a broad range of issues of concern to QNU, with particular emphasis on issues in aged care and other areas of our campaign agenda. Campaigns We have invested considerable financial and human resources over the past year to develop and implement community, media and membership campaigns aimed at promoting and defending the interests of members though political means. Nurses. For you. For life In October 2008 we launched a ‘first of its kind’ campaign calling for governments, health and aged care employers to seriously address the current and predicted 20 | Annual Report 2008-09 | Queensland Nurses’ Union of Employees
POLITICAL nursing and midwifery shortages in Queensland or face dire consequences. The Nurses. For you. For life. campaign started with a round of television and newspaper advertising, a hotline and an interactive website and has since gained momentum. Key aims of the campaign, as contained in our Action Plan, include: » » » » » » » » More nurses. Urgent increases to nursing numbers across Australia. An additional 14,000 nurses are required in Queensland alone by 2014. Safe workloads and skill mix. Better management of nurses’ workloads. Supportive and safe workplaces. Improved focus on the safety and support of nurses in their workplaces. Quality and accountability. Regulation of all people performing nursing work and accountability for how government funding is spent. Equity. Nurses to be paid the same no matter where they work. Education. Access to affordable education courses for current and future nurses that better prepare them to practice, as well as meaningful career structures to enable nurses to progress within their profession. Advocacy. Recognition that nurses are well placed advocates for patients and their families. Innovative and sustainable care. Enhanced potential for nurses to deliver health care services through new and innovative nursing and midwifery models of care. The key aims of this campaign have supported our calls for strategies to address workforce shortage issues in campaigns throughout the public, aged care and private hospitals sector and form an overarching framework for everything we do at the QNU. Action Plan and it’s affecting patient We need to stem the flow of nurses from our health system and attract more to care for us. We need: More nurses Supportive and safe workplaces Urgent increases to nursing numbers across Australia. An additional 14,000 nurses are required in Queensland alone by 2014. Why Patient care wi l be jeopardised if more nurses leave nursing and not enough new nurses are employed. With the state’s health system already thousands of nurses short the crisis is only set to worsen if recruitment and retention strategies aren’t prioritised. Safe workloads and skill mix Better management of nurses’ workloads. Why More than 80 percent of nurses are stressed and struggling under heavy workloads, made more difficult by serious workforce shortages and an inappropriate mix of ski ls. Nurses are increasingly worried about making mistakes under this workload burden. The right mix of nurses and their ski ls must be available to meet growing and more complex demands for nursing services. care. There’s a shortage of nurses in Queensland Improved focus on the safety and support of nurses in their workplaces. Why Nurses are increasingly victims of violence while at work and also exposed to significant workplace hazards. Supportive workplace environments, including proper facilities and amenities, more responsive work arrangements and a culture where all health workers participate in the promotion of health care will help stem the flow of nurses from the profession. It must be shown that nurses are valued through a renewed and continuing focus on safe and supportive workplaces. Quality and accountability Regulation of all people performing nursing work and accountability for how government funding is spent. We need MORE NURSES in Queensland Support the campaign today Why Improved openness and accountability around health and aged care services wi l ensure patients receive safe and quality health services. The community also has a right to see how their money is being spent by a l providers of health and aged care services. We need MORE NURSES in Queensland Nurses are concerned that patient care is being affected. Join the nurses’ campaign today. nursesforyouforlife.com.au 1300 QLD NURSE Nurses know that much more can and must be done. Queensland Nurses’ Union – the union for nurses and midwives nursesforyouforlife.com.au 1300 QLD NURSE Authorised by Gay Hawksworth, Secretary, Queensland Nurses’ Union, 187 Melbourne St, West End 4101. Some of the Nurses. For you. For life. campaign materials Members have been very active in this campaign with the support of a range of materials to inform members, the community, employers and governments. We also employed a QNU member to staff our special campaign hotline late last year, which we established to engage with community members during the television advertising campaign and subsequent media buy. While the QNU has actively campaigned around issues affecting nurses and midwives and nursing and midwifery before, never have we campaigned around a professional issue which affects the community so broadly. The Nurses. For you. For life campaign is the result of nearly a year of research and planning. In 2007, the QNU Annual Conference moved a resolution to develop an advertising campaign to promote nursing and garner public support for future QNU campaigns. Because We Care In March this year we launched our national Because We Care campaign which aims to address serious issues facing nurses and residents in aged care. Coordinated by all branches of the Australian Nursing Federation including the QNU, the campaign calls on the federal government to act and properly fund aged care by introducing: 1. The right balance of skills and nursing hours so that nursing and care staff can provide quality care for every resident. 2. Fair pay for aged care nurses and care staff who are paid up to $300 per week less than nurses in other sectors. 3. Recognition of the professional skills of Assistants in Nursing and care staff through a national licensing system. 4. A guarantee that taxpayer funding is used for nursing and personal care for each resident. Over the months leading up to the next federal election, the campaign aims to put pressure on the government and aged care providers to address our issues. Key components of the campaign framework include: » Researching » Charter for Quality Aged Care Because We Care Charter Campaigning – developing and implementing an organising framework. Key activities include Queensland Nurses’ Union of Employees | Annual Report 2008-09 | 21
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QNU Annual Report 08-09.indd - Queensland Nurses Union

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