CONTENTS Contacts NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association For all membership enquiries and assistance, including Lamp subscriptions and change of address, contact our Sydney office. Sydney Office 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 (all correspondence) T 8595 1234 (metro) 1300 367 962 (non-metro) F 9662 1414 E gensec@nswnma.asn.au W www.nswnma.asn.au Hunter Office 8-14 Telford Street, Newcastle East NSW 2300 NSWNMA Communications Manager Janaki Chellam-Rajendra T 1300 367 962 For all editorial enquiries letters and diary dates T 8595 1234 E lamp@nswnma.asn.au 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 Produced by Hester Communications T 9568 3148 Press Releases Send your press releases to: F 9662 1414 E gensec@nswnma.asn.au
VOLUME 74 NO. 3 | APRIL 2017
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COVER STORY
It’s time to improve ratios Government-employed nurses across NSW have voted to campaign for greater quality and equality in public health services.
Editorial Committee Brett Holmes, NSWNMA General Secretary Judith Kiejda, NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary Coral Levett, NSWNMA President Peg Hibbert, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital Michelle Cashman, Long Jetty Continuing Care Richard Noort, Justice Health Advertising Danielle Nicholson T 8595 2139 or 0429 269 750 F 9662 1414 E dnicholson@nswnma.asn.au Information & Records Management Centre To find archived articles from The Lamp, or to borrow from the NSWNMA nursing and health collection, contact: Jeannette Bromfield, Coordinator. T 8595 2175 E gensec@nswnma.asn.au The Lamp ISSN: 0047-3936 General Disclaimer The Lamp is the official magazine of the NSWNMA. Views expressed in articles are contributors’ own and not necessarily those of the NSWNMA. Statements of fact are believed to be true, but no legal responsibility is accepted for them. All material appearing in The Lamp is covered by copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission. The NSWNMA takes no responsibility for the advertising appearing herein and it does not necessarily endorse any products advertised. Privacy Statement The NSWNMA collects personal information from members in order to perform our role of representing their industrial and professional interests. We place great emphasis on maintaining and enhancing the privacy and security of your personal information. Personal information is protected under law and can only be released to someone else where the law requires or where you give permission. If you have concerns about your personal information, please contact the NSWNMA office. If you are still not satisfied that your privacy is being maintained, you can contact the Privacy Commission. Subscriptions for 2017 Free to all Association members. Professional members can subscribe to the magazine at a reduced rate of $30. Individuals $82, Institutions $138, Overseas $148.
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Average Net Distribution per issue. The Lamp is independently under the AMAA's CAB Total Distribution Audit. Publisher's Statement for the period: 01/04/2016 - 30/09/2016
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P ENALTY RATES Penalty rate cuts hit women, young people
Low-paid women and young people are tipped to be the biggest losers from cuts to penalty rates in four industries. Who’s next?.
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PRIVATISATION Privatisation victims tell their stories
Inquiry hears ‘raw, confronting’ testimony on disability care.
AGED CARE
Aged care questions answered The NSWNMA has produced a series of leaflets to help consumers navigate their way through the complex process involved when transitioning a loved one into residential aged care.
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REGULARS
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Editorial Competition Your letters News in brief Ask Judith Nurse Uncut Facebook Nursing Research Online Crossword Book reviews Movie reviews Diary dates
PENALTY RATES
COVER STORY
PRIVATISATION
AGED CARE
REGULARS
Penalty rate cuts hit women, young people
Privatisation victims tell their stories
Consumers’ questions answered
page 16
page 20
page 23
Your rights and entitlements at work Nurse Uncut – your stories What nurses and midwives said Nursing research online
p.33 p.35 p.37 p.39
UNION WIN Big back pay win at Royal North Shore
Fifteen nurses at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital will get back payment of the in charge of shift allowance they were denied for more than four years.
THE MAGAZINE OF THE NSW NURSES AND MIDWIVES’ ASSOCIATION VOLUME 74 NO. 3 | APRIL 2017
IT’S TIME TO IMPROVE RATIOS
THE LAMP APRIL 2017 | 1
OUR COVER: NSWNMA members Heather Franke, Kelly Crosby and Sabrina Sharp stand up for improved ratios. Photographed by Sharon Hickey. THE LAMP APRIL 2017 | 3