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

ORGANISATIONAL
Member training
One significant vehicle for achieving positive social
change continues to be through the provision of QNU
training to members across the state.
For the first half of 2009 we had the largest attendance
figures for our training courses since the QNU Training
Unit was established. Many courses around the state
filled and had waiting lists. Training courses were
conducted in Alice Springs, Brisbane, Bundaberg,
Cairns, Darwin, Mackay, Rockhampton, Roma,
Toowoomba and Townsville.
The increase in member participation levels at training
across the state coincided with a change of federal
government, the foreshadowing of the Fair Work Act and
the demise of the WorkChoices regime. Hopefully this
points to a future filled with an increasing confidence
in Union participation in the workplace and the ever
increasing identification of QNU members with their
Union.
QNU members attending the Private Hospitals Bargaining course
Communicating with members
The QNU allocates significant resources to communicate
with members.
We have developed and implemented a comprehensive
communications strategy over the past year to provide
members with accurate, timely and relevant information
which also facilitates their involvement in Union
activities.
We have also communicated the QNU’s political,
industrial, professional and social message to the
broader community through our public campaigns.
Key communication activities and achievements over
the past year include:
»
»
Implementation of a detailed communication
strategy for the Nurses. For you. For life. campaign,
which included a round of television and newspaper
advertising, and the Because We Care aged care
campaign. A comprehensive package of materials were
developed for both campaigns.
Launching a new-look journal and a new monthly
newsletter, Snapshots, as part of a broad revamp of
all QNU communications and publications. These
new publications ensure we are best placed to
communicate the key issues and challenges affecting
members in an open, timely, topical, effective and
responsive manner.
UNION
TRAINING
PROGRAM
TRAINING
JULY
PROGRAM
– DECEMBER 2008
JANUARY – JUNE 2009
Top: First edition of the
new look tqn
Bottom: First edition
of Snapshots the new
monthly newsletter
VOLUME 1
I S U E 1
M A R C H 20 0 9
Authorised by
G. Hawksworth,
Queensland Nurses’ Union
Phone: (07) 3840 1444
To l free: 1800 177 273
Fax: (07) 3844 9387
Email: qnu@qnu.org.au
www.qnu.org.au
BECAUSE WE CARE...
ABOUT AGED CARE
A national campaign to put aged care in
the spotlight and give aged care nursing
and care staff the recognition they
deserve will be launched later this month
by the QNU and all state branches of the
ANF.
The campaign, which will run through
to 2010, will deliver a strong message to
government, the community and aged care
providers that older Australians deserve
the best care and tha the passion and
dedication of Australia’s aged care nursing
and care staff should be recognised and
valued.
The campaign has been designed to
address key issues facing aged care nursing
and care staff and residents by calling on
the federal governmen to properly fund
aged care to achieve:
1. The right balance of skills and nursing
hour so that nursing and care staff can
provide quality care for every resident
A national nursing
occupational award –
nearly there
After extensive proceedings and consultations,
lobbying and campaigning nurses and midwives
are nearly in a position where the safety net for
their employment wi l be based on a national
nursing occupational award.
On 23 January the Australian Industrial Relations
Commission issued a statement and draft nursing
occupational award.
Written submissions on the award closed on
13 February and a further hearing was held in
Sydney on 23 February.
While a number of other parties
continued to oppose the nursing
award, their main focus was on some
of the specific provisions.
A final decision of the AIRC wi l be
released on 3 April which we hope wi l
confirm the nursing occupational
award.
The making of a nursing occupational
award wi l be a significant plank in the
efforts to restore and improve fairness
and equity in nurses’ employment
as new federal industrial
relations legislation is ro led out.
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 nationa licensing system
4. A guarantee tha taxpayer funding is
used for nursing and personal care for
each resident.
The QNU and ANF branches are
committed to working with nursing and
care staff throughout Australia for as long
as i takes to win improvements in these
key areas.
GET INVOLVED ON MARCH 17
Members from all sectors are asked to visit
the special campaign website
www.becausewecare.org.au on March 17
to participate in campaign activities on the
day. So get involved on March 17!
GP Super Clinic for Redcliffe
A GP Super Clinic has been approved for Redcliffe.
The Moreton Bay Integrated Care Centre wi l be
located on the grounds of the Redcliffe Hospital.
Two streams of care are to be provided:
» an acute care service and
» a chronic disease management service.
GP Super Clinics wi l be ro led out progressively
over the next four years at 31 locations across
Australia. Other Queensland GP Super Clinics wi l
be established in Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone,
Ipswich, Mount Isa, Strathpine, and Townsvi le.
QNU Conference –
have your say
A l QNU members are urged to have a say
in the future of the Union by participating in
the development of agenda items for Annual
Conference through your local branch.
The decision making forum of the QNU, Annual
Conference wi l be held this year on 22-24 July.
For more information on submitting an agenda
item please contact your local branch – information
booklets have been provided to a l QNU branches.
If you don’t know who your local branch is please
contac the QNU on (07) 3840 1444.
Agenda items for Annual Conference must be
received by Jenny Gett a the QNU by 11 May
to jgett@qnu.org.au or pos to GPO Box 1289,
Brisbane, QLD, 4001.
Churches of Christ EB
– training now on
With the Churches of Christ Enterprise
Bargaining Agreement due fo renegotiation in
August 2009 members are urged to get educated
now to ensure the QNU is best placed to
negotiate for your wages and conditions.
Any members interested in participating in
the negotiating proces should contac the
QNU as training can be provided prior to the
commencement of negotiations.
Paid leave is available for this training. So don’t
wait, contact QNU organiser Paul Mitche l on
(07) 3840 1450 or email pmitche l@qnu.org.au
Public sector negotiations
under way
Growing nursing and midwifery numbers,
through recruitment and retention strategies
and addressing workload issues, are central to
negotiations for the seventh Enterprise Bargaining
Agreement (EB7) which are continuing.
The QNU and Queensland Health (and Mater
Public) are currently negotiating under an
Interest Based Problem Solving (IBPS) approach.
Now tha the election has been ca led the state
government has gone into ‘caretaker mode’ which
means formal negotiations between the QNU and
Queensland Health cannot be finalised until the
election is over.
The QNU and Queensland Health wi l, however,
continue to meet during the election period to
address our interests associated with EB7.
Even though the agreement expires on 26 March
2009, the QNU wi l negotiate
until we ge the best possible
package of wages and
conditions for members,
no matter wha the
outcome a this election.
Members wi l continue to
be updated on the
negotiations through public
sector specific materials.
For more information visit
the special EB7
campaign page at
www.qnu.org.au
Informatics Competencies for nurses
The ANF is conducting a national project in conjunction with the Queensland
University of Technology to develop, validate and publish Informatics
Competency Standards for the nursing profession in Australia.
Registered Nurses and Enro led Nurses are invited to participate in the
Nursing Informatics Competencies for Australia national survey that
seeks your opinions and experiences with informatics technology.
The survey, for Registered Nurses and Enro led Nurses, takes
approximately 20 minutes to complete. You responses
to thi survey are anonymous. None of you responses
wi l be linked to you as an individual.
To complete the survey visit www.qnu.org.au and
fo low the links.
Vol. 28 | No. 1 | February 2009
THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE
QUEENSLAND NURSES’ UNION
New IR laws:
How do they
stack up
6 | Annual Report 2008-09 | Queensland Nurses’ Union of Employees