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HACSU Tasmania assistant secretary Lucas Digney ( front-left ) and ANMF Tasmania secretary Emily Shepherd ( front-right ). Picture : Alex Treacy
‘ Not a silver bullet
Tasmanian nurses and midwives accept new pay deal , however it might not fix staff vacancies
By Arshmah Jamal
Tasmanian nurses and midwives have accepted a deal with the state government , which will pay them in the same league as other Australian states . Although welcomed by unions , one advocate said it wouldn ’ t be “ a silver bullet ” to the sector ’ s staffing problems .
After nearly a year of negotiations , 80 per cent of members of the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation ( ANMF ) and the Health and Community Service Union ( HACSU ) supported the offer .
The deal contained an average pay increase of between 14 and 15 per cent over three years , including a 3.5 per cent rise starting in December of this year , a $ 1,500 base salary raise , and a $ 1,000 costof-living payment .
There were also changes to entitlements and conditions , such as extended Sunday night penalty rates , increased allowances for staff who undertake a PhD , and a commitment to change the staff ratio model .
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Tasmania Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the agreement would help attract and retain nurses and midwives to Tasmania .
“ The respective unions indicated there was overwhelming support from members in favour of this offer , which is an excellent outcome following months of productive , good faith negotiations ,” he said .
“ This offer will help decrease the number of unfilled shifts , reduce the need for overtime and double shifts wherever possible , and improve vacancy rates .
“ Importantly , the new agreement will also provide nurses and midwives with a range of improved standard leave and conditions , which are consistent with other public sector agreements .”
However , the ANMF Tasmania ’ s secretary Emily Shephard said the agreement was “ not a silver bullet ”.
“ This agreement will now see nurses and midwives in Tasmania paid in line or above the national average ,” Ms Shephard said . “ It ’ ll also assist in recruitment to fill vacant positions , particularly in regard to keeping graduate nurses here , who might have chosen to work in other states and territories for higher wages .”
“ We were hearing that members were receiving up to 80 phone calls and text messages outside of their work shifts , asking them to pick up more shifts , work overtime , or help out .”
“ How do we get young people into university to undertake nursing ? And then how do we recruit and retain them to work in the public sector here in Tasmania ?
HACSU assistant state secretary Lucas Digney welcomed the pay deal , however , said it did not go far enough to build the next generation of workers .
Last year , the Victorian government announced free uni degrees for 10,000 nurses and midwives .
In August , healthcare workers in NSW were offered $ 20,000 worth of incentives to relocate to regional and rural NSW .
Mr Digney said the state was unlikely to completely fix its workforce shortages unless Tasmania offered free education .
“ There ’ s a lot of evidence around that simply not enough nurses have been trained to fill the vacancies , and it ’ s certainly something that the Tasmanian government should maybe sharpen its pencil and focus on ,” he said .
“ How do we get young people into university to undertake nursing ? And then how do we recruit and retain them to work in the public sector here in Tasmania ?” ■