2015-16: A year in review FOR THE PERIOD 1 jULY 2015 – 30 JUNE 2016

Report of the Queensland Nurses’ Union of Employees and Australian Nursing AND MIDWIFERY Federation (QNU Branch)

35th Annual Conference 13-15 JULY 2016 BRISBANE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE Introduction

It’s quite surprising when you begin to look back over the year’s events to realise just how much you can squeeze into 12 months. Let’s take a moment to reflect. This year … We made history by securing legislated nurse-to-patient and midwife-to-patient ratios. We finalised public sector award modernisation without loss of conditions. We took the public sector EB9 to ballot.

Beth Mohle We engaged in one of the longest federal election campaigns in Australian history. In any other year, any one of these would have been achievement enough—but to have all of them come to fruition in one year is quite the feat. And it doesn’t end there. While those big issues were in the spotlight, the important day-to-day work of our union has also been tracking very well. Our membership numbers have reached a record 56,000, we’ve negotiated 34 private, aged care and other enterprise agreements, our social media community has doubled since last year, and our member services and legal team have increased their caseload by about 25%. While it is true the absence of a truly adversarial state government did allow us to turn our focus elsewhere, the secret to our successes this year, and every year, runs deeper than that. It comes down to who we are and the values we hold dear. As the peak professional and industrial organisation for nurses and midwives in Queensland we have a responsibility to harness our nursing and midwifery power in defence of our patients and residents, our profession and our rights. And we take this responsibility seriously. We always do. We are not an organisation that accepts complacency or inertia—our values encourage us to step up, to be proactive and lead. So I truly believe the accomplishments we have seen this year are not merely due to a shift in the tone of our relationship with the government, but rather the product of our natural inclination to roll up our collective sleeves, draw on our professional expertise, and on our strength, integrity and power to make change happen. Our goal this year was to rebuild hope and reclaim our place as leaders and advocates within the health care system, and I think it’s clear we have made excellent progress. The focus now is on consolidating our achievements and building on them. Beth Contents

Direction and focus 2

Organisational 6

Industrial 10

Professional 18

Social 22

Political 27

Democratic 34 Direction and focus

Strategic objective:

Promote the QNU’s vision, mission and values in all aspects of its strategic operations.

It has been a strong year for the QNU as we were able After so many years of campaigning and political to get back to basics and focus on a number of big lobbying for safe workloads, an important milestone ticket items for our union without the distraction of a had been reached—ratios were now law. state government trying to tear us down. But every law needs groundwork, and the groundwork That’s not to say we didn’t face challenges, but rather, for this law was done by nurses and midwives. we weren’t being attacked on multiple fronts and More than 600 QNU members wrote to us about how having our valuable resources directed away from the ratios would make a difference to their daily working key initiatives we wanted to address. lives and to patient safety—and many of these were The upshot of this is that we were able to pour our included in our submission into the ratios bill energies into a number of issues close to our heart— inquiry. some of which have long been on our “to do” list. In addition to this, a number of QNU members showed true commitment and bravery by personally fronting Ratios Save Lives the hearings and giving evidence to the committee, Our biggest achievement this year was securing telling them first-hand about the danger of excessive legislated nurse-to-patient, midwife-to-patient ratios. workloads and how ratios will greatly reduce the risk to On 1 December Health Minister Cameron Dick nurses, midwives and our patients. introduced the Hospital and Health Boards (Safe Nurse- It takes great courage to front a parliamentary inquiry To-Patient and Midwife-To-Patient Ratios) Amendment as they can be quite adversarial, so I was so very proud Bill 2015 to parliament for its first reading. of those members who stood up and presented such Not only was this an important step for our campaign, raw and compelling evidence. it was also an historic moment for nursing and It was an enormous privilege to watch these nursing midwifery in Queensland and our role as advocates for and midwifery leaders in action. patient safety. And while these activist members were presenting the The bill legislated for a minimum of one nurse to four very real human face of our ratios campaign, they were patients during morning and afternoon shifts, and one being supported by the expertise and resources of our nurse to seven patients during night shifts in prescribed union—Organisers, Professional Officers, Industrial locations in Queensland public health facilities. Officers, Researchers, Communications, Campaigning These locations will cover 80% of medical and surgical and Training officials, and other staff. beds in Queensland. In the past few months since the legislation was It took a good 18 months of campaigning, lobbying, passed we have been working with Queensland Health and negotiating to see the Bill pass into law, which of to finalise the two core elements of the legislative course it did on International Nurses Day, 12 May, this package—the Regulation and the Standard. year. These components contain additional details on the Those of us who sat in the Queensland Parliament introduction of ratios and on the supporting workload gallery for the long debate before the vote was taken, management tool, the Business Planning Framework struggled to contain our emotions. (BPF). This has not been an easy process and we have had a number of debates over rostering and other issues around the application of the new law. While we are not entirely satisfied with the final shape of the implementation plan, we do believe it is the RATIOS start of what, over time, will become a systemic change to the way nursing workloads are managed, and it gives us a firm basis not only for growing the ratios concept within public health but also more broadly into private SAve lIveS and aged care spheres.

2 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW DIRECTION AND FOCUS

Celebrating on the steps of Parliament House after the ratios bill was passed.

The result of all of this is that imperfections Conducted jointly by the ANMF, Flinders University notwithstanding, Queensland is now the fourth and the University of South Australia, the project was jurisdiction in the world to legislate minimum ratios designed to establish evidence-based tools to inform after California, Victoria, and Wales—and with that staffing and skills mix requirements in the aged care comes great responsibility. industry. While the legislation is now technically in effect, the The researchers were particularly interesting in the ultimate success of the legislation needs nurses and type and frequency of aged care interventions that midwives to play their part in ensuring facilities comply were incomplete or missed and the reasons why. with it. The data they collected would provide a snapshot of the We will be working with nurses on the floor over the adequacy of current staffing levels and skill mix in aged next few months to really get this reporting process care, and build an evidence-based case for a consistent and the escalation process bedded down. aged care staffing and skills mix model in Australia. From our perspective it is critical that in sites where This was a timely activity for us in light of the work we ratios do apply, any workload issue that arises is dealt were already doing in our Ratios campaign with respect with swiftly and the spirit of ratios defended vigorously, to securing an RN on shift 24/7 in every aged care and to that end we are working on ways of simplifying facility across the state. the reporting process and ensuring our members feel The public visibility of our campaign for public sector confident and empowered to take whatever steps ratios gave us an excellent platform from which to necessary to preserve those hard won ratios. highlight the need for more RNs in aged care, and it certainly was a claim that gained traction in the wider A focus on aged care community. This year was also a year in which aged care was a particular focus. Aged Care Senate Inquiry Of course, given the multitude of issues affecting aged In March, QNU made a comprehensive submission care the sector is rarely out of our sights, but this year to the Senate Inquiry on the future of aged care in there were a number of events at a state and federal Australia. level that enabled us to shine a light on our concerns Our submission focussed on the implementation of more broadly. professional nursing standards and quality of care in Late last year we ran focus groups in Brisbane and the aged care sector, including the recommendation via teleconference as part of the National Aged Care that it be mandatory for aged care facilities to have a Staffing and Skills Mix Project. Registered Nurse on site, every shift.

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 3 DIRECTION AND FOCUS

We argued that because Registered Nurses often have The QNU agrees with the Guild, but we go further, the capacity to handle issues that might otherwise result suggesting unregulated workers should become the in hospital transfers and other costly interventions, ‘third level’ of nursing and be regulated by the NMBA having a nurse on site also makes good financial sense. through mandatory minimum qualifications, and standards for practice. We also noted the troubling downward trend in direct care staffing. Nonetheless we were very heartened by this interest In the 2008-2009 financial year, aged care providers in regulation from such an unlikely source and will nationally spent about 66% of their Commonwealth continue to follow this development closely. funding on direct care staffing costs. In the 2011-2012 financial year, this figure had dropped to 60%, and in New Strategic Plan 2014-2015, it dropped further to 55%. The QNU adopted a new Strategic Plan this year. Of course it all comes down to profit which is why we The Strategic Plan, revisited every three years, is were keen to point out that far from being on the bread the key operating document which determines the line many aged care providers were big businesses with direction and future activities of our union. no excuse to reduce spending on direct care. The plan lists the overarching operational and strategic We cited reports from QNU members who indicated objectives to which the union and its employees are staff regularly arrive before their shifts begin and stay accountable. back late—all unpaid—just to make sure residents get the care they need—an outrageous situation when the It sits alongside our vision, mission and values providers’ annual profit margins tip the $1 million mark. statements as a compass for our organisation and it is our constant reference point for all that we do. We also highlighted the disconnect between increased care needs for ageing patients, Federal funding and As always we were determined to ensure our members’ staff levels. While service providers are able to access views were well represented in this important increased funds for higher needs residents via the document and to this end we conducted member Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) there is currently surveys and solicited feedback from members as part no requirement for a reciprocal increase in staffing to of the review process. manage the higher level of care. The new 2016-2018 Strategic Plan was endorsed by QNU The Senate Committee’s report was due to be released council in December 2015 and can be downloaded from on 30 June but the work of the committee lapsed the QNU website at www.qnu.org.au/strategicplan. due to the calling of the federal election. We will be watching closely to see what the government does in Decisions at every level of our union are made in line this space and whether it is really serious about caring with our Strategic Plan, including those made by our for older Australians and willing to impose staffing chief decision-making body—QNU Council. structures and transparent reporting expectations on private sector operators that might reduce profits.

AIN registration For many years, we have advocated for the regulation of Assistants in Nursing and Personal Carers, so we were pleased to see the Aged Care Guild this year take a similar position during the Senate inquiry into aged care. We believe regulation is essential for safe and quality care, through the national standardisation of qualifications and competencies for AINs (however titled), under the auspices of the NMBA. In their submission to the inquiry, the Aged Care Guild, a peak body representing major private residential aged care providers, said they supported mandatory registration of Personal Care workers in aged care. This is the first time mandatory registration for unregulated care workers has been supported by any QUEENSLAND NURSES’ UNION aged care employer association. Strategic Plan The Guild argues the registration of unregulated aged 2016-2018 care workers should be compulsory and administered by AHPRA in the same way nurses and doctors are.

4 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW DIRECTION AND FOCUS

QNU Council is responsible for managing the affairs of Future proofing our union our union in accordance with the priorities identified This year we have also started looking for ways to in the Strategic Plan, as well as overseeing the “future proof” our union. implementation of Annual Conference decisions. This is the sort of internally-focused, strategic work The 26 person council is made up of 24 honorary elected representatives, and two full time paid that often gets set aside in times when we are busy officers—the Secretary and Assistant Secretary. responding to emergent, time-sensitive matters like job cuts and elections, but it’s certainly worth returning to The current council was elected following a full ballot when we have an opportunity. of our membership in October 2012. We have been looking closely at our activist Thanks this year must go to our Council—including first development and engagement to ensure we continue term Assistant Secretary Sandra Eales, our president to have strong representation at every level from the Sally-Anne Jones and vice president Steve Bone for workplace through to our organisational teams. their hard work over the year. This includes a focus on activist training, branch growth QNU Council and development, visibility projects such as QNU@ work and engaging members at a professional level Secretary Beth Mohle through initiatives such as the patient safety and Assistant Secretary Sandra Eales resident safety activists program. We are also looking closely at a review of how we President Sally-Anne Jones communicate with members and how me might better Vice President Stephen Bone harness new communications techniques and digital technology going forward. Councillors Julie Burgess ■ Chris Cocks Karen Cooke ■ Dianne Corbett There have been major changes in the technology and Jean Crabb ■ Gillian Gibbs Shelley Howe ■ Phillip Jackson resources we have access to over the past few decade— Leanne Jiggins ■ Damien Lawson we now have 24-hour news cycles, everyday use of David Lewis ■ Lucynda Maskell social media and most people now own one if not more Simon Mitchell ■ Fiona Monk smart devices. Sue Pitman ■ Daniel Prentice Karen Shepherd ■ Katy Taggart We need to ensure we are making the most of these ■ Kym Volp Deborah Watt changes and have positioned ourselves well to take Di Webb ■ Charmaine Wicking advantage of any future developments as they arise.

QNU Council

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 5 Organisational

Strategic objective:

Achieve union growth, influence and power through the provision of adequate infrastructure and support.

The QNU retained its position as Queensland’s from the graph below, total membership grew by 5.97 largest union this year and the premier professional percent over the past financial year. Although financial association for nurses and midwives across all sectors membership growth tracked slightly weaker at 3.39 and all classifications in Queensland. percent, this was in part due to our new membership system calibrating the definition of what constitutes an Our continued growth in membership is heartening and unfinancial member. certainly something we can all be proud to be part of (see graph below). QNU’s presence on the ground continues to deliver membership results. Over the past year we have What’s more, a bumper year for training means more regained access to Queensland Health inductions. of our members are becoming active in the workplace, This provides a terrific opportunity to engage which, as a campaigning union, is good news for the new starters, and inform them not only of their future growth and development of our organisation. fundamental rights in the workplace but also provide detailed updates on current campaigns, such as ratios Membership growth and penalty rates. Over the first six months of 2016, Despite sustained attacks by the LNP and some across South East Queensland, QNU’s growth and elements of the media, who remain intent on recruitment team have run 95 sessions addressing demonising Australian union members, the QNU’s over 2250 new starters. membership growth defies the national trend by Younger nurses and midwives are joining in their maintaining an upward trajectory. droves, buoyed by the Palaszczuk governments’ Over the past 12 months alone, well in excess of 7000 commitment to higher new graduate employment nurses and midwives across Queensland have joined numbers. Over 1000 students joined on-the-spot at our our great union and are now QNU. As you can see QNU University and TAFE sessions. Through word-of-

GRAPH

Total financial membership growth: June 2006 - June 2016 56109

55000 52946 51686 51255 49751 50000

46331 r 45000

41539 Numbe

40000 38115

35473 35911

35000 33046

30000

Date

6 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW ORGANISATIONAL

mouth, their friends then call and join over the phone— Calls that are not handled immediately, are triaged for they don’t want to miss out on the action. It’s great to return calls with issues such as unfair dismissals, AHPRA see our student members at orientations, where they matter or coronial inquiries given highest priority. are upgrading to full membership as they start their graduate program! The excitement and anticipation on This year the team handled an impressive 22,910 the ground around Ratios and EBs has also translated inbound calls with 86.8%of those calls answered into nurses and midwives across all sectors wanting to immediately. also be QNU members. The top five issues they identified during the past 12 Over the past 10 years, total membership has grown months were: by an impressive 23,000 members. This is more than ■■ Leave allowances including public holiday leave and the entire population of Maryborough. The bedrock maternity leave of QNU membership growth is activists and delegates like you flying the flag at your ward and workplace ■■ Bullying which continues to be an issue across all level. sectors ■ The successful implementation of ratios and all ■ Members across all sectors being disciplined or workload tools will be contingent upon everyone performance managed through PIPs and PADs singing from the same song sheet, so please encourage ■■ Unmanageable workloads and concerns over safety, all your colleagues to join and especially highlight staff shortages and funding shortfalls the absolute importance of membership to visiting ■■ Medication management in aged care facilities students in your workplace. particularly with respect to AINs and PCs Member and Specialist services The table below shows phone calls and emails to QNU Connect in the past financial year by issue: The Queensland Nurses’ Union Member Services group consists of the Member and Specialist Services Director, QNU Connect, Servicing Industrial Officers, QNU Connect Call Centre Report Servicing Organisers, a Workplace Health and Safety 01 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 Officer and Administrative support staff. ISSUE NO. OF CALLS For most members QNU Connect is the first point of Membership (general enquiries) 7640 contact with the Union when seeking information or Request for representation forms 1145 assistance in resolving an issue in the workplace. Legal enquiries (general) 1077 So it is good to know they are in safe hands. Workers comp advice 520 QNU Connect Officials are all nurses or midwives with extensive experience and backgrounds in midwifery, Industrial (hours of work) 489 mental health, aged care, education, paediatrics, Professional (professional practice issues) 450 surgical and cardiac nursing. Industrial (rosters) 430 Our team is well equipped to provide members with Industrial (discipline) 394 information, advice and assistance on a wide range of professional, industrial and other employment and Membership fee enquiries 389 workplace issues. Industrial (public holidays) 363 Any issues that cannot be resolved with assistance Legal (PII inquiries) 325 from QNU Connect Officials are directed through the Request for Representation process to the wider Industrial (hourly rates) 296 Servicing Team. Industrial (contracts) 276 QNU Connect is a vital hub for collecting information WHS (bullying) 275 from members and reporting relevant workplace Industrial (workloads) 274 issues to Organisers, public, private and aged care sector teams as well as other QNU officials so as Professional (allegations against others) 271 to promptly address member concerns and halt Industrial (sick leave) 266 management actions that may not be in line with awards, enterprise bargaining agreements, policy or Professional (education) 251 processes. Retention strategy (unfinancial) 250 It is a very busy office and the small but expert team Industrial (annual leave) 243 endeavour to provide a timely response to all member TOTAL 15624 calls.

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 7 ORGANISATIONAL

Member training As members begin to better understand that they are the union, an increasing number of members are taking Over the past twelve months 1586 members on active QNU roles. participated in QNU training. This in turn means that all of our core activist courses This means that one in every 33 members across the continue to be very popular. State attended QNU training in this 12 month period. There were 28 different courses offered in this 12 The QNU conducted 100.5 days of training and 28 different courses across eleven centres, including months and seven new courses including QH EB9- Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gatton, Gold Coast, Better work. Better Life., Private Sector-Tactics to Hervey Bay, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Overcome Hostility, Private Sector-When Bargaining Toowoomba and Townsville. Goes Wrong, Private Sector-Committee Skills for Activists, Private Sector- Everything You Wanted to Our training courses—both core courses and sector- Know about Your Agreement but were Afraid to Ask, specific courses—have been designed to grow union Professional Culpability-Where do I stand?, Building capacity in the workplace by building depth in our Teams to grow our voice. democratic structures and developing new and experienced activists. We also continued ATOM (Activist Training Online Modules). About 76% of all QNU training attendees this year held an activist position within our honorary structures, and ATOM, with its flexible delivery method and focus on 48% of training participants were attending training for the history and basic principles of unionism, has been the first time. very popular. Training is the fundamental mechanism for helping Members can enrol at anytime and be supported as members deal with barriers to organising and helps they learn online. them address issues in the workplace to optimise our ATOM is not designed to replace face-to-face training collective voice. but to complement our existing training program. During the past twelve months the QNU education unit As part of the QNU training program Safe Work College has focussed on building strength in worksites, Ratios is providing approved Health and Safety Representative Save Lives, bargaining in the private and public sectors, training for nurses and midwives in collaboration with growing professional voice, building communication the QNU. and team building skills as part of our activists’ growth. We believe that creating safer workplaces starts There are some really resourceful union building with having enough trained health and safety activities occurring on a day-to-day basis across representatives in our workplaces. sectors and around the state. This is particularly important in the face of our Ratios Our evaluation shows that an increasing number of and patient safety campaign. members want to be more active in their union after attending QNU training. Research on the training of union delegates conducted by Peetz and Alexander (July 2013) indicates that trained delegates are “much more likely to say that they are satisfied with being a delegate than two years earlier and to agree that they enjoyed being a delegate. They were also more likely to demonstrate efficacy.” The researchers concluded that while training does means encouraging delegates to do more things and more difficult things, it “also makes them more satisfied with being a delegate-especially when training is followed up.”

QNU training courses figures for 2015/16

Number of training days 100.5

Number of courses conducted 87

No of locations where courses were conducted 11

QNU training Total number of members participating 1586

8 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW ORGANISATIONAL

QNU IT system overhaul Our analytics show us that women aged 45-54 are our biggest single largest audience making up about 20-22% For most of the past year the QNU IT team has of our followers, with about 70% of all followers using continued to work through a significant, and long mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets to view overdue, IT system overhaul. our page. The scale of this project has been enormous, and flicking The post announcing the passing of our Ratios the switch on the new system at the end of last year was legislation attracted record breaking Facebook really just the end of one phase and the start of another. engagement for the QNU—the 12 May post was Since go-live the QNU IT team have continued to build viewed 215,807 times, shared 1167 times, received on the new tech’s capabilities, customising functions 2681 reactions (likes, loves and wows) and drew 178 to suit different department’s shifting needs, and comments. conducting rigorous tests and security trials as the Facebook is certainly proving to be a useful platform work progresses. for QNU communications, while also enabling our After more than 15 years using the old system, geographically dispersed members to engage with each switching over to a new best practice model and other. learning how to customise the new system has As well as our Facebook page, QNU’s social media certainly been a challenge at times, but our team has portfolio also includes Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram done a fantastic job. accounts, and a YouTube channel where we upload Like any major system switch, there have been some videos. teething problems, and some of the functions we had hoped to have ready for go-live have been put on the Mainstream media coverage back burner while other more pressing system needs The QNU had a great year for general media coverage. were prioritised. Our Ratios campaign and the historic passing of the One of the most visible outward signs of the new ratios legislation in Queensland made a significant system for QNU members was the launch in November splash—as did our push for nurse ratios in aged care of our new look website. and the issue of violence against nurses. Cleaner and easier to navigate the new website has The aged care phone-in and survey in June also separate public and member sections—allowing attracted some positive media attention, and the us to keep the public space less cluttered and to vote of no confidence and ongoing staffing issues at quarantine sensitive member matters such as the Rockhampton Hospital also received a good deal of progress of industrial negotiations, payroll matters and coverage, particularly in Central Queensland. organisational information. We also got excellent traction on our role in some of In the next year we hope to expand the functionality the big Federal issues—penalty rates for Australian of the website so it becomes the first port of call for workers and the campaign against Medicare co- members and the public seeking information about our payments were the two big stand outs. union and our activities. Other notable hits were QNU’s successful visa QNU website campaign for member Maria Sevilla, International Nurses’ Day and International Day of the Midwife, and our membership of Global Nurses United (GNU). The general statistics for media coverage in the 2015-16 year are: ■■ 191 TV, radio, print and internet interviews (29 TV, 47 radio and 115 print) ■■ More than 48 minutes of radio air time, more than 53 minutes of TV air time and more than 250,000 words in print (or 25047 sq cm of newspaper copy) ■■ Combined demographics of more than 14.8M viewers and listeners (746,000 radio, 1.6M TV and more than 12.5M newspaper and magazine readers—with two stories nationally syndicated by News Ltd and one QNU social media by Fairfax) QNU’s social media community continues to grow. ■■ Media coverage with a conservative advertising We now have about 7500 Facebook followers—more value of more than $8.7M than double the number we had this time last year. ■■ 36 media releases, eight letters to the editor.

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 9 Industrial

Strategic objective:

Facilitate empowerment of members to achieve their industrial objectives Provide effective industrial leadership Provide effective representation Maintain and improve wages and working conditions Work to achieve positive legislative reforms

Industrial relations reform Unions representatives on the review panel, I was well placed to promote workplace issues of most interest to At the end of last year, the Queensland government nurses and midwives. embarked on a long overdue review of the state’s industrial relations system. My focus was on advancing issues that aligned with the QNU’s nursing and midwifery values—like the ACTU’s A good deal has changed since the last comprehensive claim for family violence leave, and to progress matters review of our IR framework back in 1998. like job security, fair workloads and rostering, and Private sector employment has gone to the federal healthy workplace cultures. jurisdiction, and all that remains in the state jurisdiction is the public service, local government and It was a huge undertaking, and in the end we a handful of other specific entities. recommended a whopping 68 major changes to modernise the system when the report was handed Then of course there were all the draconican changes down in March this year. made by the LNP which stripped away workers’ rights and favoured employers. Creating a ‘fair and balanced’ system The review gave us the chance not only to reverse One of the key recommendations of the review is to the LNP changes, but to also make the Queensland “specifically promote a fair and balanced industrial government a model employer. relations framework”. Queensland Health is the state’s largest employer, so The idea is to include fairness and balance as it stands to reason that health was to be a major focus fundamental principles in how we understand of the review, and as one of the Queensland Council of industrial relations, making these two concepts major features of any future changes to legislation.

Reinforcing independence The report also highlighted the need to ensure stakeholders with the power to influence and change industrial relations laws are independent and apolitical. As we know only too well, industrial relations law, particularly in recent years, has been used as a weapon against Queensland employees and their unions.

Key elements of the system Although the review committee had broad-ranging views on the details of the legislation, there was clear agreement on several key elements that must be a part of any modern industrial relations system. These include: ■■ a set of minimum standards ■■ collective bargaining as the most effective way of delivering fair wages and conditions ■■ a set of individual rights to fair treatment ■■ an independent commission and court.

10 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW INDUSTRIAL

Additional recommendations made by the committee we made sure nurses and midwives lost no current included making domestic and family violence leave an conditions. employment standard, equal pay for equal work, and The modern award will apply only after EB9 is certified considerations around new patterns of work, flexible in 2016. work arrangements and the implications of digital technologies. We are thrilled with how this process was finally resolved. What started as a potentially dangerous The state government will continue to consult with exercise in reducing worker’s rights eventually resulted stakeholders and the public on the IR review for the in a modern award that should serve us well for many next few months with the view to finalising the new years. laws by the end of 2016. Other awards Award modernisation We also revisited three other awards of relevance to The Award modernisation process which started under some of our members; the Health Practitioners and the LNP government back in 2013 was finally wrapped Dental Officers (Queensland Health) Award, Local up last year taking quite a different trajectory under Government Industry Award and the Queensland Public the current Labor government. Service Officers and other Employees Award. When the LNP passed the Industrial Relations Act These three awards were modernised under the former (Fair Work Act Harmonisation) and Other Legislation LNP government, so our modernisation process was Bill 2013, it was merely a vehicle designed to strip undertaken to ensure they reflected the amendments back hard won industrial rights through a so-called to the Industrial Relations Act 1999 recently put in place “modernisation process”. by the Palaszczuk government. Contained within the new law was a list of “non- The amendments reversed the former LNP government’s allowable” content for awards and agreements, and unfair amendments, which stripped hard-won clauses provisions which allowed Queensland Health to create from awards by deeming them “prohibited content”. directives about conditions of employment that could The review of the Health Practitioners/Dental Officers override awards and agreements. Award was also significant in one other respect—it It put matters such as employment security, anti- included, for the first time—Mental Health Team Leaders. discrimination provisions, accident pay and workload MH team leaders had previously been under an award management protocols at risk, and it watered down created by the LNP government—but for that reason it the power and autonomy of the Queensland Industrial lacked a great deal of important content which the LNP Relations Commission. government deemed ‘prohibitive’. Then, in an attempt to avoid a public quarrel with Fortunately, this award has now been modernised in a 35,000 nurses and midwives ahead of a state election, much more sophisticated and professional industrial the LNP postponed the award modernisation process environment. until December 2015 and pushed back the Public Sector EB negotiations until early 2016. This award is the first stand-alone award for MH team leaders, and will include the classification structure. This decision, taken unilaterally, left nurses and midwives across the state in limbo and denied them the right to negotiate improved wages and conditions. EB9 agreement ready for ballot After exhaustive negotiations with Queensland Health, But with the arrival of a new government in early 2015 we finally have a proposed EB9 agreement ready for the Award modernisation process was reframed. ballot. In a return to a collaborative working relationship, our At the time of printing, our Queensland Health industrial negotiators worked with Queensland Health members had just received their QNU information employers to restore and update our important public booklets containing important information about the sector industrial instruments. proposed EB agreement, including a summary of the By the end of 2015 the Queensland Health Nurses key changes and voting protocols. and Midwives Award – State 2015 and the Queensland We were also in the process of organising paid-time Health Framework Award 2015 had both been updated. information sessions for Queensland Health members The updates reinstated and returned important rights to to ensure they have all the information they need awards made under the LNP government, including union before casting their vote. encouragement, consultation and dispute resolution. The EB9 agreement this year is very much focused on Ultimately the modernisation process did not require a achieving better workloads for all nurses and midwives, major re-write—just updated wording and format—and as well as maintaining all existing entitlements.

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 11 INDUSTRIAL Professional

be covered by the QH EB9 for wages and professional development provisions. Their other conditions will remain the same and will be contained in a schedule to EB9. The benefits SSRNs will receive under the agreement IMPORTANT include (among other things) a 14% pay rise for Nurse INFORMATION Grade 6s, and a 27% pay increase for Nurse Grade 7s; FOR QNU MEMBERS three days of professional development leave per year, WORKING IN QUEENSLAND HEALTH plus an annual allowance of $1590; and a move up to a Nurses and midwives (Queensland 38 hour week. Health and Department of Education and ed Agreement (EB9) 2016 Training) Certifi Our SSRN members had overwhelming given their in- principle support to this proposed agreement and if all goes as planned, they will have an opportunity to vote on the agreement separately to QH nurses when it goes to ballot.

BETTER WORK. Private sector BETTER LIFE. The 2015/16 year was a major bargaining year in the EB private sector. Private hospital members were effective in securing 10 enterprise agreements covering many of the dominant providers in the sector including Uniting Care Health It is also about getting back on track to work (UCH), Healthscope and St Vincent’s as well as other collaboratively with Queensland Health to advance key key employer groups in the industry. industrial issues over the life of the new agreement. These issues include on-call and recall, rural and The most important issue in this round—one which remote, classifications, and midwifery. has been plaguing the sector for many years—was the “Option A” and “Option B” issue in relation to annual After the chaos and uncertainty of the LNP years there leave and public holidays. was certainly a need to recalibrate and get back to basics—in particular to get back to interest-based These were very complex conditions contained bargaining. within agreements that were often misapplied to the detriment of nurses and midwives That’s not to say it has been plain sailing. We had hoped to get the in-principle agreement locked in by Members this year however were successful in the end of March to put the agreement out to ballot removing “Option A” and “Option B” from their earlier—but that date was pushed back as we waited agreements so their final agreements now contain, on responses from Queensland Health to numerous better, simpler and fairer conditions. outstanding issues. The official consultation period ends on July 15 and a ballot result is expected late July or early August.

Pay parity for school nurses If all goes to plan, State School Registered Nurses (SSRNs) will also go to vote in the coming weeks on an agreement that will finally give them pay parity with Queensland Health RNs. We have been working to achieve pay parity—and professional development parity—for a number of years, but our efforts were unfortunately stalled when negotiations broke down under the previous LNP government. However, over the past year the QNU resumed discussions with the Department of Education and Healthscope Enterprise Bargaining Training (DET), the Office of Industrial Relations, and Representatives with QNU Organiser Queensland Health and it was decided that SSRNs will Vicky Stewart (centre)

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However we have had some interesting wins in terms of workload management. While legislated ratios are being rolled out in the public sector, we have also been working to get workload management recognised in aged care agreements. So far we have been successful at negotiating the inclusion of the workloads management clause to manage excessive workloads grievances in a number of enterprise agreements. This is an excellent outcome and positions us well for expanding the reach our ratios campaign to include of Toowong Private Hospital safe nurse-to-resident numbers in aged care. Enterprise Bargaining Representatives with QNU Organiser Agreements covering aged care made from 01 Vicky Stewart (left) July 2014 to 30 June 2015 RSL CARE EA 2015 Agreements covering private hospitals made COOINDA AGED CARE AND QNU - NURSES EA 2015 from 01 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 Churches of Christ Care QLD Nurses EA 2015 ICON CANCER CARE AND QNU NURSING EA NO8 2015-2018 Regis Aged Care RN EN and AIN QLD EA 2015 Healthscope and QNU - QLD Nurses EA 2015-2018 Nanyima Aged Care EA 2014 IPSWICH HOSPICE CARE ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2015-2018 NoosaCare Inc EA 2015 Healthe Care (Qld Private Hospitals) and QNU - Nursing EA Masonic Care QLD EA 2015 2015 JIMBELUNGA NURSING CENTRE - NURSES ENTERPRISE UnitingCare Health and QNU EA 2015-2018 AGREEMENT 2015 VEI SERVICES PTY LTD (QLD) AND THE QNU EA 2015 BEAUMONT CARE - NURSES ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2015 ST VINCENT’S CARE SERVICES QLD ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT ANGLICARE SOUTHERN QLD NURSING STAFF EA 2015-2017 2014 ALLITY EA (QLD) 2015 Mercy Health and Aged Care Central Qld Ltd Nursing EA IPSWICH HOSPICE CARE ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2015-2018 2015-2016 Queensland Baptist Union - Carinity Nurses EA2015 N. A. KRATZMANN AND SONS PTY LTD TRADING AS TOOWONG PRIVATE HOSPITAL EMPLOYEE COLLECTIVE WORKPLACE Ozcare and QNU EA2015 AGREEMENT 2010 ALLIED HEALTH EMPLOYEES Schools and small employer Aged care It has been a mixed bag for aged care industrial Agreements covering areas other than matters this year. Queensland Health, private hospitals and aged care made from 01 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 In the last half of 2015, wage offers in aged care in A.B. PATERSON COLLEGE LTD COLLECTIVE EA 2015 Queensland were sitting around 3% per annum. FAIRHOLME COLLEGE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT 2015 Some employers, particularly in rural and remote areas EMMANUEL COLLEGE COLLECTIVE EA 2015 where they had greater difficulty in attracting RNs or ENs, were even flagging wage increases of 6% or 7% for MEDIBANK HEALTH SOLUTIONS EA 2015 RNs (first year wage increase) or 6% or 5% for ENs (first Royal Flying Doctor Service and QNU EA2014 year wage increase). Serco Australia Pty Ltd and QNU EA2015 Unfortunately however, there has been a noticeable Ipswich Girls Grammar School and QNU EA2015 fall in wage offers in the new calendar year—generally IPSWICH GRAMMAR SCHOOL ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2015 between 2-2.5% per annum. The Toowoomba Grammar School EA 2015 We have also struggled to get maternity leave more FAMILY PLANNING QUEENSLAND TRADING AS TRUE widely adopted by employers—our modest wins so far RELATIONSHIPS AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH (TRUE) include Anglicare SQ which has agreed to nine weeks, ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2015 while Noosa Care and Good Shepherd Lodge have signed off on six. All Souls & St Gabriels School EA 2016

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 13 INDUSTRIAL Professional

Wage claims and recovery The QNU Servicing Team has, as at the end of May 2016, recovered more than $1.45 million for our members this financial year. Monies recovered on behalf of members include: ■■ Back payment of unpaid wages and entitlements ■■ Payment of long service leave due to financial or compassionate grounds ■■ Confidential settlement sums negotiated in unfair dismissal matters ■■ Successful Workers’ Compensation claims. The Servicing Team collectively across Queensland took on 2205 new matters this year. This represents a huge 23.6% increase on the number of new matters taken on the previous financial year (last year the team opened 1784 new matters). Of these new matters, our Regional Organisers who take The amendments were opposed by the LNP opposition on individual member matters opened 785 new cases, members but passed with Labour, Katter party and while 171 new Workers’ Compensation and Occupational independent member support. Health and Safety cases were opened across the state. The amendment also reinstated provisions that give The Servicing Team appears at a number of properly trained health and safety representatives the commissions and tribunals when representing QNU power to direct workers to cease unsafe work. members, and in the past financial year have made Unfortunately an amendment that would require appearances at the Public Service Commission employers to notify Workplace Health and Safety of Queensland, the Fair Work Commission, the Queensland when workers were absent from work for Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, the more than four (4) days due to a workplace injury, did Magistrates Court of Queensland and QComp. not pass. Of all the matters to come across out teams’ desk this We strongly supported this amendment as nurses financial year, there were a few notable trends: all too often suffer manual handling injuries that ■■ There has been a decrease in dismissal matters of result in musculoskeletal injuries that do not require approximately 25% notification to the regulator. ■■ The number of grievances we have assisted Our belief is that, were employers required to report members with has increased by approximately 33% such injuries, it would focus attention on the major ■■ Disciplinary matters continue to increase steadily source of injuries within our industry sector. across all sectors Additionally, such a measure would be consistent ■ ■ The number of new cases opened for the “other” with Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012- sector, which comprised all members who are 2022 which, amongst other targets, seek to redress not employed by the State Government, Private musculoskeletal disorders resulting in people being off Hospitals or Aged Care facilities more than doubled. work for one week or more by at least 30%. We continue to assist a significant number of members who have an injury, illness or disability that prevents Worker’s comp changes them from being able to perform their substantive We were pleased to see the restoration of a number roles in their entirety, particularly when such members of workers’ compensation entitlements in September are attempting to return to work. last year with the parliament passing changes to the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003. Health and Safety These changes were part of the government’s pre- Right of entry election commitment to reverse the damage done by QNU officials again have the right to enter workplaces the LNP’s 2013 legislation which, among other things, (without 24 hours’ notice) to investigate suspected changed the threshold for an injured worker pursuing breaches of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. common law. The legislative amendments that reinstated this power At the time of the LNP changes we strongly opposed were passed by the Queensland parliament in October the weakening of the workers’ compensation system, 2015. and we were not alone.

14 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW INDUSTRIAL

Even the LNP-dominated committee reviewing from violence at work—an approach that considers the Queensland Workers’ Compensation system everything from training, security standards and recommended common law rights should remain, but models of care to response teams, reporting and the report was ignored and the changes went ahead, workplace design. ostensibly to discourage injured employees from suing negligent employers. Lockout legislation Nurses and midwives are often at the frontline of In addition to the general restoration of Workers’ dealing with victims or perpetrators of alcohol-related Compensation entitlements, the QNU successfully incidences, so we had no hesitation raising our voice lobbied for a process to recompense members who as the Queensland government considered laws that suffered a degree of permanent injury at work but could reduce alcohol fuelled street violence. had lost their right to access common law between 15 October 2013–when the LNP introduced a 5% injury The laws, among other things included stopping the threshold–and 31 January 2015 when that threshold was service of alcohol at 2am, 1am lockouts and banning removed. the sale of high alcohol, rapid consumption drinks (shots) after midnight. The result was the Statutory Adjustment Scheme which allows those people to apply for a lump sum payment In our submission to the Legal Affairs and Community in recognition of their loss of rights. Safety Committee considering the Tackling Alcohol- Fuelled Violence Amendment Bill in December last Another important aspect of the suite of changes year we welcomed the laws, noting that addition to brought in by Labor includes the removal of legislation treating the victims and perpetrators of alcohol-fuelled that allowed an employer to access a prospective violence, nurses themselves were often at the receiving employee’s workers’ compensation history. end of alcohol-fuelled aggression from the very same Clearly, the removal of this provision must be people or indeed their friends and family. applauded because it removes the obvious potential It was, we said, not good enough, and should never be for discrimination against anybody who has previously accepted as a ‘normal’ part of a nurse or midwife’s job. been on workers’ compensation. The new laws were eventually passed in February and But we are concerned that prospective employees are most of the measures came into effect on 1 July this still required to provide employers with details on year. The 1am lockouts however are not due to start pre-existing conditions or risk having future workers’ until February next year and may not proceed at all if compensation claims rejected. the July measures are shown to significantly reduce The QNU and other unions strongly advocated for the incidents. removal of this as we believed such legislation was Nurses and midwives have a role to care for the people unnecessary and likely be used by some employers affected by alcohol and alcohol-related injury, but to discriminate against older workers, such as out also—as trusted, leading health professionals—to members, who had been engaged in physical work. lobby state and federal governments to implement The QNU has since written to the relevant department legislation which improves the health and safety of the with examples of how employers have misapplied the individuals, families and communities we serve. law. In this instance, Queensland was presented with an The QNU will continue to monitor this and keep a close opportunity to significantly reduce alcohol-related eye on how it impacts nurses and midwives. harm, to both our members and the wider community, using measures which have proved successful in other states. From our perspective we had a responsibility to Occupational violence including single add weight to the argument in support of tighter laws. nurse posts and new taskforce Our engagement with the lockout law review also One of our key health and safety priorities this year dovetailed neatly with our participation in the state was the level of violence in our workplaces. government’s later campaign targeting violence against It’s an issue that has been on the QNU radar for more healthcare workers. than a decade and we’ve supported many an inquiry, lobbied for changes in workplace practices, published State campaign targets violence against health information for members and decision-makers, and of workers course supported members standing up for their rights Earlier this year the state government launched a to work in a safe environment. public awareness campaign highlighting violence against nurses and other health workers. But as the problem has grown, particularly in terms of alcohol drug-induced aggression, there is a real need The campaign stems from a Freedom of Information for a multi-layered approach to protecting nurses request for records detailing occupational violence

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 15 INDUSTRIAL Professional

the Health Minister and the Director General of Health regarding a strategic response. The Occupational Violence Taskforce met several times and hosted a state wide forum in late March and a final report to the Minister is due mid to late 2016. A major talking point for the taskforce has been that zero tolerance policy imperatives are frequently watered down in the real world of clinical practice. Another area identified within the taskforce is the adequacy of current post-incident management processes, including investigation, follow-up, and support for an assaulted worker. Environmental design—particularly the security issues around single rooms—is also an area for consideration. While the taskforce identified some positive measures around reducing exposure to violence, incident management, and post-assault support we remain concerned that due to the current management structure, there is no mechanism to ensure all HHSs adopt the taskforce’s recommendations. We believe the Department of Health needs to integrate legislation, policies, and procedures and apply an anti-violence mandate across all health disciplines while management must demonstrate a strong commitment to changing the workplace culture, in part by empowering staff to expect a safe workplace.

Single nurse posts The murder of South Australian nurse Gayle Woodford incidents and Workers’ Compensation Claims for four in March shocked the Australian public triggering a Queensland hospitals between 1 July 2012 and 1 July nation-wide campaign to abolish single nurse posts. 2015. Within days Federal Minister for Rural Health Information revealed 2695 incidents of verbal and Fiona Nash was meeting with health and nursing physical assaults, 251 of which resulted in a Workers’ stakeholders, including the ANMF, to discuss safety Compensation Claim. The majority of both incidents and security issues for RANs, and a few weeks later the and claims came from nurses. Senate threw its support behind a federal government review into safe staffing in rural and remote areas. We know from our own research that generally, only the most serious violent incidents get reported so we The QNU does not support single nurse posts and we believe significant under-reporting of occupational have been arguing against them for decades. violence is commonplace. It is our belief that minimum safe staffing requires two While the public awareness campaign had its uses the nurses rostered on at all times in rural and remote QNU has long argued that a more strategic focus is settings. needed to address the violence experienced by nurses As part of a co-ordinated response from all states and and other health workers. territories, we have started a review into single nurse So we welcomed the news this year that the posts and call-out procedures for remote and isolated Queensland Health had committed to looking into our nursing work in Queensland. call for strategy and through the Queensland Health We have already held a number of teleconferences with Corporate Safety and Wellbeing Unit had engaged RAN members to hear their concerns around safety and with Griffith University to conduct research around security issues, particularly for on-call arrangements. occupational violence management in healthcare to We have also been making the case for abolition and provide the basis for an evidence-based response. improved safety standards at a state level with Health We were particularly pleased to be invited to be part of Minister Cameron Dick, and have started collecting a working party to provide recommendations to both useful evidence from our rural and remote members

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that we hope to present to a new steering committee an “in focus” chapter which looks at the value of being formed by Queensland Health to consider lodging Provisional Improvement Notices (PINs). remote area issues. And like most of our major publications, it includes a The QNU will be an active participant in this committee. CPD reflective exercise at the back to help members meet the CPD requirements of their registration. We have already raised concerns that safety around remote work might be impeded by the fragmented management structure of HHSs. To this end we have asked that an audit of each HHS’s approach to remote nursing safety be conducted, highlighting the significant risk that after hours callouts pose to nurses. This is an issue we will continue to watch very closely over the coming months, as genuine and lasting change on the matter of single nurse posts is long overdue.

Health and safety handbook The second edition of our Health and Safety Handbook was published this year. We received great feedback on the first edition of our new look health and safety publication last year, so we certainly made the right decision to change the book from a collection of journal articles into a practical reference tool for nurses and midwives across all sectors. HEALTH This handy A5-sized book contains an overview of & SAFETY HANDBOOK workplace health and safety legislation, professional guidelines, grievance protocols and mechanisms which keep nurses and midwives safe. The content has been reviewed to ensure it remains up-to-date for 2016, and the front of the book features

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 17 Professional

Strategic objective:

Facilitate empowerment of members to achieve their professional objectives Advocate for the maintenance and advancement of nursing standards Provide effective professional representation Provide leadership in the advancement of innovative nursing practice Contribute to advancements in nursing education, research, training and development Influence and contribute to health and aged care policy at all levels

RIPEN standards Enrolled nurse standards for practice In late 2015, the NMBA issued a consultation New Enrolled Nurse Standards for Practice came into paper proposing the discontinuation of the RIPEN effect on 1 January 2016. Endorsement for scheduled medicines rural and The QNU made a comprehensive submission regarding isolated practice (RIPEN endorsement standard). the content of the standards, in which we detailed our This registration standard describes the required concerns about ENs reporting to anyone other than a qualification and experience a Registered Nurse must Registered Nurse in terms of nursing care. demonstrate in order to be endorsed to administer and As such we are pleased that the new standards, supply scheduled medicines under protocol. while expanding the scope of EN practice, also RIPEN nurses are particularly important in clearly position a named and accessible RN as the Queensland as they help meet the health care needs sole supervisor and primary resource person for an of people living in the state’s rural, remote and individual EN. isolated communities where there is no medical The new standards also reflect the current content of officer. NMBA-approved programs of study for Enrolled Nursing. It almost goes without saying then that any attempt to diminish the role of RIPEN nurses is not something we Other NMBA standards revised could support. This year the NMBA also published its revised registration standards for continuing professional Following broad consultation with members and an development (CPD), recency of practice (RoP) and unprecedented number of responses, the QNU made a professional indemnity insurance (PII). submission to the NMBA in support of maintaining the current RIPEN endorsement standard. These revised standards became effective from 1 June 2016. Directors of Nursing in rural and remote areas, Clinical Nurse Consultants, Nurse Practitioners and RIPEN nurses took part in two QNU focus groups about RIPEN Career and classification structure review endorsement in the past 12 months. In what is shaping up to be quite a significant undertaking, we have been working to refine the All participants, as well as those who spoke to us current career and classification structure for nurses individually, unanimously opposed plans to withdraw and midwives, to make it more innovative and the RIPEN endorsement standard. responsive. We believe discontinuing the RIPEN endorsement of There have been some significant achievements so far, registered nurses would severely limit public access to including: medicine in rural and remote areas. ■■ developing new models and positions such Our rationale is that the standard continues to as continuity models of midwifery, and Nurse support evidence-based quality care and public safety Navigators’ for people living and working in rural and remote communities across Queensland. ■■ recognising the key role of senior nursing positions in governance The NMBA consultation paper is due out later this year. ■■ acknowledging advanced practice nursing.

18 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW PROFESSIONAL

However, there have also been some difficulties. A number of draft reports produced during EB7 remain in draft form and were never endorsed. Rockhampton During EB8, the QNU progressed work on the career maternity services and classification structure with a focus on providing a rally choice of accessible and rewarding career paths, and effective succession planning and management. Unfortunately, this work stalled after the election of the Newman government in 2012. The achievements from EB8 were limited to re-drafting the relevant Queensland Health policy to reflect the change to Hospital and Health Services and the revised Clinical Services Capability Framework (CSCF), as well as an agreement on a process for evaluating ENAPs. Recognising this important work was unfinished heading into EB9, the QNU and representatives of executive nurses in the public sector set up a workshop to progress the work done so far. What followed was an unprecedented step whereby the QNU and the public sector’s representatives engaged in a progressive industrial relations process, adopting an interest-based problem solving approach. This would have been unthinkable a couple of years Director and Executive Management on the basis the ago. Service had fundamentally failed to support midwives, and was putting patient safety at risk. This process, which set out to reconsider the EB8 They took this extraordinary step after some executives objectives, was facilitated by federal and state went to the local media unjustly blaming midwives for industrial relations commissioners. poor outcomes at the Rockhampton maternity unit, The group explored the interests of both parties and despite the executive’s repeated failure to address the brainstormed options to develop an evidence-based midwives’ reports of excessive workloads, poor support career and classification structure with a robust and training deficits. succession planning framework. The Service’s response was to suspend the Midwifery We hold great hope for this new, revitalised approach Group Practice program in favour of bringing midwives to enhancing the career and classification structure. back into the core unit at the hospital, to ensure midwives were on hand when women presented at the It will be a significant feature of EB9. birthing suite. Rockhampton Maternity services stand up The suspension prompted angry protests from local families and the Maternity Choices Consumer group It’s not often midwives find themselves at the centre of who claimed women and MGP midwives were being a very public dispute with hospital and health officials, punished for CQHHS’s poor management. and rarer still that they are compelled to take serious public action to protect the safety of the mothers and But the tide has started to turn. babies in their care. In taking such bold steps out members were able to But our Rockhampton members have done just that force health officials into a consultation and remedial his year, showing real strength and courage to stand process that we expect will, over time, improve up against appalling behaviour from the Central maternity services in the Rockhampton region and Queensland HHS. restore broader birthing options for expectant mums. For months QNU midwives lodged workload reporting A new maternity sub-group has also been formed within forms and raised workload issues, and while a number the Rockhampton NaMCF to focus on fixing the troubled of the complaints were noted and recognised, the HHS midwifery services—and it is already bearing fruit. repeatedly failed to take action. The Service has established a Director of Nursing/ By February the situation reached a head and midwives Nursing Director role and a Clinical Nurse Consultant passed a formal vote of no confidence in the Nursing role for Maternity Services at the Rockhampton

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 19 PROFESSIONAL

Hospital both on a temporary basis for now but with And having functioning NaMCFs is crucial if we’re to permanent recruitment to come. address day-to-day issues within our facilities and ensure our voices are heard where it counts. The new roles will give midwives a stronger voice at a leadership and managerial level. NaMCF forums have both a strategic and operational focus. I congratulate the Rocky midwives for their tenacity and mettle on this matter and for showing how This includes developing and maintaining patient- collective action can result in positive changes. focused nursing and midwifery services and models, and dealing promptly with emerging workplace issues. Legal and professional services These forums are driven by member involvement. So The QNU Member and Specialist Services team the more engaged we are in the process the better the addressed 291 AHPRA and OHO matters this past forums will work. financial year including 78 conduct, 53 registration, This is why one of our main revitalisation strategies 48 health and 47 performance matters. this year involves getting nurses and midwives back to They also dealt with 304 legal matters including over the NaMCF table and encouraging them to make the 60 notifications on behalf of more than 100 members use of the forum. about Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) matters Anything that impacts nursing and midwifery should (15 coronial, 24 civil, and 21 cases which were a be dealt with via the NaMCF—it’s the ideal forum in combination of both). which to raise issues and ensure we’re part of the At the time of going to print there were also 12 inquests consultation process before workplace changes occur. under way. Our efforts to revitalise the NaMCFs will continue The support and expert assistance this team offers through 2016. members who are facing some of the most difficult days of their working life, highlights the importance Reference Groups of being part of a union which provides both The QNU has a number of member-driven reference excellent legal support for professional matters and a groups which help establish the policies and direction Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) scheme which is of our union. a benefit of membership. Midwifery Reference Group Nurses and midwives across all sectors need The MRG is made up of midwives from across the state independent and comprehensive PI insurance, as not working in public, private and academic settings. all employer-offered or alternative schemes provide coverage which meets NMBA’s requirements in the PI The group corresponds via email and meets regularly arrangements registration standard. to discuss issues of significance within midwifery and plays an important role in advising the QNU on Another benefit of QNU membership is access to QNU submissions, policy and our direction. LegalPlus. This year the midwifery reference group discussed and This is a legal service we launched for members in 2012 advised the QNU on a number of issues including: which offers free and discounted legal advice for non- work related legal members. ■■ the application of ratios in the medical model versus the resourcing of Midwifery Continuity of Care Our Member and Specialist Services Team referred models more than 300 members to the LegalPlus service this year. ■■ minimum data set public/private interface and partnerships—including new graduate placements Revitalisation of NaMCFs ■■ clinical supervision, facilitation and mentoring Midwifes and Maternity Provider Organisation Our Queensland Health Nursing and Midwifery Australia (NMPOA) role, and the Midwifery Practice Consultative Forums (NaMCF) have been through some Scheme (MPS) difficult years recently—particularly during the recent LNP regime under which they were watered down by ■■ consensus building around key professional issues bureaucratic interference or simply set aside. related to career and classification structure ■■ the identification and prioritisation of work to But we have been working hard over the past few progress through EB9 and beyond. months to get the forums working well once again. NaMCFs are responsible for overseeing the Practice Nurse Reference Group implementation of the Nurses and Midwives (Queensland The Practice Nurse Reference Group participated in Health) Certified Agreement at the local or facility level. feedback to the ANMF on the draft National Practice

20 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW PROFESSIONAL

Standards for Nurses in General Practice, which was Richard Royle, executive Director of UnitingCare Health released in late 2015. spoke about the digital hospital experience, while Professor Jenny Gamble from Griffith University’s The 22 standards articulate best practice for registered School of Nursing and Midwifery spoke about and enrolled nurses working in a general practice preparing a midwifery workforce in Queensland for the setting and are intended to be applied in conjunction future. with the professional practice framework developed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. James Cook University’s Karyn Bentley’s presentation The standards cover professional practice, nursing looked at midwifery and nursing in the top end, while care, general practice environment, and collaborative barrister Amanda Wynne from RJ Howells looked at the practice. They aim to present the nursing role in a legal ramifications of poor staffing. unique context distinct from nurses working in other As always the presentations were first class and offered clinical settings. plenty of food for thought for the nurses and midwives Despite the growing employment of nurses in general who attended. practice both in Australia and internationally, the potential role and scope of practice of nurses in this New York nurses conference hears from setting is poorly understood. Queensland It’s been two years since Jill Furillo, the Executive While the standards focus on the registered and enrolled Director of the New York State Nurses Association, nurse workforce, we acknowledge that further work is attended the QNU’s Annual Conference and delivered required to articulate the scope of nurse practitioners, an inspiring speech about the need to protect Medicare midwives, Aboriginal healthcare workers, and assistants against privatisation. in nursing working in a general practice setting. But the bond formed between our two unions at that Recently reference group members were invited to time was clear to see in October this year, when the participate in the Primary Health Care Nurse Workforce QNU addressed the NYSNA 2015 convention to share Survey 2016 to help define the nurse role across different with New York nurses the lessons we’ve learned in settings within primary health care to better understand our campaigns to defend our professions and secure the workforce, and to articulate the roles of nurses to ratios. better support the profession including the recruitment and retention of nurses into primary health care. More than 700 New York nurses attended the conference to celebrate their union’s achievements. Professional conferences During the program, I delivered a video message from QNU professional practice and ethics conference the QNU in which I passed on a message of solidarity Future proofing nursing and midwifery was the focus of and support for the NYSNA campaign to achieve the QNU’s Professional Practice and Ethics Conference legislated ratios. held in September. Their battle is one we understand only too well, and The annual professional conference, now in its fifth it was great to be able to share news of our ratios year, featured four excellent speakers. campaign with another passionate group of nurses.

New York safe staffing rally

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 21 Social

Strategic objective:

Facilitate positive and sustainable social change through directed activities, education and policy development.

Taking a stand against violence In our submission to the committee reviewing the “lock-out laws” Bill we focussed on the effects of One of our significant social concerns over the past 12 alcohol-fuelled violence on nurses, midwives and the months has been the unacceptable level of violence in our society. community in general. Nurses and midwives are often at the frontline of In the home dealing with patients or family members who are Nurses and midwives see family violence first hand, in victims or perpetrators of alcohol-related incidences. emergency departments, community health clinics and when we visit thousands of women in their homes. Of course we are also often on the receiving end of alcohol-fuelled violence and aggression in our places Delegates at our 2015 Annual Conference passed an of work, and we cited a good deal of evidence in our urgent motion pledging to, wherever possible, stop the submission around the role of alcohol in workplace behaviour and attitudes that perpetuate the cycle of injuries for nurses and midwives. domestic violence. For more, see page 15 in our Industrial Section. And joining Rosie Batty’s Never Alone campaign was one of the actions we took to fulfil that pledge. In our workplaces By joining the campaign, we stand in solidarity with Our engagement in the lock-out law discussion family violence survivors and are helping to amplify dovetailed neatly with our later participation in the their calls for political and legal change. state government’s campaign targeting violence against The aim of Never Alone is to build a groundswell of healthcare workers. support for victims that will make it impossible for family violence to be ignored. Primarily a public education initiative, the campaign includes a mix of advertising across a variety of In this vein we were also pleased to welcome the media platforms, designed to change people’s state Government’s Directive 4/15 which entitled all attitudes towards what is acceptable behaviour and Queensland government public service employees what is not. including nurses and midwives working in Queensland Health, to a minimum of 10 days domestic and family The government also formed the Queensland Health violence leave. Occupational Violence Taskforce—which includes the QNU—to look at ways of reducing the number of The additional leave is intended to help people in workplace assaults. a domestic violence situation attend legal, medical and counselling services and arrange alternative For more, see page 15 in our Industrial Section. accommodation and child care. The QNU has been seeking similar leave entitlements Maria Sevilla: a visa victory for nurses and midwives working in the private and Early last year we took on the immigration department aged care sectors when it comes time to negotiating in defence of QNU member and Clinical nurse Maria new individual agreements. Sevilla whose permanent residency visa was rejected because of her son Tyrone’s autism. Other initiatives The QNU also contributed to the discussion on the After living in Australia for nearly nine years, Maria State government’s Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence and Tyrone faced deportation back to the Philippines Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 because the Australian government decided Tyrone was a burden the Australian taxpayer should not have to The Bill, which was passed by the Queensland bear. Government in February this year, requires pubs and nightclubs to cease serving alcohol from 2am (or 3am It was an intolerable situation and our members rallied for those in designated entertainment precincts such magnificently to support their colleague, running as Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley), and prohibits the sale fundraisers to support Maria while she was unable to of high alcohol content and rapid consumption drinks work, and contacting politicians and media outlets (shots) after midnight. urging a change of heart.

22 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW Maria Sevilla and her son Tyrone

Maria’s campaign received both national and Baby Asha protests turns spotlight on international media coverage and the change.org Border Force Act petition launched to support her cause received more In February this year we also rallied in support of than 125,000 signatures. members at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital who Maria’s case was shining a light on discrimination refused to release refugee baby Asha back to the against people with autism,and the unreasonableness detention centre in Naru after treating her for burns. of a one-size-fits-all visa system. Hospital clinicians used their professional judgement When last year’s Year in Review publication was put and their ethical frameworks to determine that an on the printing press, Maria’s visa status was still offshore detention centre was no fit home for a child. uncertain, but just a few days later she was officially Hospital staff were under pressure from the Australian granted a permanent resident’s visa. government—and in particular the Immigration Sense had finally prevailed. Department—to release the child, but they remained

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 23 SOCIAL

steadfast, even in the face of attempts by officials to The first official meeting was held in February this forcibly remove her. year and focused on the group’s primary aims and goals. While many QNU members joined round-the-clock vigils at the hospital in support of hospital staff and Since that first meeting the group, which operates Asha’s family, the stand-off also brought into sharp under a self-determination model, has developed relief our member’s deeper concerns about the terms of reference and identified their initial key areas controversial Border Force Act—and how it hampers of interest: cultural safety, mentoring for Aboriginal and nurses and midwives’ ability to effectively care for their Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives, and nurse patients. navigators. For more information about our position on the Border While the primary aim of the group is to address Force Act, see page 31 in the political section. matters raised by the group itself, the QNU will also be able to seek advice from this forum on issues of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander particular relevance to Aboriginal and Islander nurses reference group and midwives. This year the QNU was pleased to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members’ Queensland Community Alliance making reference group. progress The QNU’s involvement with the Queensland The group will provide culturally appropriate and Community Alliance continued this year. accountable leadership, support and advice to the QNU about indigenous issues and strategies that affect the The QCA formed in 2012 as a grassroots campaigning lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. organisation which works directly with local stakeholders to create better, safer and fairer In late January, a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities. Islander QNU members met at the Brisbane office and via teleconference to finalise details on how the group QNU is one of 17 founding members of the Alliance, as will operate. is the Queensland Council of Unions, the Queensland

QNU Secretary Beth Mohle addressing the vigil at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.

24 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW Celebrating at the Queensland Community Alliance Logan Together assembly

Teacher’s Union, Together, United Voice, the Uniting projects and community groups a helping hand to Church, the Catholic Arch Diocese and the Multicultural ‘set up shop’ in vacant commercial spaces in the Development Association. Ipswich CBD. The idea is that by pooling the individual power of We are proud to be part of this wonderful alliance all these organisations, we can secure wins for our and are particularly pleased with its genuine focus on community that would be out of reach for any one listening to community members and really getting a group working alone. feel for what matters to them. And it is beginning to bear fruit. It is this sort of community engagement that enriches our organisation and reminds us of the role we can Over the past 12 months, the QCA has chalked up a play as champions of change outside our workplaces. number of wins for local communities in Ipswich and Logan. Global Nurses United These include: Our association with Global Nurses United continued ■■ Development of the Every child. Every opportunity this year. initiative in which QCA and the Logan Together team GNU is an international collective of nursing and developed a 10-year-plan to ensure every child midwifery unions dedicated to fighting austerity, under eight in the Logan area gets the support, love privatisation of health care services and attacks and care they need to thrive. on our professions, our communities and our ■■ Securing a commitment from Logan City Council for environment. a $6 million investment over four years to improve There are now 18 member countries and with public transport infrastructures in the area, and an membership scattered across the globe the additional commitment from the state government organisation’s Facebook page has become an for major infrastructure expenditure on both the M1 important vehicle for sharing our stories. and local transport. This year, in among the stories of overcrowded ■■ Securing commitments from local politicians, emergency departments in Ireland, teargas attacks government health agencies and other organisations on protesting nurses in Bangladesh, Greek nurses’ to assess and act on the West Moreton (Ipswich) campaigns for better patient safety and successful region’s mental health needs. industrial negotiations in Guatemala, the QNU also ■■ Expanding the Ipswich City Council ‘Activate Ipswich’ featured as we campaigned for legislated nurse-to- program, which gives businesses, artists, cultural patient, midwife-to-patient ratios.

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 25 SOCIAL

It was quite something to receive well-wishes and to a better world by supporting regions affected by congratulations from as far away as Brazil, Switzerland, injustice, poverty and human rights abuses. Greece and the Philippines. The Shan Health Clinic provides free medical assistance to Shan refugees who have fled Burma due to ongoing Celebrating our professions conflict and repression. The beginning of May is always a time of celebration for the QNU as we take a moment out of our busy The clinic treats patients with a variety of problems, professional lives to celebrate who we are and what we including landmine injuries, malaria, respiratory tract do. infections, TB, and HIV/AIDS, and also runs educational, nutrition, and vaccination programs for refugees, as International Day of the Midwife (May 5) and well as training for medics. International Nurses’ Day (May 12) are our days to shine and as always the QNU celebrated both days by The clinic has a particularly strong focus on the needs supplying cakes to hospital and aged care facilities of women and children in the camp. across the state. It runs programs on pre-natal care, nutrition and This year’s International Nurses’ Day was also family planning which includes providing and food particularly special as it coincided with the State supplements to pregnant and breastfeeding women government passing the Hospital and Health Boards and underweight children and free contraception. (Safe Nurse-to-Patient and Midwife-to-Patient Ratios) Shan Health Clinic relies heavily on donations to carry Amendment Bill 2015—making Queensland only the out its important health care services like these, so we fourth place in the world to embrace legislated safe are only too happy to assist. ratios. Recognising the significance of the day the government Donations hosted an International Nurses’ Day reception between Each year the QNU council makes a number of parliamentary sessions for the QNU members and staff donations to a variety of deserving causes which align who were present in the public gallery to watch the bill with the social values of our union. being debated. These donations can be large one off cash donations or support in the shape of raffle prizes. One of our major donations this year was for Brisbane based organisation Sisters Inside. Sisters Inside is an independent community organisation, which advocates for the human rights of women in the criminal justice system, and works to address gaps in the services available to them. International Day We also donated $5000 to Aussie Helpers which of the Midwife supports Australian farmers doing it tough, particularly celebrations in Rockhampton those whose livelihoods are at risk because of the drought. ■■ Sisters Inside 10,000 ■■ APHEDA – Thai Burma Border Shan Health Clinic 10,000 ■■ Aussie Helper 5,000 ■■ Birthing Kit Foundation 2,000 Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA ■■ Brisbane Aboriginal Sovereign QNU’s support for Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA Embassy Christmas Appeal (via QCU) 1,000 continued this past year with a particular focus again ■■ Asbestos Related Diseases 500 on supporting the Shan Health Clinic on the Thai- ■■ Rohan Family 500 Burma border. ■■ APHEDA trivia night and prizes 388 Our donation to the clinic via APHEDA is a natural fit for ■■ Brisbane Combined Union Choir 250 our organisation. ■■ APHEDA donation 200 APHEDA, which was established in the mid 1980’s is ■■ National Sorry Day 100 a union-driven overseas aid agency that recognises ■■ Close the Gap 30 the trade union’s responsibility to contribute directly ■■ Total 29,968

26 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW Political

Strategic objective:

Maximise the influence of the QNU in political processes.

Our political role State of play Queensland It is not uncommon for the QNU to be criticised for its Nursing guarantee level of involvement in mainstream politics. With the election of a new state government in Our critics usually claim we should not be dabbling in Queensland in 2015 we saw many positive policy matters outside the four walls of health facilities, and changes—including the return of professional respect certainly not getting involved in political lobbying or for nurses and midwives. campaigning. Reflecting this shift, the State government’s Nursing But what these critics fail to recognise, is that in order Guarantee was a real win for nurses and midwives. to serve nurses and midwives well, our organisation It committed more than $212 million over four years for must use political processes, and to do this we need to 400 new Nurse Navigator positions, 14 Nurse Educators, build and wield our own political power. and up to 4000 new positions over four years for This is exactly how the ratios legislation came to graduates in the public sector. fruition—by the QNU gaining commitments from all This investment in public health nursing, particularly political parties except the LNP during the 2015 state for graduates, not only repairs some of the damage election, and then ensuring they honoured those done by the brutal LNP health job cuts a few years ago, commitments. but also recognises the need for public health to be The bill passed with the support of the government, as appropriately funded to cater to the growing demand well as all crossbench MPs, including Peter Wellington, for health services. Robbie Katter, Shane Knuth, Billy Gordon, and Rob Pyne. The Nurse Navigator positions are a great example of Certainly, we are nurses and midwives, not politicians, how nurses can play a fundamental role in reframing but the decisions politicians make directly affect our our understanding of healthcare from a disconnected working lives and the lives of our patients and residents. series of services to a holistic ‘whole of journey’ approach to health. For me, that is an essential point to note—in order to improve our working lives and outcomes for patients These Nurse Navigators, to be draw from the ranks of we must use political processes. the state’s most experienced nurses, will help patients navigate an increasingly complex health system by We have to understand who has the power to both focusing on the patient’s entire healthcare journey, positively and negatively affect us. And we must be rather than on just a specific disease or condition. prepared to roll our sleeves up and become involved in processes that may be outside our comfort zone. This is the sort of approach we want to see at the federal level as well. To ignore this obvious reality and take the easy path of being cynical and disengaged about politics is a lazy We need to make our politicians realise that there are option. We must focus our energies on making politics alternative ways to making the health system more real by campaigning around the key issues that are efficient than simply cutting services. deeply and widely felt by members. By investing in nursing and midwifery, establishing To make a real difference we must lobby all political better continuity of care models, and providing the parties and hold them to account for their policy necessary resources to maintain safe workloads and positions, actions and inactions—both during elections skill mix, our health care system will thrive. and beyond. And this will ultimately result in a more cost-effective Nowhere has this been clearer than in our recent health system. Ratios campaign. Ratios Save Lives I am not aware of another occasion when our work was While we have touched upon the Ratios campaign the subject of so much attention in our Queensland elsewhere in this publication it is worth painting a Parliament. picture of where we stand at the current time. During the hours of public hearings and parliamentary debate our work was recognised and respected. The ratios legislation technically came into effect on 1 July but the rollout across prescribed Queensland And as a result our political power has grown. public health facilities will be a gradual process.

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 27 POLITICAL

The locations included in the first phase of legislated As we have said on many occasions previously, this ratios cover approximately 80 per cent of the acute legislation lays the foundation work for what we hope medical and surgical wards in 27 hospitals. The ratios will be a roll-out of ratios across all sectors. will also apply to acute mental health wards in two We are already working with Queensland Health and hospitals. key maternity stakeholders to work out how ratios can We are currently participating in a joint Ratios best be applied to meet the specific requirements of Implementation Working Group with Queensland midwifery practice, and we are also raising the concept Health and HHS representatives in an attempt to of ratios in all the workplace agreements we are ensure the rollout of ratios is as smooth as possible. negotiating with private and aged care providers. At this stage we can report that Queensland Health has been recruiting more nurses and midwives to meet the Lady Cilento required ratios. Our members at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital took the extraordinary step of writing an open letter to the The legislated nurse-to-patient ratios in prescribed people of Queensland late last year after weeks of locations are 1:4 for morning and afternoon shifts and negative media attention following the death of child 1:7 for night shifts. To comply with the legislation the at the hospital in September. ratios are averaged out over the entire ward, unit or department. The intense media scrutiny had a profound effect on members who were not only feeling the pressure The legislated ratio sets the minimum number of themselves but were worried about what impact the nurses and midwives required on the shift. reporting was having on patients and their families. In addition, a notional nurse-to-patient ratio Members were particularly concerned overblown media determined by the BPF will also apply to prescribed reporting could put children at risk by discouraging locations and wherever nursing and midwifery services people from seeking medical help at the hospital. are provided across Queensland Health. It’s fair to say there were some genuine staffing and This ratio must be equal to or greater than the management problems at the hospital, but members legislated ratio. felt the reports called into question he professionalism It is important to note that only RNs and ENs providing of the health workforce and in particular the direct patient care will be counted in the ratio. competence of nurses.

28 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW POLITICAL

In response, the QNU LCCH branch took the bold branch meeting, where nurses at the hospital had the decision to draft an honest and heartfelt letter which opportunity to express their staffing and management was sent to all Queensland newspapers and radio and concerns to him in person. TV stations. The Deputy Premier and member for South Brisbane, It was a tangible way to put their story forward and to Jackie Trad, also attended. wrest control of a situation and a media juggernaut In response, the state government fast-tracked plans that threatened to overwhelm them. to provide an additional $70 million for more beds and In the letter they appealed for the public’s support, staff at the LCCH over the next four years. saying that while circumstances were difficult, the nursing staff were first class and were working A joint QNU/LCCH working group was also established, incredibly hard to provide high quality safe care. which will meet weekly to devise solutions to address nursing shortages across the hospital. The letter received an overwhelmingly positive response from nurses, patients and their families This working group’s focus is on recruitment, retention, and attracted unprecedented support on the QNU’s escalation of identified issues, and strategies to Facebook page, reaching more than 165,000 people, promote nursing. and generating a flood of comments, likes and shares. This is a solid outcome, and I commend Lady Cilento It was great to read so many comments of support nurses and midwives for their honesty and courage in from the public, which highlighted the wonderful work this matter. nurses and midwives were doing, as well as the positive Meanwhile we will continue to watch developments at experiences people have had at the hospital. Lady Cilento to ensure the staffing and management It was the perfect tonic for our members who had, until matters are being effectively managed. this point, been feeling fairly bruised by the negative coverage. Chief nurse heads to Geneva Queensland’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Around the same time, Health Minister Cameron Dick, Nurse Dr Frances Hughes stood down from her post also accepted an invitation from the QNU to attend a this year to become CEO of the International Council of Nurses in Geneva, Switzerland. Appointed Queensland’s Chief Nurse in March 2012 shortly after the LNP was elected to government, Dr Hughes’ goal was to ensure the professional profile of nursing and midwifery was front and centre of her work. During her tenure, Dr Hughes has sought to demonstrate the contribution of nurses and midwives to patient safety and as solutions to HHS inefficiencies. Among other things her key achievements at Chief Nurse included developing the first Australian nursing performance score card; developing the RN recognition program; reducing red tape around Nurse Practitioners; and supporting services to develop new models of care. The QNU enjoyed a good working relationship with Dr Hughes and while we will miss her professional expertise, we look forward to meeting her successor.

Federal election 2016 At the time of going to print the outcome of the 2016 Federal Election remains unknown. Neither of the two major parties has a clear majority in the lower house and there are still as many as 12 seats undeclared with at least five of them teetering on a knife-edge. What’s more Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull’s double dissolution gambit appears to have backfired and the

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 29 POLITICAL

government of the day will now have to contend with We need a federal government that tackles the staffing an even more fragmented Senate and an increased and funding issues head on, and takes the bold step number of minor parties, independents, and fringe of demanding that aged care providers put residents elements holding the balance of power in the upper ahead of profits. house. Medicare under threat For the QNU however, our focus during the run-up to Defending and protecting Medicare was another of our the polls was clear. Federal Election messages this year. There were three important issues we campaigned on— For the past two years we have been pushing back aged care, Medicare and penalty rates. against the government’s attempt to undermine Aged care attacks our world-class Medicare system and turn it into an American-style user pays model. One of most troubling lowlights of this year was the continued attack on aged care—an attack that could In elections and in polling, Australians have shown not go unanswered with an election in the air. time and again they are not prepared to see Medicare watered down, services cut, and access diminished. The federal government ripped another $1.2 billion from the aged care sector this year—hot on the heels of The fact is the LNP cannot be trusted when it comes to the $800 million lost in the two previous budgets. Medicare and the electorate knows it. This cut to the forecast growth of the Aged This is why, even at the eleventh hour, Malcolm Turnbull Care Funding Instrument was all in the name of was desperately trying to dismiss the Medicare issue as ‘stabilising’ government subsidies paid to aged care a mere scare campaign. providers, following higher than expected growth in But the evidence is against him. spending. In December last year, his government quietly The government said the measure was all about announced a raft of cuts to public health services. preventing claims that deliberately rort the system—or rather stopping providers who using unregulated carers The government has proposed that $650 million will to deliver complex health care and yet still claim the be slashed from bulk-billing incentives for diagnostic subsidies for care that used to be delivered by RNs, all imaging and pathology services. the while increasing their profits. This puts immense pressure on service providers There is some truth to that scenario, but the solution is to increase their fees and higher fees means fewer to mandate that complex care be delivered only by RNs Australian will access the services. and ENs. It also discourages Australians from acting on one of In reality, the government’s cuts will not improve care, the most important principles of minimising health it will simply mean funding reductions, particularly in expenditure: preventative medicine. the areas of complex health care, including dementia For example, Australian women now face increased fees care. for critical preventative cancer checks like PAP smears. Cuts of this magnitude to a sector already at breaking The ANMF has already come out with a public warning point will inevitably be felt by nurses and those in that these cuts will cause patients to defer or decline their care. essential life-saving tests. To illustrate our point, we joined the ANMF’s If you Of course this is just the latest stealth attack on don’t care, We can’t care health funding election Medicare. A couple of years ago we had the $7 Medicare campaign—focusing on the funding cuts in aged care sector. We also joined a national ANMF Aged Care call-in, which revealed widespread and deeply held concerns about patient safety, workloads and burnout, both from those who work in aged care and those whose loved ones rely on it. The Federal campaign fit neatly with the work we had also been doing in terms of our ratios campaign—more specifically our claim that it be mandatory for every aged care facility to have an RN on every shift. There is a real need for leadership on aged care issues.

30 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW POLITICAL

co-payment, and currently we have an extended freeze midwives, and other health professionals who publicly on Medicare rebates. reveal their experience at asylum seeker detention centres. The Labor Party has pledged that to lift the Medicare rebate freeze if elected to office and we are certainly However the non-disclosure requirements within the supportive of this. Act are in direct conflict with our Code of Professional Conduct and Code of Ethics. Penalty Rates Nurses and midwives have a mandatory obligation to Just days before Christmas last year, the Productivity report the kind of health problems being experienced Commission handed down its final report into penalty in our detention centres, but the Act’s position is that rates—and its findings came as no surprise. nurses and midwives in these centres should not The report recommended introducing a two-tiered disclose what they see. system of pay in which hospitality and retail workers The ANMF wrote to Immigration Minister Peter Dutton would have their penalty rates reduced. requesting clarification on how nurses and midwives The recommendation did not extend the cuts to frontline should report sexual abuse, violence, and illegal workers such as nurses and midwives but we suspect activity. this is just be the thin end of the wedge and that other Minister Dutton handballed the question to one of his industries will soon be in the government’s sights. staff, who claimed the Act was “not aimed at restricting As advocates of workers and fairness, we firmly believe the ability of medical professionals to raise concerns a two-tiered system of pay has no place in Australia. about conditions in detention”. Granting penalty rates to one group of workers and However, the primary concern of nurses and midwives taking them away from another is effectively saying working with asylum seekers is not the aim of the act, some people deserve to be compensated while others but its effect. On this, Mr Dutton’s team was silent. don’t. Furthermore they stated that nurses who wished to Penalty rates still mean something in Australia. make reports of abuse or violence should do so in the appropriate jurisdiction—which in this case was the Everyone who has to work on the weekend sacrifices Government of Naru. important time with their family and friends and as such Australian workers should be compensated for The problem is, Nauru is yet to establish a child working nights, early mornings and weekends no protection framework and the Australian Federal Police matter what their job. do not have jurisdiction beyond Australia. Any change would be a pay cut they can’t afford and This of course leaves nurses and midwives between don’t deserve. a rock and a hard place in that they can only lawfully report to an appropriate authority, but there is no such Protecting penalty rates rounded out our campaign authority to report to. activities in the lead-up to the 2 July polls. The Border Force Act is an appalling piece of legislation Working in solidarity with other unions and penalty and at the ANMF annual conference earlier this year, we rate advocate Terri Butler MP, we were out visiting joined our union colleagues from around the country in hospitals and holding market stalls promoting the voting unanimously to condemn it. penalty rate message and encouraging people to sign our petition to the Federal Government. We will continue to join efforts to repeal this law for as long as it remains in place. It really is time the government started looking towards the big end of town to boost its coffers rather Aged care report card than taking much needed penalty rates off some of We were very pleased this year to support the the lowest paid workers in the country. launch of the Aged Care Report Card website— www.agedcarereportcard.com.au. Other federal issues Australian Border Force Act The website—which is privately funded and an independent organisation—provides reviews and The Australian Border Force Act 2015 came into effect ratings of residential aged care facilities across just before our Annual Conference last year and Australia. from the very outset we held grave concerns about the heavy handed nature of the legislation and the Nurses who work in aged care, as well as residents and potential implications for our members. their loved ones, can rate their facility. The Act introduces a new disclosure offence that We have often argued the need for more open and carries a penalty of up to two years’ jail for nurses, transparent reporting in aged care and this goes at

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 31 POLITICAL

least some small way towards helping plug that gap ■■ Submission to the Finance and Administration by giving aged care consumers an opportunity to read Committee – Inquiry into Workers’ Compensation independent reviews and ratings. and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 What we would eventually like to see a mechanism which includes reports on staffing and skill mix, ■■ Submission to the Director-General Department of funding and expenditure. Justice and Attorney-General – consultation draft of Corrective Service Amendment Bill 2015 New Aged Care Complaints Commissioner open ■■ Submission for Primary Health Care Advisory for business Group The new Aged Care Complaints Commissioner ■■ Better Outcomes for People with Chronic and commenced operations on 1 January. Complex Health Conditions through Primary Health The Commissioner’s office is an independent Care body which will take over complaint investigation, ■■ Submission to the Health and Ambulance Services assessment and action, and will address complaints Committee – Inquiry into the Public Health both about residential aged care facilities and services (Childcare Vaccination) and Other Legislation provided in the home. Amendment Bill 2015 Previously, complaints for aged care were part of the ■■ Submission to the Productivity Commission Department of Health and Ageing. – Response to the Inquiry into the Workplace Relations Framework Draft Report Although responsibility has moved, the online process ■■ Comments on ANMF submission to the Review of and phone numbers for lodging a complaint or raising the Re-entry to the Register Midwife Accreditation a concern have not changed. Standards – Second Consultation Paper For more details, visit www.agedcarecomplaints.gov.au ■■ Additional Submission to the Productivity Commission - Response to the Inquiry into the Submissions Workplace Relations Framework Draft Report Over the past 12 months the QNU has been very ■■ Submission to the Finance and Administration busy lodging submissions and offering feedback and Committee – Queensland Productivity Commission comments to various commissions, inquiries and Bill 2015 agencies to promote the interest of QNU members and ■■ Submission to the Education, Tourism and Small raise the profile of our union. Business Committee – Jobs Queensland Bill 2015 The following list of submissions indicates the breadth ■■ Submission to the Department of Health - Response of the areas across which the QNU engages in public to the Consultation Drafts debate. ■■ Hospital and Health Boards(Nurse-to-Patient and From June 2015 to June 2016, the QNU made the Midwife-to-Patient Ratios) Amendment Bill 2015 following submissions: ■■ Hospital and Health Boards Amendment Regulation ■■ Submission to the inquiry into the Mental Health Bill (No. ..) 2016 2015 ■■ Nursing and Midwifery Workload Management ■■ Submission to the inquiry into the Holidays and Standard Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 ■■ Submission to the Department of Social Services ■■ Submission to the inquiry into the Health – New Aged Care Short-Term Restorative Care Legislation (Waiting List Integrity) Amendment Bill Programme 2015 ■■ Submission to the Health and Community Services ■■ Further submission to the review into Queensland Committee – Inquiry into the Mental Health Bill Health governance structures – the Hunter Review 2015 and the Mental Health (Recovery Model) Bill 2015 ■■ Submission to the Independent Hospital Pricing ■ Authority inquiry into Pricing Framework for ■ Submission to the Review of the Industrial Relations Australian Public Hospital Services 2016-2017 Act 1999 ■■ Submission to the Joint Standing Committee ■■ Submission to The Finance and Administration on Electoral Matters – inquiry into campaigning Committee - Introduction of Four Year Terms for the activities and conduct at polling places Queensland Parliament ■■ Submission to the Decision Business Case for ■■ Submission to the Qld Government – Ways to Change: Implementation of a New Organisational Combat Ice Addiction Structure Based on the Recommendations of the ■■ Submission to Queensland Health – Exposure Draft Hunter Review Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods bill 2015

32 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW POLITICAL

■■ Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on ■■ Submission to the Australian National Audit Office Economics – Inquiry into Economic Security for Inquiry into Health Care Services Delivery in Onshore Women in Retirement Immigration Detention ■■ Submission to the Health and Ambulance Services ■■ Submission to the Health and Ambulance Services Committee – Queensland Health Promotion Committee inquiry into Hospital and Health Boards Commission Amendment Act 2016 and the Hospital and Health ■■ Submission to the World Health Organisation Boards Amendment Regulation (No. ..) 2016 - Strategic Directions on Nursing and Midwifery ■■ Submission to the NMBA Public Consultation Development 2016-2020 Proposed discontinuation of the Registration ■■ Submission to the Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines regarding the privatisation of Australian Hearing (rural and remote practice). ■■ Submission to the Queensland Clinical Senate ■■ Submission to Australian Labor’s Central and North communications survey. Queensland Taskforce ■■ Submission to the Senate Education an Employment ■■ Submission to the Senate Education and References Committee inquiry into the Feasibility Employment Standing Committee Inquiry into the of, and Options for, Creating a National Long Service Fair Work Amendment (Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2015 Standard, and the Portability of Long Service and ■■ Submission to The Select Committee ln Health Other Entitlements Inquiry into the Re-emergence of Pneumoconiosis - ■■ Submission to the ANMF for inclusion in the House ‘black lung’ disease of Representatives inquiry into the Fair Work ■■ Submission to the Senate Standing Committee Amendment (Remaining 2014 Measures) Bill 2015 on Community Affairs – Inquiry into the Future of ■■ Submission to the Department of Health, on Australia’s Aged Care Sector Workforce behalf of the Immunisation Provider Competency ■■ Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Working Group - National Immunisation Education Affairs Committee – Inquiry into the Need for a Framework for Health Professionals Nationally-consistent Approach to Alcohol-fuelled ■■ Submission to the Pharmacist Vaccination Program Violence Stakeholder Consultation ■■ Submission to the draft Public Health (Medicinal ■■ Submission to the ACTU - Reserve Bank Survey of Cannabis) Bill 2016 Unions’ Inflation and Wage Expectations December ■■ Submission to the World Health Organisation High Quarter 2015 level Commission on Health Employment and ■■ Submission to the Australian National Audit Office Economic Growth – Ratios in Qld Inquiry into Health Care Services Delivery in Onshore ■■ Submission to the Finance and Administration Immigration Detention Committee - Inquiry into the Practices of the Labour ■■ Submission to the Health and Ambulance Services Hire Industry in Queensland Committee inquiry into Hospital and Health Boards ■■ Submission to The Retirement Income Policy Amendment Act 2016 and the Hospital and Health Division of the Australian Treasury - Objective of Boards Amendment Regulation (No. ..) 2016 Superannuation ■■ Submission to the NMBA Public Consultation ■■ Submission to the Queensland Jobs Growth Summit Proposed discontinuation of the Registration 2016 standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines (rural and remote practice). ■■ Submission to the Productivity Commission - Superannuation Efficiency and Competitiveness ■■ Submission to Australian Labor’s Central and North Queensland Taskforce ■■ Submission to the Public Sector Commission – Review of the Mental Health Commission ■■ Submission to the Senate Education and Employment Standing Committee Inquiry into the ■■ Submission to the Department of Health – Fair Work Amendment (Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2015 Increasing Choice in Home Care ■■ Submission to the Department of Health, on ■■ Submission to the Health, Communities, Disability behalf of the Immunisation Provider Competency Services and Domestic and Family Violence Working Group - National Immunisation Education Prevention Committee - Abortion Law Reform Framework for Health Professionals (Woman’s Right to Choose) Amendment Bill 2016 ■■ Submission to the Pharmacist Vaccination Program ■■ Submission to the Department of Health – Physician Stakeholder Consultation Assistants in Queensland consultation ■■ Submission to the ACTU - Reserve Bank Survey of ■■ Submission to The Department of Housing and Unions’ Inflation and Wage Expectations December Public Works - Working together for better housing Quarter 2015, March Quarter, 2016 and sustainable communities

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 33 Democratic

Strategic objective:

Promote the participation of members in internal and external democratic processes.

ANMF Biennial conference Revitalised Herberton Branch In October this year, QNU representatives headed to Nurses at Herberton in North Queensland are using the Adelaide to attend the 12th Biennial National Delegates power of their Local Branch to tackle issues like unpaid Conference for the Australian Nursing and Midwifery meal breaks, workplace bullying and safety concerns— Federation. which is quite the achievement given the branch was all but dormant 18 months ago. Members of the QNU council including myself, Assistant Secretary Sandra Eales and President Sally-Anne Jones While the Tableland Community Health Branch was joined representatives from every state and territory to registered with QNU and had technically existed for debate motions that guide the activity and direction of many years, it had dropped off the radar after a long the ANMF for the next two years. period of inactivity. We also discussed pressing federal issues such as But when staff started complaining about unpaid meal aged care, health in detention centres, and the skilled breaks and other issues recently, QNU members Kim migrant workforce, and there was a real sense of Ive and Donna Green decided to revitalise the Local solidarity as we joined our peers looking at these big Branch and take action. issues and sharing our experiences. They attended QNU branch development training earlier The theme of the conference this year was We will not this year and, after hunting through old branch lists, be silenced: the power of nurses and midwives. made contact with members from across 13 community health centres covered by the old Tableland Branch. This theme was echoed in compelling presentations and discussions which encouraged us not to be Using teleconferences to overcome the tyranny of silenced on issues such as access to quality care, distance, the Tableland Community Health Branch penalty rates, aged care and human rights—including started holding meetings, and is now a renewed branch the rights of people in detention, and the right to where members share their experiences and take advocate and speak out on their behalf. action as a collective. One of the most important features of this year’s We are thrilled to have the Tableland branch back in conference was the ANMF Reconciliation Action Plan, action and I congratulate those members who took the which outlines our commitments and actions to initiative to reach out to their colleagues in the region support reconciliation with Indigenous and Torres and revitalise such an important forum. Strait Islander Australians. We also congratulated the ANMF Victorian Branch on Donna Green the passing of their ratios legislation in October—a (left) and Kim Ive (right) matter close to our own hearts! The Biennial conference is always a fantastic gathering and we look forward to meeting our counterparts from across the country again in 2017.

Branches There’s been some really great stories coming out of our branches this year—stories of branch growth, workplace wins, profile building and grassroots collegiality. QNU Assistant Secretary Sandra Eales, herself from a strong branch background in Mareeba, has made Branch building one of her primary areas of attention this year and she has been writing and speaking extensively on the power nurses and midwives can harness through supportive and dynamic branches.

34 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW DEMOCRATIC

Gold Coast University Hospital chalks up wins Toowoomba Hospital Another thriving branch is that of the Gold Coast Toowoomba Hospital Branch again set a benchmark University Hospital. for member engagement and profile building this year, hosting its fourth annual Local Branch conference. Since being formed in 2013, the GCUH Local Branch has grown from 1430 members to more than 1700 members As well as being a social occasion the conference this year. is also a professional event featuring informative speakers and a Q&A panel. What’s more a GCUH Mental Health Local Branch has just celebrated its inaugural meeting—a fantastic With more than 200 nurses, midwives and other guests achievement indeed. attending, many from other districts, the conference is a great example of a branch working to build QNU The Gold Cost branches have chalked up some strength and visibility in their region. excellent workplace wins that really make a difference to quality care and safety. The conference has now grown to the point where it is widely known as an event ‘not to be missed’. They managed to negotiate nurse-to-patient ratios down from 10:1 to 5:1; and through branch-led campaigning, management agreed to add two hours to QNU Policy Committee (formerly IPPC) the beginning and end of shifts for staff to complete The QNU Policy Committee is made up of delegates online education and training. elected each year at our annual conference. Meanwhile the local agreement they struck to improve Its role is to discuss and develop official policy or 12-hour rostering in the ICU has now spread to all units position statements on key issues of interest to our across the hospital with 12-hour shifts. union. Matters referred to the QPC generally originate from the QNU Council, QNU Branches, from the QPC membership and QNU State Secretary. The past year has been a particularly productive one for the QPC, and the range of matters it was asked to address reflect the diversity of issues important to our members. These matters and outcomes were as follows:

Consider strategies to streamline and improve the process for handling motions to annual conference relating to enterprise bargaining claims – referred by the QNU Council Gold Coast QPC met with QNU officials to familiarise themselves University with the current process for lodging and vetting Hospital Mental Health Branch of annual conference agenda items, with specific attention to how motions relating to enterprise bargaining claims are handled and what role the EB vetting committee has in taking those motions and including them an EB log of claims. Sunshine Coast Private Hospital The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital Local Branch has QPC identified a number of areas in which the process come a long way in a short period. might be improved, and developed a draft process for the handling of conference motions relating to Prior to the formation of the Local Branch last year, enterprise bargaining claims—one which includes there were only three activists in the entire hospital, expanding the number of QNU officials available to staff had little input into EB negotiations, and few deal more effectively with EB matters people were willing to speak out. So the branch set an objective to have a representative Review of policies in relation to the ageing in every area of the hospital—which they achieved this nursing workforce – referred by the Princess year. Alexandra Hospital Branch At the full day meeting in November, 2015, the The branch reports a great working relationship with QPC resolved that as this matter had already been HR, and their Local Consultative Forum meetings are thoroughly investigated in previous years, with the far more productive, allowing nurses and midwives to agreement of the PAH branch it was decided that this have a voice where it matters. resolution would not be further advanced.

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 35 DEMOCRATIC

Development of policy relating to professional Consideration of Abortion Law Reform – referred supervision for nurses and midwives – referred by the QNU State Secretary by the Toowoomba Base Hospital Branch Rob Pyne MP introduced the Abortion Law Reform QPC considered mentoring policies from a range of (Women’s Right to Choose) Bill 2016 into the facilities and health disciplines, as well as a document Queensland parliament on 9 May, and it has since been from the Toowoomba Branch outlining the benefits of referred to a parliamentary committee for inquiry. professional supervision for participating health care The QNU currently has no policy on this subject. professionals. The QPC was asked to consider how QPC members felt It was clear that while other health disciplines regarding the proposed bill to decriminalise abortion. currently adopt professional supervision to support the development of individuals and their professions, The membership acknowledged that this is a subject nurses (other than mental health nurses) and midwives where members held a range of, often strongly held, do not currently enjoy the same provisions and positions and involved issues such as conscientious benefits of professional supervision. objection. QPC agreed a structured program would enable QPC members present at the discussion put forward their nurses and midwives to develop their career through individual views on this topic and unanimously agreed mentoring, and decided the best way to progress that abortion should be removed from criminal law. the matter was to develop a set of principles, write a discussion paper for wider consultation, draft a policy Meetings of Delegates (MODs) and then pursue inclusion in an industrial instrument. The QNU holds meetings of delegates (MODs) across To this end the principles have been drafted and the state twice a year, giving Assistant Secretary Sandra include, for example, acknowledgement that mentoring Eales and I a wonderful opportunity to meet and chat should be properly resourced, voluntary and consistent with QNU branch delegates and activists face-to-face, across HHSs, and that mentors must be qualified and These meetings are a great forum for exchanging ideas suitably matched to their mentee. and discussing with members issues that affect their The discussion paper has also been drafted and will be workplace and their profession—and even touch upon presented to delegates to endorse at this year’s Annual broader organisational and social issues. Conference. They are also a good opportunity to brief delegates around the state on the QNU’s priorities and focus over Development of a position on the use of alcohol the next 12 months. in the broader Australian community – referred by the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Branch Not surprisingly a good deal of the discussion during At the full day meeting, members discussed the MODS over the past year tied in with the progress of consequences in the community of alcohol abuse. The our ratios legislation through parliament. fallout affects everyone including children. But there were plenty of other issues too. The QPC decided it was important for the QNU to Penalty rates and public sector EB9 negotiations have a position on alcohol because of its widespread also made it to the table, as did the Queensland effects, and in the hope it may carry some weight given Government’s new Nursing Policy Platform including high degree of respect for nurses and midwives in the the deployment of 400 nurse navigators. community. This year we held MODs in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, After considering the AMA policy on the use of Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, alcohol and the work of the Australian College of Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Maryborough. Emergency Medicine, QPC developed a draft policy which will be presented to delegates to adopt at this year’s Annual Conference.

Consideration of The Border Force Act (2015) – initiated by the QPC during discussions QPC noted that the QNU made a submission to the Australian National Audit Office highlighting some of the issues that can arise where nurses are treating refugees onshore. The QPC will keep a watching brief on the ANMF’s direction on this matter and keep it at the Gold Coast MOD forefront of discussion and campaign activities.

36 2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW DEMOCRATIC

Emma Miller Award winner, Julie Ann Burgess Congratulations to QNU member Julie Ann Burgess for being awarded the 2015 Emma Miller Award. Julie is an RN at Nambour General Hospital and has been a QNU member for more 19 years. She first became a member of QNU Council in 2007 and is certainly a dynamic and determined union member. Her unmistakable energy and enthusiasm makes a big difference to our campaigns and union activity. Always at the forefront of any activity, Julie dedicates much of her time to defending and supporting nurses and midwives. Julie played a pivotal role in numerous campaigns, not least, the long-running campaign galvanising the Sunshine Coast community against the privatisation of the Sunshine Coast Public Emma Miller Award recipient Julie Ann Burgess (centre) with University Hospital. QNU Secretary Beth Mohle (left) Her tenacity in that campaign was outstanding and QNU Assistant Secretary Sandra Eales (right) as she pounded the pavement seeking petition signatures, and in her particularly colourful fashion, helped generate great community We still had to send out a number of hardcopy ballots awareness about the perils of privatisation. to members who did not have a registered email Julie has also been heavily involved in EB campaigns address, but we hope this will reduce over time. since EB5. We also used the new system when we called for The annual Emma Miller awards are held in honour of nominations to fill casual vacancies. Emma Miller—a Brisbane seamstress and suffragette, Being able to use an electronic ballot and nomination best known for her work forming the first women’s process is a fantastic development for us. union in Brisbane in 1890. For one thing, it simplifies the data collection process, and for another it saves thousands of dollars of Branch elections members’ money by significantly reducing printing and The QNU’s democratic processes were alive and well postage costs. this year as we held our branch elections. Less printing, paper and transportation means it is also The election activities kicked off in September with a kinder on the planet. call for nominees. Regional branches The QNU’s branches are the heart of our union—they are the ‘building blocks’ of the democratic framework This year was also the first year we called for nominees which gives hundreds of nurses and midwives, all for our new ‘regional’ Branches. across the state, an active and official role in the In 2015 the QNU/ANMF QNU Branch Council endorsed running of their union. a two year trial period of three geographically-based regional branches to capture members who worked It is always wonderful to see so many people step up to in areas where no branches existed or were likely to play and active role in their union through the branch exist. structure and I look forward to seeing some new faces—and of course some familiar ones—at this year’s These regions were formed by dividing the state into annual conference. three regions—Northern, Central and Southern. The 2016 elections also marked the first time we held Sadly this year we received only one nomination from our ballot electronically using our new IT system. the northern region. This was a huge success with thousands of nurses and The trial of the regional structures will be evaluated midwives lodging their votes online. next year.

2015-16: A YEAR IN REVIEW 37 www.qnu.org.au