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

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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
ORGANISATIONAL » Developing the new-look QNU website – to be launched in July 2009. The new website will make it easier to access QNU information and materials to support members in their roles as nurses and midwives and as valuable members our Union. Members will be able to view tqn online, participate in a range of campaign activities and actions, access a range of QNU resources in our new ‘resource hub’, enrol online for training courses, join online as well as change and update membership details. Stills from our Nurses. For you. For life. tv ads Screenshots of the new-look QNU website Media The QNU continues to take a strategic and proactive approach to media. Over the past 12 months we utilised free and paid media to increase awareness of, and community involvement in, our Nurses. For you. For life. and Because We Care campaigns. We also made public comment in regard to the two major party’s health policies during the state election campaign earlier this year. Secretary Gay Hawksworth and Assistant Secretary Beth Mohle make themselves available to the media to cover a range of professional and industrial issues affecting members where appropriate. QNU staff The QNU recognises that our staff are critical to our success. We’ve employed a number of staff over the past year to newly created or existing positions to ensure we are best placed to support members into the future through various areas of our Strategic Plan. As at the end of 2008/09 financial year, the QNU employed 90 permanent staff across six offices (55 officials and 35 administration staff). Payroll deductions In an effort to mitigate risk to the QNU, a number of years ago we launched our Pay Roll Deduction (PRD) campaign to encourage members to convert their fee payment from PRD arrangements to other payment methods. This campaign has been an outstanding success with the percentage of members paying by PRD decreasing from 48% in July 2005 (baseline date) to now under 17% and continuing to decline by natural attrition now that PRD is no longer offered as a payment option for membership fees. Queensland Nurses’ Union of Employees | Annual Report 2008-09 | 7
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QNU Annual Report 08-09.indd - Queensland Nurses Union

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