Major step towards a decent wage

and having a pay packet that will be able to cover the cost of living, with money left over to save and invest for the future.”

A wage that reflects the social value of aged care work “will make it possible for aged care nurses to be able to get ahead and plan financially.”

Requiring nursing homes to roster RNs on all shifts from 1 July will contribute to safer and higher quality care for all residents, says Western Sydney RN Angelin Maharaj.

Her own facility has always had RNs on duty 24/7, but other homes run by the same provider have been using ENs on night duty.

“We are so happy, because having RNs 24/7 means there will be reduced risk of harm to residents across all our facilities,” said Angelin, who is a delegate for her NSWNMA workplace branch.

“Qualified and experienced RNs will be available on all shifts, to identify potential risks and give residents better access to care, and it will allow us to manage issues as first responders.

“This will improve resident safety and prevent unnecessary trips to ED.

“An RN on site 24/7 will also mean we will keep and recruit new RNs who join the aged care workforce.

As an NSWNMA member in aged care, Angelin has been a part of union efforts to publicise the needs of the sector and lobby for reform.

She has attended rallies, collected signatures on petitions and joined fellow members in delegations to meet members of parliament.

As she told The Lamp in 2021, “We are all going to be old one day. We all need to raise our voices to protect vulnerable residents.”

In that article she described how her workplace had suffered a steady decline in staff hours.

“Staff are burning out from overwork. If they call in and can’t be replaced, it then puts more pressure on everyone else. We have been seeing it even more during the pandemic,” she said.

STAFF ARE “OVERJOYED”

Speaking to The Lamp recently, Angelin said staff were “overjoyed” to be getting a significant pay increase from 1 July.

“Nurses in aged care have been working harder and longer with little to no recognition. We are the workforce who has always been undervalued and underpaid, and it has gone on for far too long.

“Now, staff are satisfied that finally we are being heard, and that the crucial work we do is being recognised and valued.”

Angelin sees the pay rise as the start of a process towards “a decent wage, getting paid what we deserve,

At first, her employer wrongly advised that the 1 July pay increase would not apply to RNs on the grounds they were already paid more than AiNs. “Our union officials assured us it doesn’t matter what anyone (from management) says, we will get the pay increases we are entitled to. We were very happy to hear that.

“With the union by our side supporting us all the way, we secured the 15 per cent award increase for all AiNs and RNs in all facilities.”

Angelin said the 1 July union gains had prompted “a significant number” of staff members to join the NSWNMA.

“Some are new members while others are rejoining after a period of absence. Many of them say the pay rise means they can more easily afford to pay union fees.” n