The Lamp March 2007

lamp the

magazine of the NSW Nurses’ Association

volume 64 no.2 March 2007

Print Post Approved: PP241437/00033

GIVING NURSES

A VOICE

There’s a lifetime of difference between HESTA and some other super funds

Compare the Pair: ✓ Same age ✓ Same income ✓ Same super contributions ✓ Same investment returns Yet Jenny’s final super payout may be higher

$327,274*

$407,100*

Jane is with a Retail Master Trust

Why the difference?

Jenny is with HESTA, an Industry Fund.

A TOP RATED FUND

✓ We have low fees ✓ We don’t pay sales commissions ✓ We are run only to profit members *The amounts shown are not predictions or estimates of actual outcomes. The comparisons show projected outcomes based on certain assumptions, applying today’s HESTA fees and the average fees of 19 Retail Master Trusts as at 30 June 2006 (research and modelling by SuperRatings, based on an employer plan size of $150,000, commissioned by HESTA). Differences in fees may change in the future and this would alter the outcome.

Assumptions: This example is a comparison of two employees, one who keeps their super in HESTA’s Core Pool and one with their super in a typical Retail Master Trust, that assumes: same inflation (2.5%), same annual investment returns (7.225% after deduction of tax but before deduction of fees), same age of 35, same retirement age of 65, both continue working uninterrupted, same starting balance of $50,000, same starting salary of $50,000 (indexed at 3.5% p.a.) and that the only contributions are employer’s 9% superannuation guarantee (made quarterly in arrears). HESTA’s weekly administration fee is $1.25, the cost of Member Benefit Protection is 0.02% (based on 2005/6), and investment management fees of 0.53% (estimate for 2005/6). The average Retail Master Trust weekly administration fee is $1.10, ongoing administration fee is 0.65% - 1.19% p.a. (based on different member account balance) and investment management fee is 0.68%. Fees from members’ account subject to 15% tax allowance. Investment management performance fees are not included for the purposes of this comparison. Other fees, such as entry, exit and contribution fees, which may apply to Retail Master Trusts, have not been taken into account. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance.

This information has been produced by H.E.S.T. Australia Limited ACN 006 818 695 AFSL No 235249 RSE No L0000109 and is about HESTA Super Fund Reg. No. R1004489 SPIN HST0100AU. Consider our Product Disclosure Statement when making a decision about HESTA – call 1800 813 327 or visit www.hesta.com.au for a copy.

2 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

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ABOUT THE LAMP

C O N T E N T S

Contacts NSW NURSES’ ASSOCIATION For all membership enquiries and assistance, including Lamp subscriptions and change of address, contact our Sydney office.

SYDNEY OFFICE 43 Australia Street Camperdown NSW 2050 PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450 (all correspondence) T 8595 1234 (metro) 1300 367 962 (non-metro) F 9550 3667 E gensec@nswnurses.asn.au W www.nswnurses.asn.au HUNTER OFFICE 120 Tudor Street Hamilton NSW 2303 ILLAWARRA OFFICE L1, 63 Market Street Wollongong NSW 2500

Cover story

lamp the

magazine of the NSW Nurses’ Association

volume 64 no.2 March 2007

NSWNA COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Noel Hester T 8595 2153 NSWNA COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT Russell Burns T 8595 1219 For all Lamp editorial enquiries, letters and diary dates: Editorial Enquiries T 8595 1234 E lamp@nswnurses.asn.au M PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450

Giving nurses a voice 14 Print Post Approved: PP241437/00033

GIVING NURSES

A VOICE

Cover Karen Fernance, NUM at Bankstown/Lidcombe Hospital

THE LAMP PRODUCED BY Lodestar Communications T 9698 4511

News in brief

Lifestyle

10 Free jabs for NSW Health workers 10 Aged care forum explores medications guidelines 11 Pay increases for further qualifications 11 Scholarships promote innovative approach to mental health 12 Nurse shortage spells trouble 12 Hair to help 12 Supporting breast cancer research on Mother’s Day 13 Commemorating St Vincent’s Alumni

35 Member’s tips 36 Movie reviews 41 Book me

NSWNA education program 13 What’s on this month

Agenda 18 Labor and Liberal on nursing and health 21 The IR laws are a state issue too 23 Private hospital and aged care nurses most vulnerable

Industrial issues 24 A fair future for our kids 26 Young workers shielded from Howard’s laws 29 IR shorts

PRESS RELEASES Send your press releases to: T 9550 3667 E gensec@nswnurses.asn.au

Obituary 38 Dedicated to mental health nursing: Edward Michael Taylor 39 A role model for nurses: Margaret Campbell MacIndoe (Monteith)

Regular columns 5

Editorial

by Brett Holmes 7 Your letters to The Lamp 33 Ask Judith 43 Our nursing crossword 44 Diary dates

Competition

THE LAMP ISSN: 0047-3936

37 Win luxury weekend at the North Sydney Harbourview Hotel

Giveaway 45 25 double passes to Scoop 45 100 double passes to The Lives of Others and 10 double passes to Venus

Workloads 31 When action speaks louder than words

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24

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THE LAMP EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Brett Holmes, NSWNA General Secretary Judith Kiejda, NSWNA Assistant General Secretary Coral Levett, NSWNA President John Lyons, Coonabarabran District Hospital Jonathan Farry, RPA Hospital Mark Kearin, Wyong Hospital Roz Norman, Tamworth Base Hospital Stephen Metcalfe, Lismore Base Hospital Therese Riley, St George Hospital ADVERTISING Patricia Purcell T 8595 2139 or 0416 259 845 F 9550 3667 E ppurcell@nswnurses.asn.au RECORDS AND INFORMATION CENTRE - LIBRARY To find old articles in The Lamp, or to borrow from the NSWNA library’s nursing and health collection, contact: Jeannette Bromfield, RIC Coordinator T 8595 2175 E gensec@nswnurses.asn.au

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General disclaimer The Lamp is the official magazine of the NSWNA. Views expressed in articles are contributors’ own and not necessarily those of the NSWNA. 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 NSWNA takes no responsibility for the advertising appearing herein and it does not necessarily endorse any products advertised.

Privacy Privacy statement: The NSWNA 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 NSWNA office. If you are still not satisfied that your privacy is being maintained you can contact the Privacy Commission.

Subscriptions Free to all Association members. Ex-members can subscribe to the magazine at a reduced rate of $44.

Individuals $60, Institutions $90, Overseas $100.

NSWNA announces its new Direct Debit Travel Prize!

WIN A TRIP FOR 2 TO THE GLORIOUS SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND!

Dr 30 awn J 200une 7

Fly in to Christchurch where you will pick up your hire car courtesy of Hertz, for your 8 day visit. This prize allows you to choose where you want to go on this majestic island – places such as Queenstown, Dunedin & Milford Sound. Prize includes a 7 night Gold Hotel Pass, including one night at the Warners Historic Hotel in Christchurch.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN GET ONE OR MORE CHANCES TO WIN Q cancel your payroll deductions and start paying your fees through

direct debit and you will go in the lucky draw.

Q convince your colleagues to convert from payroll deductions to direct debit and you, and each of your colleagues who switch to direct debit, will go in the lucky draw.

Q sign up a new member using the direct debit method of paying their fees and you, and the new member, will go in the lucky draw.

4 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

Membership Application Forms or Direct Debit forms can be downloaded from our website www.nswnurses.asn.au.

Alternatively call the NSWNA on 8595 1234 (metro area) or 1300 367 962 (non-metro area) for more information.

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E D I T O R I A L

BY BRETT HOLMES GENERAL SECRETARY

Nurses must be heard g NSWNA campaign gives nurses a voice

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our union has just launched a TV and radio advertising campaign leading up to the NSW state election in defence of nurses’ rights at work.

We have done so because we identify a new, clear and present danger to nurses’ interests from a change in state government.

The decision to engage in this campaign has not been taken lightly or without extensive consultation. Over 125 of our branches have voted in support of a campaign to protect their rights. This paid advertising is simply a part of that wider campaign.

Since the introduction of the federal government’s IR laws, many of our members working in aged care and the private sector have been exposed to the worst excesses of these laws. They have lost hard-fought for conditions through individual contracts or insidious ‘greenfields’ agreements. They have been unfairly dismissed, even for doing their duty, without any recourse to unfair dismissal laws.

Many nurses are already getting hurt now because of these laws. We have 19,000 members that are vulnerable to these laws.

The NSW Opposition gives nurses a oneline promise to keep public hospital nurses under a state award but at the same time it supports the move of industrial relations into the federal system. This position is obviously riddled with contradictions.

They have refused to stand up to John Howard and defend the nurses already forced into the federal system.

They are completely silent about what they would do to the NSW Industrial

Relations Commission which has been the body responsible for giving nurses better pay and conditions over recent years.

On the other hand, we need to acknowledge that State Labor has unequivocally opposed Howard’s unfair

Peter Debnam stand up to John Howard about his workplace laws and in the same vigorous way state Labor has?

In this campaign we’ve asked the community to vote for nurses and to help save their rights and conditions.

We’ve done so because we have done an analysis that reveals the federal IR laws, which Peter Debnam is in favour of, are against the interests of our members. This analysis is spelt out in a report Industrial relations policy and the NSW nurse shortage, which is available for you to download from our website (www.nswnurses.asn.au).

This report and its analysis has been endorsed by a respected and independent academic John Buchanan from Sydney University, who has a deep understanding of both IR and nursing issues.

The funds for this campaign have come from our Nurse Power Fund. This fund was created after an extensive and long debate among our branches, at two annual conferences and at numerous committees of delegates.

It was created for this very purpose. At the time we said we needed to adopt the tactics used by politicians – including paid advertising – to defend nurses’ interests. Politicians know television is the medium with the most impact.

That is why we are using it.

There is no better time than an election to focus politicians and the community on nurse issues. Already, running a campaign about the need to maintain nurses’ conditions has resulted in both political parties making promises in favour of our members.

We can’t and won’t sit on our hands and watch a train wreck with nurses as the casualties without asking the public for help.n

Will Peter Debnam stand up to John Howard about his workplace laws? industrial relations laws from the very beginning. It made a very serious political intervention to protect public health system nurses and workers as well as other frontline workers such as police and ambulance officers from the laws. They have passed legislation to protect young people. They contested the IR laws in the high court.

Nurses have to ask themselves – as does the wider community – when it comes to voting in this election: will

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 5

The biggest risk with the Federal IR Laws, is thinking you’ll always be protected I]Z HiViZ AVWdg <dkZgcbZci ]Vh eVhhZY aVlh egdiZXi^c\ bdhi cjghZh [gdb i]Z >G AVlh# 7ji ^[ i]Z \dkZgcbZci X]Vc\Zh ^c CHL! i]Vi egdiZXi^dc ^h cd adc\Zg \jVgVciZZY# I]Vi l^aa bZVc lV\Zh! ldg`^c\ ]djgh VcY eZcVain gViZh l^aa Vaa WZ je [dg cZ\di^Vi^dc# ;dg cjghZh! i]Z BVgX] ') HiViZ ZaZXi^dc ^h i]Z bdhi ^bedgiVci ZkZg# Id ÒcY dji bdgZ VWdji i]Z g^h`h id ndjg g^\]ih! k^h^i lll#hVkZdjgcjghZh#Xdb#Vj 6 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

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LETTER of the month

L E T T E R S

Adele Leeming

The Impact of the Edith Cavell Trust Scholarship I initially trained as an enrolled nurse through the hospital system 25 years ago and worked on and off when my children were little. In 2002, after 12 years out of nursing I returned to the workforce through the Reconnect program, which was coupled with a refresher course at Liverpool Hospital and a permanent parttime position at Bowral Hospital.

The course and especially third year at Wollongong University has been tough – tough with the assignments, combining university work with work and family, not able to get holidays from work, having clinical placements that required staying away from home and simply juggling life and huge workloads and expectations.

The granting of the Edith Cavell Trust Scholarship lightened such a load considerably. It did not do the assessment work, lectures, tutorials and clinical placements but it did give me the confidence to keep fighting. To be able to exist while taking leave (without pay) for clinical training and not feel like we were financially drowning. These are the issues and problems that the scholarship helped me address and made me feel supported, not only by my loving family, but also by a professional community as I upgraded my skills.

It has been a juggle working, studying, having a family and dealing with the multitude of hiccups and

joys that life places before you. The scholarship helped remove some of the financial pressure that undertaking study places on a family. I now have completed my study, receiving confirmation this week of passing all subjects and passing the course with an overall distinction.

Thank you for your support as a union body and with the scholarship. I appreciate it greatly.

Adele Leeming, RN, Wollongong

Brigitte van Heere

Another win for the NSWNA I would like to thank the NSWNA for their support of my Workers’ Compensation case, which I recently won thanks to their legal support. The case arose out of the numerous investigations into Macarthur Health Service. These investigations had a serious impact on my mental health.

With my insurance company pulling the plug on future costs in January 2006, this meant I would have to pay all my treatment and lose income due to the fact I was not yet ready to go back to my pre-injury duties. The insurance company now has to pay many of my bills and make up some of the lost income. Without the NSWNA support, I would never have had the courage to embark on the legal path.

Thanks again for all your support.

Brigitte van Heere, RN, Campbelltown Hospital

THE TROUBLE WITH TUESDAYS You may be finding it hard to talk to our information officers on Tuesdays. This is because Tuesday is the one day of the week when all our staff are in the office for staff and team meetings. These meetings are essential for information distribution and planning activities.

If at all possible, please don’t ring on this day as there can be considerable delays. But if you need urgent assistance, you will get it.

Our information department receives approximately 900 calls per week, and the phones are ringing hot from 8am to 5.30pm. We are working hard to meet your needs and thank you for your patience.

Call 8595 1234 (metro) or 1300 367 962 (non-metro).

Diane Lang

Aged care nurses need to fight IR laws The Howard government believes that all workers can improve their own working conditions by sitting down with management to negotiate for better conditions. They say we don’t need unions or other workers to collectively bargain for us.

But then when hours are reduced, staff numbers are short, or nurses quit because of work-related stress, management tells us to work as a ‘team’.

Teamwork is when we collectively work together for the betterment of all.

Something the Howard Government does not believe in when it comes to rights at work.

How many aged care nurses have the ability to sit across a table from management and bargain for fair and decent working conditions? How many nurses understand that all our conditions could be bargained away?

Is it fair that we have to bargain for conditions we already have?

Consider these questions when you go to the polls in March. The State Labor government does not support the new Federal IR laws. But the opposition does. Do you want to be in the position that aged care workers are in with no protection from the State government?

Remember: “Your rights at work are worth voting for”.

Diane Lang, AIN, Imlay House Nursing Home Diane Lang won the prize for this month’s letter of the month, a $50 David Jones voucher.

LETTER of the month The letter judged the best each month will be awarded a $50 DJ voucher, courtesy Medicraft, Australia’s largest manufacturer of hospital beds and furniture. For more information on Medicraft products, visit www.medicraft.com.au or call 9569 0255.

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 7

Will you still be protected from Federal IR Laws on March 25th?

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EVERY LETTER PUBLISHED

L E T T E R S

RECEIVES A DELIGHTFUL

ABC CLASSICS CD â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FOR UPLIFTING ENJOYMENT! staff may be able to call the police if such a matter arises, police may not be able to attend such calls immediately due to their own workloads at the time.

Justin Brice

Duty of care dilemmas

Justin Brice, EN, Albury/Wodonga Private Hospital Editor response: A factsheet clarifying this duty of care issue is available on the NSWNA website: www.nswnurses.asn.au

ABC Shops provide you with a window into the wonderful variety of programs seen and heard on ABC Radio, TV and Online by offering a range of quality DVDs, books, music and audio products. For locations, visit abcshop.com.au

Recently, a designated post surgery driver arrived at hospital intoxicated and I have spent quite some time meetings, let alone voice an opinion on a thinking about our duty of care for wider industrial or health front. post-op patients and when that duty of However, we must always remind care ends. ourselves that we are a strong voice As patients are discharged from in health. Nurses, with the backing hospital following a day procedure, Phillip Millard of NSWNA, can act as a strong and does the law define that our duty of professional voice by reminding the care ceases once the patient has been government that we are a powerful Nurses are a powerful voice, discharged and exited the front door, advocate for social and political change especially at election time or are we bound by our duty until the and a watchdog for health inequality.

In light of the current IR changes, nurses patient has arrived safely at home with Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show the government that must remain strong in the fight for their their designated escort? through the NSWNA we are a force to professional rights. Without a viable With nurses not being law enforcebe reckoned with by advocating for our nursing workforce, the Australian health ment officers, it is difficult to act within rights and the rights of all Australian system would surely fall into disrepute. the boundaries of our employment workers. In doing so, we also continue to As nurses we sometimes become so and prevent someone from making fight for a fair share for health care and focused on the role of caring that we tend an informed choice to enter a vehicle for health consumers nationally.

4HE ,AMP !D ;#ONVERTED= PDF !to forget our own needs and the needs of with an intoxicated person (alcohol or our wider community. We often struggle Phillip Millard, EN, Branch Secretary at other illicit substance). An adult patient to find enough time to attend union Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital is capable of making an informed decision, however a child is not.

If I was to document my concerns in the patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notes, but allowed the patient to leave hospital with a Send your letters to: Editorial Enquiries email lamp@nswnurses.asn.au fax 9550 3667 suspected intoxicated person, would mail PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450 â&#x20AC;˘ Please include a photograph along with your name, address, phone and membership number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.

I be held liable for my actions? While

Got something to say?

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 9

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N E W S I INN BBRRI IEEFF

FREE JABS FOR

NSW HEALTH WORKERS ealth workers in NSW will be better protected from the infectious diseases they face every day at work, thanks to a new immunisation campaign introduced by NSW Health.

The first of its kind in Australia, the extensive screening program will provide free vaccines for all healthcare workers in NSW public hospitals, clinics and laboratories.

The $5 million Occupational Assessment, Screening & Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases program is the result of much discussion between healthcare groups and unions including the NSW Nurses’ Association.

NSW Minister for Health, John Hatzistergos, said the focus of the program is on minimising transmission between patients and staff. ‘It is vital we do all we can to make sure health workers are appropriately protected, as well as their patients and co-workers,’ he said.

According to Mr Hatzistergos, nurses in direct contact with patients will be assessed, screened and appropriately vaccinated. It is a requirement for records to be kept in order that vaccination and ongoing care of staff can be maintained.

‘Changes to the policy include the addition of an adult vaccine against pertussis, better known as whooping cough’ he said.

The inclusion of more vaccination types means greater protection for nurses, who face so many people and infections daily.

For more information on the Occupational Assessment, Screening & Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases, go to www.health.nsw. gov.au or telephone 9391 9000.

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Aged care forum explores medications guidelines

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aged care nurses attended a forum run by the NSWNA on the newly-released medications guidelines, which clarify the RN role in managing the administration of medications.

Participants at the forum recognised the opportunity posed by the guidelines for a greater clinical leadership role for RNs in aged care.

The Guidelines provide a framework to support RNs in managing the administration of medications by other care staff rather than directly administrating medications themselves.

The Nurses and Midwives Board (NMB) released The Guidelines on the Delegation and Supervision by Registered Nurses of Medication Administration Within Aged Care Facilities, after extensive research by the NMB, NSWNA and aged care employer groups.

The forum explored the changing role of RNs in aged care and kicked off with presentations by NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes, NMB Executive Director Michael Cleary and Jacqui Culver, CNC for Practice Development at Catholic Care

of the Aged in the Hunter. The floor was then thrown open for questions and lively discussion by nurses working in aged care.

NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes told forum participants, ‘The NMB guidelines mean RNs will be able to delegate and supervise care workers in administering medications to residents.

This is a big change and the NSWNA wants aged care nurses to be informed and to know the new channels of communication and action.

‘Aged care nursing is a speciality in its own right and the role and functions of RNs have changed significantly since the Aged Care Act, 1997. These new guidelines are a useful tool to move aged care practices forward,’ he said.

‘The NSWNA advises RNs who are unclear about their responsibilities in regard to the delegation of medications to clarify systems with their employers verbally and in writing,’ said Brett.

More information on The Guidelines on the Delegation and Supervision by Registered Nurses of Medication Administration Within Aged Care Facilities is available on the NSWNA website: www.nswnurses.asn.au n

STOP PRESS

PAY INCREASES

Recipient of one of this year's Innovation Scholarships, Karen Harmon

FOR FURTHER QUALIFICATIONS s The Lamp went to print, the NSWNA won a hard-fought claim in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission that delivers increased Continuing Education Allowances to nurses with clinical tertiary qualifications relevant to their work and extends the allowances to CNSs. Up to 10,000 more public hospital members will also benefit by the win, which immediately delivers an additional $15 per week additional payment to ENs and RNs with hospital certificate qualifications relevant to their work, with further increases up to $30/week from September 2008.

According to NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes, the win highlights the importance of having an independent umpire such as the NSW IR Commission, which has strong powers to make binding legal decisions. ‘This case could not have been run under Howard’s industrial laws and was only possible because of the Iemma Government’s legislative intervention to maintain nurses in the state industrial system,’ said Brett.

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WHAT WE WON c

Continuing Education Allowances now paid to Clinical Nurse Specialists. c New Continuing Education Allowance paid form March 2007 for substantial hospital certificates such as midwifery, mental health, operating theatres and intensive care. c All existing allowance amounts increase from March 2007, with more increases in December 2007 and September 2008 c Commission recommends that the issue of payment for CNE and CNC classifications be considered in negotiations underway between the NSWNA and NSW Health.

For more information and a table showing details of the increased Continuing Education Allowance payments, go to the NSWNA website at: www.nswnurses.asn.au. The case will also be explored in more detail in the April issue of The Lamp.

Scholarships promote innovative approach to mental health

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ental health nursing has received a much-needed boost with the allocation of 250 scholarships by NSW Health to encourage nurses to move into this specialty area.

Each year the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Fund, established in 1998 by NSW Health, awards scholarships to encourage nurses into high needs areas – particularly the area of mental health nursing.

Mental Health Innovation Scholarships have also been awarded for projects that are innovative and contemporary, and promote nurse development. Four scholarships worth $10,000 have been awarded this year to fresh and original projects that will assist mental health nurses with their practice and patient care.

With increased patient demand, NSW Health estimates more than 600 nurses will be required in the mental health workforce over the next five years.

The mental health scholarships are a move by the state government to acknowledge the need to keep mental health a priority, especially mental health nurses who play such an important role.

Karen Harmon, CNC, works at Community Mental Health in the Hunter/New England AHS and was a recipient of a 2007 Mental Health Innovation Scholarship.

The scholarship will provide welcome assistance to a project run by Community Mental Health that aims to coordinate the work and planning of acute mental health nurses working with adults, integrating all stages of a patient’s treatment from in-patient to out-patient and beyond.

‘There is currently no framework or teaching model for such care co-ordination and this makes nurses feel they are not being supported adequately,’ said Karen.

‘Training will be a large focus of the project and where most of the funds will go. This is a great opportunity for nurse development and to provide the best possible care for patients.’

An official training manual is another big focus of the project, with the hope that the model will be adopted nationally.

For more information and application forms for NSW Nursing and Midwifery Scholarships, visit www.health. nsw.gov.au/nursing/scholar.html or email nscholar@doh.health.nsw.gov.au n THE LAMP MARCH 2007 11

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N E W S I INN BBRRI IEEFF

NURSE

SHORTAGE SPELLS TROUBLE he Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released a report confirming the increasing shortage of nurses in NSW, prompting the NSWNA to press both state and federal governments for more action to address this ongoing problem.

NSWNA General Secretary, Brett Holmes, said the federal government must urgently double the number of nursing graduates each year from the recorded 5,600 to at least 12,000 or Australia could face a disastrous nurse shortage in the next five to ten years.

The Nursing and Midwifery Labour Force 2004 report found the average age of nurses has risen from 41.2 to 43.3 years, and that 29.8% of nurses are now over 50.

‘Despite nursing numbers increasing in recent years, the nursing workforce is aging and Australia faces a critical shortage in the years ahead as many current nurses retire,' Brett said.

The AIHW report identifies the number of university places as having a direct effect on nursing shortages. In 2005, 20% of eligible nursing applicants missed out on an undergraduate nursing place.

‘This means we must offer a lot more places and also do a lot more to promote the profession among school children’, said Brett.

‘Any new places must also be fully funded so that student nurses have sufficient, high quality clinical practice sessions. Deans of Nursing tell me that universities are increasingly reluctant to fund nursing schools because of the cost of clinical placements for students.’

The NSWNA wants federal funding for these much needed university places, and the continuous funding and attention to clinical placements, in order to avoid the looming shortages facing NSW nursing.

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12 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

Hair to help g Nurses will be among the 100,000 or so Australians who will shave their tresses this month to help cancer patients.

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he 2007 World’s Greatest Shave foundation hopes to raise $3.9 million (15-17 March) is gearing up to be in NSW alone, which will provide a huge success, with an expected tremendous help to those in need.’ n 100, 000 Australians shaving or colouring their hair for this quirky fundraising event.

‘World’s Greatest Shave is a fun and daring way for you to raise money and support patients and their families,’ said Gabrielle Prest, Support Services Manager of the Leukaemia Foundation.

‘Twentyfive Australians are diagnosed with leukaemias, Gabrielle Prest (centre), lymphomas and Support Services Manager myeloma every of the Leukaemia Foundation day. This year the

Supporting breast cancer research on Mother’s Day

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his Mother’s Day you can spoil your mum with a beautiful card and support breast cancer research at the same time.

Breast cancer is a disease that affects one in 11 Australian

women and touches the lives of many of us.

The Breast Cancer Institute of Australia is asking for your donations – big or small – to help support their research of this disease.

As a thank you for your donation this year, the Breast Cancer Institute will send you a complimentary Mother’s Day card. The card is beautifully designed and is sure to brighten your Mum’s day, especially when she knows you have helped such a worthy cause.

Phone 1800 423 444 to make your donation or visit www.bcia.org.au n

Commemorating St Vincent’s alumni

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cation progr u d e a am swn

WHAT’S ON THIS MONTH s Legal & Professional Issues for Nurses 22 March, Gosford, ½ day Seminar is suitable for all nurses.

Topics covered include the Nurses and Midwives Act 1991, potential liability, documentation, role of disciplinary tribunals including the NMB, writing statements.

Members $39.50 Non members $85 Branch Officials $28

Trainee nurses ponder their exam results in 1950.

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his year St Vincent’s Hospital will be celebrating its 150th anniversary and as a part of the celebrations, former nurses, doctors and allied health professions are invited to join the newly established St Vincent’s Campus Alumni. This also includes staff from the Sacred Heart Hospice and St. Vincent’s Clinic.

Nurses have always been at the heart of the service and care at St Vincent’s despite the vast changes in technology, training and uniforms! This is a great way to celebrate the long and dedicated history of the hospital, as well as keep in touch with old colleagues and friends.

For more information on joining the Alumni, phone (02) 8382 6445. n

Nurses on duty in the words at St Vincents in 1950.

s Improve your Health, Wellbeing & Waistline 29 March & 12 April, Camperdown, 2 x 3hour sessions. This course aims to educate and provide you with the tools and motivation to make some small changes in your life and help improve your overall health. No matter what your health goals (to lose weight, recover from an injury or increase your energy), we guarantee you will learn something new to take with you for the rest of your life.

Members $39.50 Non members $85 Branch Officials $28 s Basic Foot Care for RNs & ENs 29-30 March, Tamworth, 2 days A VETAB-accredited course that aims to provide nurses with the competence to provide basic foot care.

Members $203 Non members $350 Branch Officials $175

For registration and more information: go to www.nswnurses.asn.au or ring Carolyn Kulling on THE LAMP MARCH 2007 13 1300 367 962.

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NO C E W V ES R I SNT O BR Y I E F

If the IR laws take away our penalty rates … well, everyone has a breaking point. pa i g n m a c WNA a voice.

S N g es nur s s e v gi

O

ver the past few weeks Lamp readers may have noticed NSWNA advertisements featuring everyday nurses – and members of the Association – flooding our TVs, newspapers and airwaves.

The advertisements are part of a wider campaign by the NSWNA to show the negative impact of the Liberal party’s industrial relations laws on nurses – particularly on the nurse shortage and the impact this will have on patient care.

Our campaign comprises TV, radio, billboards and print advertisements that were launched at a time when the rights of nurses are under the greatest threat in 25 years.

14 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

The ads feature real-life nurses who are passionate about nursing, passionate about providing quality care to their patients, and passionate about their right to fair pay and conditions.

The radio and TV advertisements reflect the findings of a NSWNA report into the current nursing shortage which shows that removing award protections would drive nurses away from the profession. (The report – Industrial relations policy and the NSW nurse shortage is available on our website www.nswnurses.asn.au.)

According to NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes, NSW IR laws have played a big role in improving the wages and working conditions of public hospital nurses.

‘This could all be lost if public hospital nurses are forced by a State Liberal government to move to the federal system – where they will be subject to John Howard’s IR laws.

‘Under John Howard’s IR system, our penalty rates, pay provisions and our right to use industrial action to improve

the health system are all up for grabs, which will have a detrimental impact on attempts to overcome the nurse shortage.’

Brett says the ads have asked the public to vote for nurses to help save their rights and conditions.

‘We are unashamedly defending an industrial relations system that has delivered so much for nurses – especially in recent years. That system was put in place and has been supported by the State Labor government. We are not prepared to risk that system without a fight. It would be a serious dereliction of our duty to nurses and our members.’

Brett says that public hospitals are not the only sector at risk.

‘Given that the public health system sets the benchmark for wages and conditions in private hospitals and aged care, the failure to fight for the current state IR system for public hospital nurses would also be a dereliction of duty to members in these sectors.

‘For this reason, we are asking the consideration of the people of NSW when they vote on 24 March,’ said Brett. n

LIBERAL POSITION IS RIDDLED WITH CONTRADICTIONS c

Peter Debnam promises to keep public hospital nurses under a state award but at the same time supports the move of industrial relations into the federal system.

c

Peter Debnam has said nothing about protecting the rights of aged care and private hospital nurses who are now exposed to the worst excesses of John Howardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laws.

c

The NSW Liberals have also said nurses will get better pay if they become the government yet have refused to guarantee the future of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the body that has been responsible for giving nurses better pay and conditions over recent years, even when the Labour government rejected our claims.

c

While they say they will give better pay, this stands in stark contrast to comments from a pack of federal Liberal ministers, including Treasurer Peter Costello, Minister for Health Tony Abbot, Minister for Aged Care Santo Santoro and Queensland Federal MP Peter Lindsay, who have all railed against pay rises given by State governments to public sector workers including nurses.

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 15

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NO C E W V ES R I SNT O BR Y I E F

So what motivated 4 hard-working nurses to make such a public message of protest?

Jacintha Symes, RN (casual) at Wollongong Hospital ‘I believe nurses have a right to fair working conditions.

If we lose conditions, nurse shortages will just get worse because people just won’t stay.

‘I wouldn’t do night shifts without penalty rates. It stuffs up your body, your family and your social life. It’s just not worth it.’

Karen Fernance, NUM at Bankstown/Lidcombe Hospital

Sam Jomaa, RN in the ED at St George Hospital

‘Nurses have had to fight to move the profession forward so we are getting pay and conditions on an equivalent level to other professions that are making a similar contribution.

If we move to an IR system where our rights are eroded, nurses will feel devalued.

‘If the new IR laws come in and cut out penalty rates, nurses will walk away in droves. No one will want to work night and week-end shifts.’

‘It has been a struggle to achieve pay and conditions we deserve. Without fair pay and conditions, nursing is not an attractive career option for people leaving school.’

16 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

FUNDS FOR THE CAMPAIGN COME FROM THE NURSE POWER FUND

Scott Neirinckx, CNS at Ryde Community Mental Health ‘The only way we are going to increase the number of nurses entering the profession is to make nursing more attractive.

If IR laws take away penalty rates, nursing will become less attractive and this will drive people away.

‘I have no worries being on the ads because I am proud to be a nurse and I know people respect that … though my football team may give me a bagging.’ n

c

The fund was created after a long and thorough debate by NSWNA members at the branch level, at Committee of Delegates and at two Annual Conferences.

c

NSWNA delegates voted unanimously to create the fund at the 2005 Annual Conference.

c

One goal of the fund was to protect nurses from opportunistic or antagonistic policies from political parties at the state or federal level.

c

The stated method of campaigning was to include tactics used by politicians, including paid advertising.

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 17

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A G E N D A

LABOR and

LIBERAL on nursing and health g The Lamp examines Labor’s record on nursing and health and what the Liberals are proposing.

R

esearch shows that nurses leave their profession because of their overwhelming workloads, family demands, and the lack of control over the organisation of their work. In the context of a national shortfall of 40,000 nurses, it is estimated that NSW alone could face a shortage of 12,000 nurses by 2010, if nothing is done.

Finding solutions to the critical nursing shortage will be a key political challenge for the party that wins this month’s NSW State election. n

18 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

NSW public hospital nurses are the best paid in Australia following several successful NSWNA wage campaigns. Between 2000 and 2007 nurses will have received a 47.3% increase in base pay. n WHAT LABOR HAS DONE

T

he NSW Government has begun to implement some initiatives that have done much to improve conditions for nurses and increase retention of the nursing workforce.

Strategies aimed at improving retention have resulted in greater participation of registered and enrolled nurses in the workforce, with an overall growth in workforce across all sectors in NSW of 1.6%.

Wages and conditions are now protected NSW public health system nurses are the best paid in Australia following several successful NSWNA wage campaigns. The NSW Labor government has consistently agreed to fund whatever wage decision was awarded by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.

Between 2000 and 2007 nurses will have received a 47.3% increase in base pay.

They have won some valuable conditions that have improved their working lives: c a legally enforceable commitment to reasonable workloads; c groundbreaking 14 weeks’ paid maternity leave; c monetary recognition of nurses with postgraduate qualifications; and c improved union delegate rights at work.

More training places for nurses The Labor government has increased the number of enrolled nurses being educated from 900 to 1,200 in 2006 with a 21% increase in the number of enrolled and trainee nurses employed since 2001-2002.

The planned increases in nurse training numbers will not only improve supply of new nurses but, over time, will help to rebalance the age of the nursing workforce and ameliorate the effects of the large numbers of nurses predicted to retire over the next five years.

Improved retention of existing workforce The NSW Labor Government has implemented a number of initiatives that have improved conditions for nurses and increased retention of the nursing workforce, particularly in regard to workloads and relief on family pressures: c There are now over 40,500 nurses working in our public hospitals – a record according to the health department; c In the past four years, the public health sector gained 5,588 nurses (although around half of these are working part-time hours). Nurse numbers have increased by an average 4% per year for the past five years; c Turnover declined from 16 to 14%; c In the past two years, over 1,143 overseas qualified nurses and midwives have been recruited; c 1,469 nurses who left nursing have come back through the Nursing Reconnect program. This includes more than 400 across rural NSW.

The workloads clause is an important innovation In 2003, a commitment that nurses have a right to a reasonable and manageable workload was inserted into the public health system nurses’ award conditions.

This led to the implementation of a workloads computer program used by frontline nursing managers which, for the first time, provides a framework to measure what is a safe and reasonable workload for nurses and patients in general hospital wards.

Further guides to assist in determining nursing care levels in specialties such as emergency and community nursing and midwifery are underway.

OTHER LABOR HEALTH

c

Created new after hours GP clinics in hospital emergency departments to reduce waiting times.

c

Introduced a $2 billion package to help the mentally ill and people with disabilities.

c

Reduced waiting lists – the Iemma government claims that since January 2005 there has been a 99% reduction in the number of patients waiting more than 12 months for elective surgery and an 80% reduction in the number waiting more than one month for urgent planned surgery.

INITIATIVES

Better workforce planning Meaningful and accurate workforce data is critical for appropriate workforce planning and the management of nursing resources. The NSW Labor Government committed almost $1.2 million to independent research on the Nursing Skillmix and Workloads Study.

The NSWNA has been critical of the NSW Labor Government over the outcomes for nurse management during the AHS restructure and its resistance to our pay and conditions claims. However,

the ability to take those disputes to an independent umpire in the NSW industrial relations commission is now at risk from a change in government.

es Message from Morris Iemma to nurs settings to expand the diagnosis and Improving public services is the first th treatment role of nurses. priority of my Government, and heal The NSW public health system e care is a top priority. Improving thes now sets the benchmark for nurses’ pay services can only happen by backing and conditions. Rates of pay have gone the hardworking staff of our health up, with another increase of 4% due system to the hilt. on 1 July this year; we have provided My Government is also committed e more flexible work arrangements; we’r to opening after hours GP clinics in k wor e nabl reaso on ress prog real making our hospitals to reduce emergency rd; awa loads in accordance with your department waiting times. This will maternity leave has been enhanced; and in take some of the pressure off staff there are many professional development these departments. opportunities, with study leave and We’ll roll out new nursing scholarships to back them. positions, ongoing educational As a testimony to these opportunities, new facilities and commitments, we now employ over improved conditions if re-elected.

41,000 nurses in the public health The details will be announced in 0 system. There are an additional 6,80 my health policy launch and will be have who e positions filled by thos available on my website come back, or have been recruited . www.morrisiemma.com.au since 2003.

800 scholarships will be available In contrast, Peter Debnam will sell for enrolled nurses to become out nurses and the staff that support registered nurses. you. Mr Debnam will sack 20,000 250 scholarships will be available in public sector staff, impacting on one for rural midwifery services - 125 for Even ce. seven nurses, teachers and poli existing midwives and 125 to attract g if he confines himself to not replacin new midwives. ine imag , staff m” kroo so-called “bac There will be a new professional the impact on your daily tasks with 800 our for ram development prog less administrative staff.

Nurse Unit Managers.

The NSW public health system also k We will continue with our wor provides protection from the Howard on new models of care in acute, n.

Government’s WorkChoices legislatio mental health, and community care

The Oppposition supports Howard’s IR laws and will bow to demands to remove our state protections from the public health system.

Finally, I want to thank you all for your great work, and for your dedication to public service in New South Wales. I look forward to supporting you in that work for another four years. To see the complete set of my election commitments go to the web at www.morrisiemma.com.au

The Hon. Morris Iemma, MP Premier of New South Wales

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 19

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A G E N D A

n THE COALITION’S ALTERNATIVE

I

n June 2006, the NSW Coalition released its policy on nursing for NSW, Bringing Nurses Back, in which it suggested that if in government the NSW Coalition will achieve the following goals: c attract more nurses (500 in addition to the current positions advertised over four years); c better recognise their worth; c build vital skills and provide the nursing profession with the support it deserves (employ an additional 50 clinical nurse educators over four years); and, c give nurses a say in how things are done (establishing nursing staff councils and a new hospital board structure).

The proposal that 500 additional nurses are needed on top of the current vacancy numbers was developed without the benefit of planning and research. The NSWNA believes that just settling on a

figure of 500 across the whole system over four years lacks recognition of the importance of good research and planning.

We also believe the promise of 50 additional clinical nurse educators (CNEs) over a four year term of office is an underestimation of need. This may assist two to three of our major hospitals which do not currently employ CNEs but leaves 240 or more of our public hospitals and community health centres with no additional funded CNE positions.

OTHER COALITION

HEALTH

POLICIES

NSWNA general Secretary Brett Holmes said the proposal to re-establish hospital boards is a step back into the past of 20 years ago and would require another restructure of our health system, which would put the already restructureexhausted nurses into yet more years of uncertainty. ‘The establishment of nursing staff councils provides no guarantee that nurses will be able to make an appropriate contribution to operational management of our health system,’ he said. n

c

A promise of an extra 150 caseworkers and 150 accommodation places for the mentally ill.

c

Peter Debnam says he will cut 20,000 jobs from public services, a move the NSWNA fears will reduce valuable support to nurses from other health workers.

s Message from Peter Debnam to nurse The NSW Liberal/Nationals values nurses highly. We know that, without nurses, we cannot address serious prob . lems confronting hospitals With insufficient nurses, beds are closed, Emergency Departments • are blocked because patients can’t be off run are staff admitted to the wards, their feet and morale hits rock bottom.

Many nurses have contacted us ities • regarding loss of promotion opportun n whe th with the restructure of Heal Morris Iemma was Health Minister; they of have registered their concern at the lack and dem basic resources and the constant • for them to do more with less. als ation ral/N A NSW Libe e Government will address this. We plac ed a very high value on ensuring a satisfi nursing workforce. I have made it clear in that public hospital nurses will remain s • ition cond and pay with m, syste the State . not only maintained, but enhanced Our policy ‘Bringing Nurses Back’ commits $207.8 million over four years to: • • Improve nursing degree courses of unt amo ter by ensuring a grea 20 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

time is spent in clinical practice in hospitals or other health settings and investigating the opportunities for accelerated degrees to be off-set by nursing internships ($28.3 million); Increase retraining opportunities for registered and enrolled nurses wishing to re-enter the workforce ($4 million); Appoint an extra 50 clinical nurse educators over our first term to enable recent nursing graduates to receive a greater degree of mentoring ($8.8 million); Provide funding for 500 more nurses in our first term of government. This is above and on top of the existing vacant full-time nursing positions (bringing the total to 1,800 positions) ($85.3 million); Establish an additional quarantined fund to enable individual hospitals to negotiate benefits to meet the particular needs of nurses at that workplace. ($81.4 million); Give nurses more recognition and control by maintaining senior

nursing management positions, ensuring they are underpinned by strong support positions; establishing Nursing Staff Councils to give nurses the same clout and direct access to the Minister as doctors’ Medical Staff Councils; and ensuring nurse representation on each local hospital board.

Peter Debnam MP NSW Opposition Leader

The IR laws are a state issue too g The NSW State election is shaping up as a referendum on the Coalition’s IR laws. While the laws have been introduced at a federal level, the election of a state Liberal government could see an extra million workers, including public hospital nurses, swept into the federal system. The Lamp looks at how the parties line up on IR.

Debnam supports the federal IR laws Liberal leader Peter Debnam has clearly stated he will hand over the one million workers protected by the NSW industrial relations system to the federal system introduced by John Howard.

On 8 October 2005, he told The Sydney Morning Herald he believed the High Court challenge by the Labor government was a waste of money and confirmed it was still the policy of the state coalition to cede industrial relations powers to the Commonwealth.

This was confirmed by NSW Nationals leader Andrew Stoner who told ABC radio in December 2006, ‘In relation to WorkChoices, I absolutely support WorkChoices.’

Debnam has said he would keep public hospital nurses within the state system but has made no mention of protecting nurses in private hospitals or in aged care who now find themselves exposed to John Howard’s IR laws in the federal system.

Iemma will fight for workers’ rights

Nurses could lose some paid maternity leave entitlements if forced under John Howard’s IR system.

The additional maternity leave delivered by the Labor Government has made a big difference to Julia Martin, RN at St Vincent’s Hospital, and her family.

The Iemma government has been clear and active in its opposition to John Howard’s laws: c It has introduced legislation to protect frontline public sector workers including nurses but also police, TAFE teachers and ambulance officers. c It has introduced laws to ensure young people under 18 years of age remain under the protection of the NSW Industrial Relations system. This would ensure they receive wages and conditions at least the level provided

by NSW awards and legislation and are covered by unfair dismissal laws that were removed by Howard. c It has promised to maintain the standards of OHS safety in the face of federal schemes designed to drive down standards to the lowest common denominator. c It has promised to strengthen the powers of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 21

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A G E N D A

c

1988-1990 – increases for RNs of between 3% and 13%. c 2003-2004 – increases of 9%.

Liberal leader Peter Debnam has fudged his position on the future of the NSW IR Commission. In March 2006 when asked whether he’d keep the NSW Commission or shut it down he said: ‘We’ll spell it out later in the year.’ He has yet to clarify that position.

Clear differences on OHS

Public Hospital nurses could lose the Workloads Clause if they are forced under John Howard’s IR system. ‘I’d hate to lose the Workloads Clause, we’ve worked so hard for it,’ said Robyn Smith, RN, Maitland Hospital.

Comparisons on pay Statistics show the current Labor Government’s record on nursing wages has delivered much fairer outcomes and progress towards paying nurses what they are worth.

Under the Greiner/Fahey Liberal government, the top RN rate increased from $680.30 in 1992 to $728.70 in 1995. Over that three year period, the pay rate increased by an average of only 2.4% per year.

The ALP regained government in April 1995 and returned a fairer IR system.

Since that date, the top RN nurse rate has increased from $728.70 to the current rate of $1185.20, an increase of 62.6%. This represents an average increase over the 11 year period of 5.7% per year.

22 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

The role of the NSW IR Commission An analysis of nurses’ pay rates over the past 20 years demonstrates that access to the independent umpire of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission is absolutely critical. The Commission has assessed nurses’ pay rates on a number of occasions since 1986 and determined that, in addition to the increases negotiated with the Health Department, significant pay increases were needed to compensate nurses for the increased value of their work. c 1986 – increases ranging from 10% to 28% were paid.

The Howard Government has told the states they must voluntarily standardise OHS legislation or face a federal takeover of the laws. If the recent Commonwealth OHS Act is a guide, such a move would reduce protection from injury and illness to a standard far lower than that currently available to NSW workers.

If nurses are in a more vulnerable employment situation because of WorkChoices they are less likely to complain to the employer about OHS risks including risk of client-related violence, manual handling and infection control risks.

WorkChoices further worsens this situation by limiting the rights of entry available to union officers. This makes it more difficult for union officers to enter workplaces and collect information about safety problems.

Recent changes that allow private organisations to insure under the federal Comcare system for workers’ compensation is an additional threat.

This effectively removes the organisation from the state jurisdiction for OHS legislation. For nurses, this means reduced workers’ compensation benefits and OHS protections. The NSWNA understands that two large private hospital employers have applied to the Commonwealth Government to insure under Comcare.

Liberals’ leader Peter Debnam is on the public record as supporting these changes.

He was quoted in The Australian on 15 May 2006 as stating ‘a Coalition government in NSW would freeze all workplace safety cases before the state’s industrial court’.

The Australian also reported that Mr Debnam announced that under a Coalition government unions would lose their rights to prosecute under OHS legislation. Union right of entry could also be severely limited.

The result of this would be a veil of secrecy over safety issues in workplaces and complicity in this cover-up of poor employers’ behaviour. n

Private hospital and aged care nurses most vulnerable

W

hile public hospital nurses retain some protection from the extremism of John Howard’s laws under their status as crown employees, aged care and private hospital nurses are afforded no such protection.

Anne Woodward, NUM at Kapooka Health Centre, was sacked for voicing her concerns about delays to patient care.

The Coalition, at both the state and federal levels, has been silent on the fate of these nurses Research undertaken by the NSWNA shows that nurses are much worse off under AWAs or Greenfields agreements – two important tools to lower pay and conditions available to employers under the laws, which are now beginning to appear in these sectors. They are also vulnerable to unfair dismissal without any of the protections that were available before the new laws were introduced.

Conditions slashed, pay reduced by $150 a week under AWAs Employees at a new nursing home have been offered employment on AWAs that slash protected conditions. c No shift loadings; c No week-end penalties; c Reduced public holiday penalties;

c c

Reduced overtime payment; No additional annual leave for shift workers; c No on-call during meal break allowance; c No in-charge of facility allowance.

The NSW Industrial Relations Commission awarded a base rate of $19.58 as the appropriate rate of pay for the top of the enrolled nurse scale based on the value of their work.

The employer has offered a flat rate of $19.55 per hour and no compensation for the loss of protected conditions.

The loss of shift and weekend penalties would mean a reduction in pay on average of around 20%. That is on average almost $150 per week less for a nurse earning $743 per week.

When the employer negotiates with himself, nurses are the losers When nurses returned to a Sydney nursing home reopening after refurbishment, they were informed that they would now be employed under a ‘greenfields agreement’, with some significantly different conditions.

A NSWNA analysis of this agreement shows that while the base pay rates are slightly higher than the rates in the Nursing Homes, &c., Nurses’ Award National Agreement Preserving a State Award (NAPSA) shift, weekend and public holiday penalty rates and overtime rates had been reduced.

A comparison based on the 7th year RN rate of $27.5158 per hour under the NAPSA and $27.9658 per hour under the greenfields agreement reveals that a 7th Year registered nurse working afternoon shifts Wednesday to Sunday now earns $135.90 less under the greenfields agreement. This is 9.3% less than their previous pay in the state system.

A nurse sacked for doing her duty and no recourse for unfair dismissal

Sally Baker, RN, says residents will suffer if nurse shortages worsen.

manager at the Kapooka Health Centre near Wagga Wagga, who was sacked for voicing her concerns with her defence force supervisor about the delay of an ambulance called in to attend a suspected cardiac arrest.

This exchange led to the Australian Defence Force Health Services removing her from the base. Anne, who was technically employed by a nursing agency, RED Alliance, was given an hour to clear out her desk.

The Australian Defence Force washed its hands of responsibility for the dismissal, saying it was not the employer.

RED Alliance escaped legal action from an unfair dismissal claim as it employed less than 100 employees. n

Ghenet Abraha, AIN at Rosedale Nursing Home, says John Howard’s IR laws threaten penalty rates and she fears how she would survive.

Last year The Lamp reported on the case of Anne Woodward, a nurse unit THE LAMP MARCH 2007 23

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I N D U S T R I A L

I S S U E S

A fair future for our kids g With less protection and poorer pay and conditions, nurses are already suffering the effects of WorkChoices.

So what is going to happen to our children, who are the most vulnerable group of workers?

T

he State Labor government last year reclassified public sector nurses as Crown employees, thereby shielding them from WorkChoices legislation.

More recently, the Iemma government invoked its child protection powers to safeguard children under 18 from the worst effects of WorkChoices.

Despite these welcome moves, nurses are increasingly concerned about the prospects for their children as they enter the workforce.

How will the next generation fare in a work environment radically changed in the employer’s favour?

Evidence suggests many will start their working lives with minimal protection and poorer conditions than their parents enjoyed.

The Lamp spoke to two Sydney nurses who believe the Howard government is selling out young people’s right to a better future. n

What’s in store for the next generation? g Teenagers get a taste of life under WorkChoices

M

ary-Louise White has glimpsed what lies ahead for young Australians entering the workforce – and fears for the future of her teenage sons.

‘Unless the new federal work laws are done away with, there will be no protection for young workers and no accountability for employers,’ says the Prince of Wales Hospital clinical nurse consultant.

Mary-Louise’s 19-year-old son Ben spent 18 months as a casual then parttime employee at a Dick Smith store after finishing high school.

‘We often didn’t get the penalty rates and rest breaks we were entitled to, and had to attend unpaid meetings,’ he said.

‘There were lots of sudden roster changes but if anyone questioned the lack of consultation they got the brush off.’

Ben joined the union to try to protect his rights – a move which resulted in ‘a very negative response’ from management.

24 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

Mary-Louise’s younger son Sam, 16, plays representative soccer and was keen to help his mum out with the associated expenses. He applied for several casual jobs over the Christmas break and was eventually given an unpaid ‘trial’ at a Video Ezy store on the strength of his resume and Mary-Louise’s approval for him to work late.

‘They were supposed to show me how to work the computer but instead I stacked shelves while the older staff chatted,’ Sam said.

‘They promised to let me know within a week if I had the job, but two weeks went by. I called the boss and she said they’d given the job to someone else because my confidence wasn’t good enough – but she wasn’t even there for my trial.’

Mary-Louise said, ‘It’s not just happening to my kids – I hear similar stories all the time. I think it’s unfair the

way young people can be taken advantage of these days.

‘Kids are coming to accept that this is the way they are going to be treated at work – thank you, Mr Howard. What he has done is to legalise bullying and intimidation in the workplace.

‘I hear some people argue that no one will work on weekends if they don’t get paid extra for it. But that doesn’t take into account the terrible pressure on young people who are trying to get through uni and have to work part time to support themselves.’

As the NSWNA branch president at Prince of Wales, Mary-Louise believes nurses should not assume they are immune to the new federal laws.

‘As State public sector nurses, we are protected at the moment but that may change if the State government changes.

And there is much less protection for nurses in the private sector.’n

POW Branch President Mary-Louise with son Sam

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 25

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I N D U S T R I A L

I S S U E S

Young workers shielded from Howard’s laws g NSW Government introduces new laws to protect young workers

T

he threat of WorkChoices has been lifted from an estimated 150,000 young workers in NSW. New laws to protect workers under 18 have come into effect in the State.

The State Labor government used its child protection powers under the constitution to bring in laws to override the Howard government’s industrial legislation.

The laws maintain young people’s wages and conditions to at least the level of NSW awards – regardless of what WorkChoices says employers can do.

NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca, said the laws also restore unfair dismissal protections removed by the federal law for under 18s in NSW. The State government has also changed workers compensation law to

prevent injured workers from losing out under WorkChoices. ‘’To ensure the NSW laws that protect injured workers are not overridden by WorkChoices and are extended to all workers in the State, they are being transferred to NSW Workers’ Compensation legislation,’ Mr Della Bosca said.

Other changes include protection of employees against victimisation or dismissal for raising legitimate occupational health and safety issues at work.

to pay well below minimum state and federal awards and strip away weekend, overtime and holiday penalty rates.’

He cited a number of contracts lodged with the federal government’s Office of the Employment Advocate, which set the hourly rate of pay for casuals working on a Sunday at 40% less than the NSW equivalent award.

The NSW Office of Industrial Relations will write to employers to inform them of the new laws.

Inspectors will also visit workplaces as part of a compliance campaign and

‘WorkChoices allows employers to pay well below minimum state and federal awards and strip away weekend, overtime and holiday penalty rates.’

‘The new laws will shield young workers, trainees and apprentices with protections, also extending to students undertaking vocational education and training in schools,’ Mr Della Bosca said.

‘WorkChoices allowed employers

employers could face fines of up to $11,000 for each offence if found in breach of the new rules.

To find out more about the new laws protecting young workers, go to www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au n

Daughter’s job turns sour after AWA attempt

T

hings started to go wrong at work for 20-year-old Belinda Flogel after she chose to stay on award conditions rather than sign an individual contract.

Even under WorkChoices legislation, workers have the ‘right’ to choose not to sign an AWA (Australian Workplace Agreement). Or so John Howard told us ad nauseam when he produced the new laws.

What Howard did not say – and what Belinda has now learned – was that the boss also has the right to impose a financial penalty and make life unpleasant for any worker who refuses to give up their existing work conditions.

Belinda’s mother, Manly Hospital nurse unit manager and NSWNA 26 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

councillor Lyn Hopper, says her daughter’s working life has been turned upside down as a result of her decision to stick with the award. The same has happened to one other worker who refused to sign.

Belinda, a university student with a long-term casual job at a northern Sydney beaches club, had her hours cut in half and was no longer rostered on shifts attracting penalty rates.

And management has banned the common practice of staff swapping shifts – presumably to prevent the award workers from covering penalty shifts.

‘Staff were told they would get $1 an hour extra if they signed the AWA. But they lost a lot more than that by giving up penalty rates and other conditions,’ Lyn said.

‘They were handed the half-inch thick contract and advised to sign it and bring it back immediately.

‘Belinda asked me to interpret it and I realised as soon as I read it that they would be a lot worse off financially.’

Lyn says her daughter, an experienced waitress before she started at the club, has done a variety of jobs in her year there, including operating the cash register and running the coffee shop.

‘But now she and the other girl who didn’t sign the AWA are only given the menial jobs like picking up plates and polishing the cutlery.

‘They are made to feel uncomfortable.

It is just disgusting what’s happening to young people at work these days.’ n

‘It is just disgusting what’s happening to young people at work.’

Lyn Hopper

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 27

This year there are two elections that will have a huge impact on the lives of working people – yet many NSWNA members may not be able to vote because they are not correctly enrolled.

Now is the time to fix that by checking you are on the electoral roll at your correct address.

You should check your enrolment if: •

You are turning 18 and have never voted before;

•

You have moved house in the past two years;

•

You are not sure whether you are enrolled.

THE NSW election is on 24 March 2007. The federal election will take place later in 2007.

Both elections will be decided by small numbers of voters in a few key seats.

That’s why your vote can make a difference. So make sure you are correctly enrolled to vote.

It’s important to enrol as soon as possible because John Howard has changed the laws to make it harder to enrol. Once the Prime Minister calls the federal election, it will be too late to get on the electoral roll.

Have your say in 2007 elections ENROL TO VOTE NOW

Jo Sudol, TEN, enrols to vote

28 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

For more information on how to vote or to download an enrolment application form, visit the Australian Electoral Commission website at www.aec.gov.au or call (02) 6271 4411 or 13 23 26.

You can also pick up an enrolment application form at your local post office.

IR SHORTS

LABOR PROMISES TO PROTECT 38-HOUR WEEK

L

aborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new workplace relations spokesperson Julia Gillard has flagged better protections from Labor to protect the 38-hour week, which commentators are interpreting as a policy that would force employers to restore penalty rates.

Gillard also confirmed that Labor policy remains to scrap AWAs and unwind the Howard governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IR laws.

Gillard also indicated that Labor would be expanding the number of minimum standards which the Liberals have reduced to a bare five. The ACTU wants to double the number of minimum standards to 10 including a limit on overtime for workers, no cashing out of annual leave and a minimum of 11 public holidays a year.

She also promised to restore the nodisadvantage test for common law individual contracts, which would remain as an alternative for high income earners to negotiate individual contracts.

Julia Gillard

POLL SHOWS VOTERS WANT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STAND UP FOR AUSTRALIAN JOBS of marginal seat voters say the federal government isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t doing enough to stop Australian businesses being sold overseas and jobs being lost offshore, according to an ACTU poll.

Polling of voters in Coalition-held marginal seats shows strong public opposition to the proposed sale of Qantas to local and foreign private equity interests.

The polling shows that high levels of community concern over the impact of the sale on Australian jobs, rural and regional airline services and safety standards mean that 79%

80%

BIG BUSINESS WILL BAT FOR HOWARD OVER IR

A

ustraliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest business group, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has promised to help the Howard government resist any roll back of its IR laws.

ACCI CEO Peter Hendy, a former Liberal staffer for former Howard minister Peter Reith, promised the organisation would do everything to counter union opposition to the laws.

of voters say they oppose the sale of Qantas.

66% of voters do not think the Qantas sale is in Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national interest, 67% believe it will not be in the interest of ordinary travellers, 81% say it will be bad for people living in regional areas and 80% say it will be bad for Australian jobs.

Eight out of 10 people surveyed (80%) also believe the federal government was not doing enough to prevent Australian business being sold overseas and jobs lost offshore while fewer than one in 10 (8%) thought the Coalition was doing enough.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;It is our number one priority over the coming year to entrench the implementations of workplace relations reform,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he told The Australian.

The issue ranks above the ACCIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s priorities for addressing the skills shortage, which The Australian said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;has put a cap on economic growth and stifled exports at a time of heady demand for raw resourcesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

It also ranked above climate change issues. n

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THE LAMP MARCH 2007 29

Members – Sign up a new member and go in the draw to win a fabulous trip to

NORFOLK ISLAND PRIZE INCLUDES; Return air fares with Nor folk Air from Sydney to Nor folk Island for two people 7 nights at Poinciana Cottages 7 days car hire Half Hour Hot Stone Massage per person Talpacific Holidays Convict Club Card offering gifts and discounts on shopping, touring & dining.

WIN DAVID JONES VOUCHERS Once you have recruited 4 new members to the NSWNA, you will be awarded a $20 David Jones voucher, and for every member after that you’ll receive a further $5 voucher. It’s that easy!

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORMS HURRY – CALL THE ASSOCIATION NOW FOR YOUR RECRUITMENT KITS! PH: 8595 1234 (METROPOLITAN AREA) OR 1300 367 962 (NON-METROPOLITAN AREA) OR GO TO

www.nswnurses.asn.au

30 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

COMPETITION CLOSES 30 JUNE 2007

s

WORKLOADS

When action speaks louder than words g Understaffed and overworked, Maclean nurses say enough is enough.

S

ometimes it takes more than a sound argument to convince the bean counters who run the hospital system that health care is not only about balancing the books.

Nurses at Maclean District Hospital were forced to adopt work bans to ensure safe and appropriate patient care and reasonable workloads for staff who provide it.

Their action achieved in a couple of hours what six months of carefully researched argument failed to accomplish: an additional RN for the emergency department.

The ED is cramped and short of beds, with patients often forced to be treated on trolleys in the corridor.

It was also seriously understaffed, having to call for assistance from ward nurses who had to abandon their own patients.

‘Even when we were very busy the ward nurses couldn’t stay in ED because they have their own staff shortages back on the wards,’ said Cath Osbourne, ED nurse unit manager and secretary of the Nurses’ Association branch at the hospital.

Cath Osbourne, NUM, said presentations in ED at Maclean District Hospital have tripled over the past three years.

‘Our morale was very low because we felt our concerns weren’t being considered. It seemed Area management in Lismore didn’t want to know about a small 42-bed community hospital like ours,’ Cath said.

The union then lodged a workloads dispute, prompting management to offer the ED an endorsed enrolled nurse, which

‘Management did not even bother to reply to our request.’

Cath asked for more RNs and backed the request with statistics showing the ED had tripled its presentations and workload in three years.

She supplied graphs showing the number of hours per day ward nurses were called in to assist, and the growing time lag of up to two hours between presentation and triage.

‘Hospital management were very supportive and sent the request to top management of North Coast Area Health Service, who ignored it,’ Cath said.

The nurses took their claim to the Reasonable Workloads Committee which twice endorsed it, but Area management did nothing.

the NSWNA branch rejected.

‘An EEN didn’t meet our needs and the requirements for patient safety,’ Cath pointed out.

‘We often work with a doctor on call only, and need someone qualified to do triage and advanced protocols, which must be done by RNs. ‘Our ratio of RNs to ENs was already well below the 80% benchmark set by the Area.’

At a phone conference including a union organiser, Area management claimed the nurses’ statistics did not show a need for an extra RN. So a union branch meeting voted unanimously to give five days’ notice of

industrial action if management failed to agree to a final request for an additional RN. ‘They didn’t even bother to reply to our final request,’ Cath said.

Given no alternative, the nurses held another branch meeting and decided to take action within two days.

‘We sent the CEO a fax saying we would be going to code red in ED and would refuse to see any patient in triage category 4 or 5, meaning non-urgent cases and GP presentations for example,’ Cath said.

‘With the next hospital 40 minutes down the road we did not want to turn away anyone who needed to be seen promptly.’

Meanwhile NSWNA Assistant General Secretary, Judith Kiejda, got on the phone to senior officers of NSW Health.

Within two hours of sending the fax the nurses had what they wanted – a guarantee of a RN on the overlap 9am6pm shift.

‘Management say the RN is being provided “on a temporary basis” for 12 months until they review our numbers, but we are sure that the review will find we still need a few more hours in the ED,’ Cath said.

‘And we have management’s agreement that we will have a say in the way the review is carried out.’ n THE LAMP MARCH 2007 31

32 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

s

Q & A

ASK

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR RIGHTS AND ENTITLEMENTS AT WORK,

JUDITH

NSWNA ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY JUDITH KIEJDA HAS THE ANSWERS.

Public holidays over Easter I have been asked by the NUM to do the roster for March and April as Easter and Anzac Day fall within this period.

Could you please tell me what days are the public holidays during this period?

Is Easter Sunday a public holiday as I have heard that it is but have found no evidence to support this?

The public holidays for March and April are: c Friday 6 April (Good Friday) c Saturday 7 April (Easter Saturday) c Monday 8 April (Easter Monday) c Wednesday 25 April (Anzac Day) c Easter Sunday is NOT a public holiday.

Entitlements for injured workers I was injured at my workplace, a small nursing home, and an ambulance was called to transport me to hospital.

The insurance company has accepted liability and is paying for my doctor’s bills and physiotherapy. However, I have now received a bill from the ambulance service and my employer is telling me that I am to pay this bill.

Surely the insurance company should pay for the ambulance also?

Yes, you are correct, the insurance company should also be paying the ambulance bill.

You should call the insurance company and speak to your case manager, who should advise you to submit the bill to the insurance company for payment.

WorkCover advises that the benefits payable to an injured worker depend on the nature and severity of the injury and the individual claim and that an injured worker may be eligible for all or some of the following benefits: c weekly wages; c medical or related treatment; c occupational rehabilitation services; c ambulance service; c hospital treatment; c travel expenses to attend appointments for medical and other treatment; c lump sums for permanent impairment; c lump sums for pain and suffering; c vocational re-education and retraining, work aids and equipment, work trials; c when the injury results in the death of a worker, the dependent family members may be eligible for death benefits and/or funeral expenses.

Annual leave rate while on workers’ compensation I am on workers’ compensation and have been doing suitable duties two weekdays per week for a few months, whereas previously I was working on weekends. I am about to take annual leave and I want to know what rate I should be paid?

Your annual leave will be paid at the rate at which you would have worked while on leave. So, if you were to be rostered on for a weekday shift, you would be paid at the base rate plus annual leave loading or penalty rates for the weekday shift, whichever is the greater.

ADO entitlements while on sick leave I have recently been on an extended period of paid sick leave. What happens with my other leave entitlements and ADOs during that time?

While you are on paid sick leave you will continue to accumulate leave, such as annual leave, sick leave and long service leave. While you are on paid sick leave you also accumulate ADOs. n

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The Novotel Barossa Valley Resort now has yet another great reason to visit the beautiful Barossa for your next conference.

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 33

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L I F E S T Y L E

Patchwork club g Creative, organised, intricate and personalised …

Jane Keneally, RN, likens her quilting hobby to her job as busy school nurse. ane Keneally’s quilting hobby kicked off when she and fellow nurse, Kathy Titmus, were looking for a fun activity to do in their spare time – something to help them unwind after a busy day working as a school nurse.

A nurse since 1969, Jane works casually in immunisation for Executive Health, administering flu vaccinations for businesses and as a school nurse at various private schools in Sydney, including boarding and day schools.

‘My interest in quilting gathered pace when I was waiting for my first grandchild to be born eight years ago. I had always wanted to quilt and this gave me a reason to take it up in earnest.’

Jane meets weekly with a group that is growing in number and she loves the social aspect of her hobby. Her fellow quilters share ideas and, best of all, the group allows for ‘another pair of eyes to improve the quilt’.

‘I know many nurses who quilt and I enjoy having people to follow who have more experience than her own.’

Jane still considers herself a novice but her creations are intricate and very creative. ‘I have made quilts for friends and family that range in themes including weddings, a tropical theme for her son who lives on an island and even a South Sydney Rabbitohs design.’

It is this individual tailoring that Jane likes about quilting. While classes covered

Unwinding with creative design, Jane Keneally

technical aspects, it is ‘passion and the personal’ that guide the final product.

Jane finds quilting very relaxing and a great escape from life and work. ‘I find myself thinking of colours and designs when I’m stressed.’

Although she is far too busy on the job to ever indulge in her hobby at work, Jane likens quilting to nursing. Planning, thinking and organisation are essential to both.

‘You have to think the job through’ said Jane. But like nursing, quilting can take an unexpected direction regardless of how much planning has taken place.

‘Quilts have been the gift of choice for my four grandchildren. It is such a wonderful item that can be kept and it keeps me occupied’ said Jane, who has just finished a quilt for grandchild number five, who is on the way. n

OUR REVIEWERS & TIPSTERS RECEIVE c c c c c

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FOR UPLIFTING ENJOYMENT! Gifts so good, you won’t want to give them away. There is an ABC Shop near you.

For locations visit abcshop.com.au or call 1300 360 111.

Ask about our Rewards program.

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 35

s

L I F E S T Y L E

Woody‘s Scoop another winner

Reviewer Elizabeth Fisher, RN, Inala, Cherrybrook

g Woody Allen weaves his magic as magician and director of Scoop, a side-splitting murder thriller.

I

spent a most enjoyable afternoon watching Woody Allen’s latest film ‘Scoop’.

It is a quirky, comic, murder mystery in the style of ‘Amelie’.

The young female protagonist in this case is Sondra (Scarlett Johansson), a student of journalism. She is visiting her friend in England, and when she volunteers to participate in a stage magic show, she meets a ghost.

This real-looking visitor from the other side is Ian McShane, who some may remember from the BBC series ‘Lovejoy’ in the 1980s. He plays the loveable rouge who chooses Sondra to help him with some unfinished

business. The stage magician is played by Woody Allen himself, who also wrote and directed the film.

Woody Allen has directed many films in his career, all bearing some degree of his signature irony and self-deprecating humor. This one is particularly funny even though there is a real murder in the plot and hints of several more. Sondra, (Johansson) is played with great verve and a charming naiveté and captivates all who meet her, especially Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman), a British aristocrat.

Reminiscent of Cary Grant, Jackman plays a smooth operator who is bowled over by the young American. But, can she trust him?

This is a romp through London with an unlikely pair of sleuths in Scarlett Johansson and Woody Allen.

Woody plays a slightly different role from his usual characters – this time, as someone drawn into the story against his will – but stays on to help his young friend when she finds herself in danger. This shows the counterpoint between youth and age, exuberance and experience – clearly recognisable to one who has been there!

There are many gags and one-liners that had me laughing out loud, at the same time there is suspense enough to keep us intrigued and hoping disaster doesn’t strike.

There is a surprising dénouement, which is bittersweet but satisfying.

I highly recommend this movie to all but the most prudish or anyone post-op, who would be likely to dehisce. There are a few chaste kisses and some hints of bedroom activity, but no nudity. n Scoop opens nationally on 15 March 2007.

GIVEAWAY The Lamp has 25 double passes to give away to see Scoop, thanks to Icon Film. To enter, email lamp@nswnurses.asn.au with your name, membership number, address and contact number. First entries from 5 March win!

36 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

Dark side of Hollywood C O M P E T I T I O N

g A walk on the darker side of 1950s Hollywood.

WIN LUXURY WEEKEND AT

Reviewer Liz Lyons POWH

THE NORTH SYDNEY HARBOURVIEW HOTEL

S

uperman star George Reeves (Ben Affleck) died mysteriously in the 1950s in Hollywood.

Speculation on what happened to him and what was the cause of his death is still unanswered. This film, set in the 1950s with flashbacks to the 1940s, depicts the events that occurred before his death. Adrien Brody (The Pianist) gives another great performance as a private investigator trying to piece together the jigsaw puzzle to see if George Reeves’ death was murder, accident or suicide. Diane Lane (Under the Tuscan Sun) plays an excellent role as the wife of a film executive who is totally infatuated with George Reeves. Bob Hoskins performance as this executive is excellent and very convincing.

The movie begins very slowly and one by one the pieces of the jigsaw unfold about Reeves’ death and then there is a twist.

Just when you think you know the truth and what the ending will be another angle of the events is given to the moviegoer.

If you like the 1950s era of actors, clothes, cars and Hollywood glory, this is a film you will enjoy. n Hollywoodland opens nationally on 15 March 2007.

WANTED

STAR REVIEWERS & TIPSTERS FOR OUR REVIEW PAGES

The Lamp is offering members the chance to win a luxury weekend getaway for 4 at the North Sydney Harbourview Hotel plus a fun filled day at Luna Park.

Conveniently located in the heart of North Sydney, the North Sydney Harbourview Hotel is more than just a hotel.

With unsurpassed harbour views, a relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff, the North Sydney Harbourview Hotel is the place to indulge.

Enjoy superb dining at our in-house restaurant – LB’s Harbourview Restaurant. LB’s offers a creative and contemporary menu, a selection of the finest Australian wines and a unique view across Lavender Bay and the Sydney Harbour toward the city.

Our competition prize this month includes overnight accommodation in a harbour-view room, full buffet breakfast, complimentary car parking and a family pass to fun-filled Luna Park which includes unlimited rides with food included.

To enter, write your name, address and membership number on the back of an envelope to: Harbourview Hotel Competition PO Box 40, Camperdown NSW 1450 For more information on the North Sydney Harbourview Hotel , visit our website www. viewhotels.com.au or simply call 1300 785 453 to make a booking.

North Sydney Harbourview Hotel 17 Blue Street, North Sydney T. 9955 0499 • F. 9922 3689 E. hotel.hv@viewhotels.com.au W. www.viewhotels.com.au

We're seeking members with a non-nursing skill or talent they'd like to share with other nurses. You could be a whiz in the kitchen. Or have some DIY plumbing and home-handy tips. Or a wild and wonderful interest or skill. Be it strange, extraordinary or useful, we'd love you to come on board as a NSWNA tipster. We are also seeking closet film buffs to share with other nurses their views on the movies they love and hate. It’s a chance to see previews of next month’s new releases. Please contact us with expressions of interest to be part of our tipster and movie review team.

Be part of the action by calling Editorial Enquiries now on 02 8595 1219 or email lamp@nswnurses.asn.au THE LAMP MARCH 2007 37

s

O B I T U A R Y

Dedicated to mental health nursing EDWARD (EDDIE) MICHAEL TAYLOR 12 September 1926 – 12 October 2006

E

ddie was born on 12 September 1926 in Ireland, the third of six children. He grew up in Scotland where his father worked in the shipyards.

During the war Eddie returned to Ireland aged 15 to look after the family farm. He did this for three years, living alone with an uncle on the next farm. After that he went back to Scotland.

At 22 Eddie started training as a psychiatric nurse at Woodlea Hospital in Scotland, where he met his future wife Moira. He followed his psychiatric training with general training at Stobhill Hospital in Scotland.

Eddie and Moira married on

10 September 1955 and had three children – Moira, Eamonn and Keiran.

In June 1964, they migrated to Australia and Eddie began work at North Ryde (now Macquarie) Hospital in Sydney. He became a supervisor (ADON) there as well as at Peat and Milson Island and Marsden.

He also worked at St John of God Hospital.

We did not meet Eddie until he retired.

He got bored and returned to work in 1986 in the new Acute Psychiatric Unit at Wollongong Hospital. He later worked at Port Kembla in psychiatric nursing and finally at Shellharbour, also in psychiatric nursing. After 16 years, he left in 2002 due to poor health.

Eddie continued to enjoy golf and also played soccer until his fifties.

Eddie was always surprised to hear that he was a role model for the next generation of mental health nurses. He kept the ideal of mental health nursing alive in difficult times and his compassion, wisdom and sense of humour (who can forget the story of the seagulls and the Largactil?) will be remembered. He died last year just after his 80th birthday. n

By Margaret Brown, Dementia Care CNC, SESIAHS; and Anna Treloar, RN, Justice Health Service Mid North Coast Correctional Centre

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38 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

A role model for nurses

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MARGARET CAMPBELL MACINDOE (MONTEITH) 20 June 1920 – 7 November 2006

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orn and raised in the Sydney suburb of Burwood, Margaret Monteith commenced her general nurse training in 1938 at the nearby Western Suburbs Hospital (WSH) in Croydon.

On completing her general training in 1942, she trained in Midwifery at King George V Hospital, Camperdown. Margaret then pursued a varied career in nursing, including a period working in the remote area of Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberly region of Western Australia with the Australian Inland Mission.

In 1952 Margaret was appointed the first Tutor Sister at WSH and in this position she displayed empathy, concern and care for both patients and nursing staff. She completed the Sister Tutor Diploma at the NSW College of Nursing in 1956 and was admitted as a Fellow of the College of Nursing in 1957.

In 1959 Margaret became the Matron of WSH, where her firm but kind and understanding nature contributed to an efficient and well-managed hospital. She was a role model for nursing staff who were committed to the provision of quality care. Her caring and friendliness was genuine and most welcome to the patients as she did her rounds each day.

Western Suburbs Hospital was a small hospital and ‘Monty’, as Margaret was referred to by her nurses, was a constant friendly presence in the nurses’ home where she lived along with all the trainee nurses.

In 1968, Margaret married Dr Norman Macindoe, a well-known ophthalmologist practising in Burwood. She resigned her position as Matron and completed her long and dedicated career in nursing.

However, Margaret’s love of nursing and WSH was a lifelong passion and she lent her enthusiasm, support and expertise to the Western Suburbs Hospital Graduate Nurses Association as its president for many years and then continued as a committee member until the time of her death. At the annual reunions, her infectious laugh was heard throughout the day as she greeted, reminisced and showed avid interest in the careers of ‘her nurses’.

Margaret Macindoe had a very active retirement and was strongly involved with her church and family-life, maintaining her strong friendships from her nursing days and her many travels to interesting destinations.

Her death on 7 November 2006 at 86 years signifies the end of an era for nurses who have had an association with Western Suburbs Hospital.

While Margaret will be sadly missed, her professional nursing example and vibrant nature will always remain a positive inspiration to those of us who knew her. n

By Margaret Gane RN, WSH Graduate Nurses’ Association

G E ¬ O F¬ . U R

S

Continuin Professio g nal Developm ent Handbook January to June

1800

2007

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THE LAMP MARCH 2007 39

ADVERTORIAL

STATE SUPER SAS Trustee Corporation

SASS – Salary Sacrifice from 1 April 2007 From 1 April 2007, SASS members will be able to pay their compulsory personal SASS contributions as Salary Sacrifice contributions.

However, before making this decision, we recommend that you seek professional financial advice.

From 1 April 2007, you will have more choice in how you make your compulsory personal superannuation contributions to SASS. ■ You can continue to pay all your compulsory personal contributions from after-tax salary; OR You can choose to pay your compulsory personal contributions: • entirely from your before-tax salary; or • from a combination of before-tax and after-tax salary.

■Any additional Salary Sacrifice or undeducted contributions you make will continue to be paid into another superannuation scheme of your choice. SASS is still not able to accept these contributions.

HOW ARE SALARY SACRIFICE CONTRIBUTIONS TREATED? ■ You need to be aware that Salary Sacrifice contributions are treated as employer contributions and attract the 15% contributions tax on entry to the Fund.

■ This means that your contributions need to be increased (or grossed up) by an amount representing the contributions tax, so that you can make the same net contribution to SASS that you would have made through after-tax contributions. For example, if you decide to contribute $200 per month on a before-tax basis, your employer would deduct $235.29 from your salary each month. (Formula: specified contribution ÷ 0.85) The grossing up of the contribution is arranged with

your Employer, as part of overall Salary Packaging After-tax Salary Sacrifice OTHER MATTERS TO CONSIDER Do Salary Sacrifice contributions affect the salary used to calculate my benefits?

No. Your superannuation benefits are calculated using your salary before any superannuation contributions (beforetax or after-tax) are deducted.

Can I pay additional Salary Sacrifice contributions into SASS? No. SASS can only accept your compulsory SASS contributions.

Do Salary Sacrifice contributions count for the Commonwealth Government Co-contribution?

No. Only after-tax contributions qualify for the Commonwealth Government Co-contribution.

APART FROM THE 15% CONTRIBUTIONS TAX, ARE THERE OTHER TAX IMPLICATIONS? Yes. The Australian Taxation Office requires any Salary Sacrifice arrangement with your Employer to be made in advance. i.e. it must be based on future salary. You also need to advise your Employer in advance so that appropriate deductions can be made from your salary.

include removing the age based employer contribution limit.

Discussions continue on how the notional employer contributions are to be calculated for SASS. Contributions above the limit will be taxed at the highest marginal tax rate instead of the concessional rate of 15%).

I’M INTERESTED IN SALARY SACRIFICE WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? ■ Seek professional financial advice.

■ Advise your Employer what portion (if any) of your SASS contributions you want to make under a Salary Sacrifice arrangement.

?

Like more information?

More information is contained in the SASS Salary Sacrifice Flyer. This was provided with your Annual Statement. A copy is also located on the State Super website. We are currently developing a calculator to assist you. We expect this to be available on the State Super website by the end of February 2007.

Salary Sacrifice contributions: • count towards your Reasonable Benefit Limit (2006 Commonwealth Budget proposals include abolishing the Reasonable Benefit Limits from 1 July 2007).

• are subject to tax on benefit payment (2006 Commonwealth Budget announcements included a proposal to remove tax on benefit payments if taken after age 60).

• are counted in full towards the employer contribution limit (2006 Commonwealth Budget proposals

CUSTOMER SERVICE Customer Service is available to help you with general information and can be contacted on 1300 130 095 between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

SASS_SALSAC_LAMP_0107

www.statesuper.nsw.gov.au

40 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

Disclaimer: Reasonable care has been taken in producing the information in this advertorial and nothing in it is to be regarded as personal advice. If there is any inconsistency between the advertorial and the relevant scheme legislation, the scheme legislation will prevail.

Neither the SAS Trustee Corporation nor its respective Boards or officers will be liable for any decision taken on the basis of information shown or omitted from this advertorial. Members should seek professional advice before making decisions which may affect their future.

s

L I F E S T Y L E

WHERE TO GET THIS MONTH’S NEW RELEASES

Book me Community Nursing Practice: Theory, Skills and Issues edited by Winsome St John and Helen Keleher, Allen & Unwin Publishers, RRP $55.00 : ISBN 1-74114-053-6 Community Nursing Practice is based on research into education for primary health care, community nursing roles, practice and policy in Australia, together with many years of teaching community nursing and public health. The book focuses on the theory, generic knowledge and approaches that are required for community nursing practice, whatever the specialty focus.

Contributions from leading nurse educators and researchers ensure that Community Nursing Practice is richly illustrated with case studies and examples from a variety of practice settings.

Medication Errors: Lessons For Education and Healthcare

by Robert Naylor, Ausmed Publications, RRP $75.95 : ISBN 1-85775-956-7 Professor Naylor is both incisive and controversial in his analysis of the causes, risk factors, and cost of medical errors.

N E W

R E F E R E N C E

The effect of high intensity workloads, especially in critical care settings is explored. He also details the introduction of the ‘NPSA’ in the UK following the landmark reports ‘An organisation with a memory’ and ‘Building a safer NHS for patients’. In addition, he challenges the ‘blame culture’, which he sees as a major barrier to the openness required if sentinel events are to be reported, lessons learned, and safety improved.

Regulating Health Practitioners: Law in Contact Series 23(2) special editor Ian Freckelton, The Federation Press, RRP $33.00 : ISBN 1862876207 Regulating Health Practitioners is a special issue Volume 23 No 2 of the journal Law in Context and contains expert contributions from Australia and overseas that explore the dynamic area of health practitioner regulation from legal and social policy perspectives. Complementary and conflicting regulation systems such as national regulation models, peer review, professional codes and standards, as well as case studies of regulation’s failures, are all subjected to critical review. While the focus is on Australia, the papers include analysis of regulation in our nearest neighbours, Indonesia and New Zealand.

B O O K S

A V A I L A B L E

Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference (8th edition)

by Kathleen Deska Pagana and Timothy J. Pagana, Elsevier-Mosby, RRP $69.00: ISBN 978-0-323-04634-3 Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference is the perfect user-friendly guide to everything you need to know about laboratory and diagnostic tests. Test entries are organised alphabetically, making it perfect for quick reference, and extensive page references help tie together related tests and studies.

Reference items are not available for loan but may be viewed by visiting the NSWNA Library.

These books are all available on order through the publisher or your local bookshop. Members of the NSWNA can borrow any of these books and more from our Records and Information Centre.

For borrowing information, contact Jeannette Bromfield, 8595 2175, jbromfield@nswnurses.asn.au or Cathy Matias, 8595 2121, cmatias@nswnurses.asn.au

Verbal Medicine: Twenty-one Contemporary Clinician-Poets of Australia and New Zealand with Introduction, Historical Sketch and Select Bibliography edited by Tim Metcalf, Ginninderra Press, RRP $27.50 : ISBN 1-74027-369-9 Verbal Medicine is a quickacting, long-lasting literary elixir ideal for those suffering from a deficiency of the art of medicine. Twenty-one poets, one hundred poems, a historical sketch and select bibliography record a blossoming of poetry concerned to locate the human firmly at the centre of a clinical world that often has other priorities. This book is part of an empathic project in the emergent Medical Humanities … using arts to bring people together across the artificial divide of clinician/patient.

Counselling and Interviewing For Carers: A Basic Guide

by Hugh Irons, Ausmed Publications, RRP $69.95 (package includes textbook – AudioBook) : ISBN 0-9751585-8-9.

Counselling and Interviewing for Carers is written for all those who want to enhance their caring skills in such areas as: establishing rapport, sharing information, exploring difficulties, teaching, decision-making, and improving coping skills. The book presents in simple everyday terms the basic techniques and strategies that can profoundly improve the emotional and psychological health of people in distress. n THE LAMP MARCH 2007 41

A COURSE IN EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE FOR REGISTERED NURSES

&

S YD N E Y H O S P I T A L S YD N E Y E YE H O S P I T A L I n C olla bora tion with NSW Health D e partme nt and the NSW Infection Control Resource Centre presents

TOPICS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Hypothetical Evidence Based Practice Epidemiology an Overview Searching the Literature Literature Review Systematic Reviews The Levels of Evidence Developing Policy Surveillance Activities Critical Incidents Product Evaluation Use of Evidence in the Accreditation Process Benchmarking Plan and Evaluate a Health Care Program Ethical Issues and Research Protocol Legal Issues and Evidence Based Practice and more

STUDENTS FEEDBACK FROM PREVIOUS COURSES • Very informative- excellent Course.

• Excellent information to take back and utilise.

• Invaluable to my future ventures in Infection Control.

• Excellent Course. Learnt a lot of skills to develop policy and procedure.

COURSE DETAILS DATE: Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 of May, 2007.

HOURS: 9.00am to 5.30pm COST: $150.00 plus GST VENUE: Claffy Lecture Theatre, Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital CONTACT: Gemma Bellanto or Maryanne Ford on (02) 93827403/4 or maryanne.ford@sesiahs.health.nsw. gov.au and gemma.bellanto@sesiahs. health.nsw.gov.au

SYDNEY HOSPITAL & SYDNEY EYE HOSPITAL There are three Post Registration Nursing Courses conducted by the Clinical Nursing Services Department.

Completion of these Courses will qualify the graduate for 12 credit points into the Masters of Nursing in Urban Health or the Masters of Nursing in Clinical Studies at the University of Sydney. In addition the Faculty of Nursing University of Technology, also awards graduates 12 credit points on entry into the Masters of Nursing.

All courses are comprised of 26 weeks and commence on June 18, 2007. Courses include: • Infection Control • Ophthalmology • Sexual Health & Venereology

The theoretical component of the Courses is presented in a series of four two-week study blocks, integrated with three six-week periods of practical experience.

The lecturers and clinical teachers are experts and recognised as leaders in their fields.

Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital offers recognition of prior learning. Programs are designed based on individual needs.

For further information, please contact: Course Co-ordinators.

Tel: 02-9382 7404 or 7409 E-mail: maryanne.ford@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au or cheryl.moore@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

‘The best course of study I have ever done’ 42 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

CRoSSWoRD Test your knowledge of infectious diseases in this month’s crossword.

1

2

3

4

7

5

6

8 9 10

12

11

13

14 17

15

16

18

19 20

21

22 23 24

25

26 27

s ACROSS

s DOWN

7.

1.

2.

8.

10.

11.

12.

16.

17.

20.

21.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

Illness carried by mosquitoes in parts of Africa, Asia and South America (7) Disease causing enteric fever (7) Medications, pills (5) Head lice (4) Disease found in northern Australia causing fever and arthritic pain (4,5,5) Urinalysis, abbrev, (1.1) Once thought to be caused by stress, this gastric condition is actually caused by bacteria (7,5) Infection of the urethra, abbrev (1.1.1) The nurse who assesses and prioritises patients in the ED (6) The organ that breaks down red blood cells (6) Afternoon or evening, abbrev (1.1) Fungus commonly found between the toes (5) Non-infectious disease leading to blurred vision and muscle weakness, abbrev (1.1) Disease caused by HIV (1.1.1.1)

3.

4.

5.

6.

9.

13.

14.

15.

18.

19.

22.

26.

Common disease causing diarrhoea (15) Rare virus affecting the nervous system, transmitted by animal bites (6) Avian influenza, …. flu (4) Conjunctivitis affects these (4) Lower part of the face (4) Pregnant women are susceptible to this bacteria found in some cheeses (8) Infectious disease of the lungs (12) Registered nurse, abbrev (1.1) Non-infectious flaking of the skin (6) A rare childhood illness, scarlatina, ……. fever (7) Childhood disease that causes a rash (7) German 18-Across (7) Epidemic parotitis (5) Myocardial infarction, abbrev (1.1)

Solution page 45 THE LAMP MARCH 2007 43

DIARY DATES

Conferences, seminars, meetings SYDNEY, HUNTER & ILLAWARRA Redesigning Healthcare for the Ageing Population ‘Delivering Aged Care Excellence and Streamlining Patient Flow’ Date: 27 – 28 March, 8.30am Venue: Crowne Plaza, Darling Harbour Phone: (02) 9229 1067 Email: sam.morrow@iqpc.com.au Web: www.iqpc.com.au/au-3507-001 Kenmore Hospital Museum Exhibition Step back in time to a 19th century psychiatric asylum ward. The 2007 exhibition is ‘ Mental Health Nurses’ featuring 1895 to the present day.

Date: weekends from 10 March – 29 April, 10am – 4pm/ by appointment.

Historical tours at 11am and 2pm.

Admission/tours: gold coin donation.

Venue: Kenmore Hospital, 197 Taralga Road, Goulburn. Tel: 02 4827 3412 (bh) or 02 4821 2587 (ah).

Heartbeat 2007 Cardiovascular Conf.

Date: 3 March Venue: Australian Technology Park Contact: Caroline Jones (02) 8850 6796 Email: caroline@corpconf.com.au 9th National Rural Health Conference Date: 7 – 10 March Venue: Albury Convention Centre Contact: Information Desk, (02) 9285 4660, conference@ruralhealth.org.au Working Together – Australian College of Emergency Nursing Conference 2007 Date: 9 –10 March, Manly Pacific Hotel Contact: Mathew Welfare – Conference Convener (02) 9629 8688, acenl@iprimus.com.au

Australian Association of Stomal Therapy Nurses Inc – 36th Annual Conference 2007 “Licensed to Skill” Date: 14 March, Novotel, Wollongong Registration before 30 January $495 & after $550. Contact: Trish Morgan (02) 9382 3869, patricia.morgan@sesiahs. health.nsw.gov.au

Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) Information evening Date: 18 April, 7pm Venue: Wollongong Hospital Contact: Katrina Penney, Active Recruitment Officer, 1300 136 061/ 0439 955 900 Website: www.msf.org.au

INTERSTATE AND OVERSEAS

Neuroscience Conference: ‘Connecting with Neuroscience’ Date: 30 March, St George Hospital Cost: $50 Contact: Jo McLoughlin, 0422 418 255, Joanne.mcloughlin@sesiahs.health.nsw. gov.au / Ros Miller, 9350-1111 (pg 324)

CeBIT Australia 2007 – Australia’s leading business and technology event Date: 1 May, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre Contact: Blake Young, 02 92803400 blake.young@hannoverfairs.com.au

Manning Clark House Weekend of Ideas 2007 – A fair go for refugees?

Date: 31 March – 1 April, Manning Clark House, 11 Tasmania Circle, Forrest ACT Entry $20 per day and $10 for MCH members. Enquiries 6295 9433

Respiratory Nursing Conference Date: 2– 3 May, Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital (Nowra NSW) Contact: Tod Adams, 02 4423 9705, 0421 054 717, tod.adams@sesiahs. health.nsw.gov.au

Reunions

Hollistic Nurses Summer Retreat Date: 31 March – 3 April 2007, 3-day summer retreat to Snowy Mountains.

Bus will leave Sydney early Friday.

Venue: Silver Brumby Lodge Cost: $300 for HNA of NSW members. $360 for non-members Contact: David Terelinck 409 031 191 Email: dterelin@bigpond.net.au NSW Operating Theatre Association Conference 50 years golden reflections and new directions Date: 12 April, Darling Harbour Contact: Sue Baird, 02 60584656 Email: davio@optusnet.com.au XVII World Congress of the WAS, 1st World Congress for Sexual Health Achieving Health, Pleasure and Respect Date: 15-19 April, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre Contact: ICE Australia, 02 9368 1200 Email: wcsh2007@iceaustralia.com ACAT Nurses Special Interest Group Date: 17 April, 1pm – 3pm, Bankstown/ Lidcome Hospital – Lvl 4 Contact: Wendy Oliver, (02) 9722 7300, Wendy.Oliver@swsahs.nsw.gov.au

Partnership in Practice Date: 3 May. Workshop 1-5pm Conference 4–5 May, 8.30-5pm Venue: Sydney Convention Centre Contact: Corporate Communique, Conference organisers, 03 5977 0244, info@corporatecommunique.com.au NSW Chapter for Society of Vascular Nursing Date: 8 May, Concord Hospital Contact: Sue Monaro 9767 50000 page 60255 monaros@email.cs.nsw.gov.au Hunter Wound Interest Group Conf.

Date: 12 May, Newcastle Town Hall Contact: Margo Asimus, 02 4924 6100, Margo.Asimus@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au NSW Urological Nurses Society Study Day – “The Great Void and Beyond” Date: 25 May, Lvl 2 Conference Room, Sydney Adventist Hospital, Wahroonga Contact: Katrina So, Concord Hospital (w) 9767 5000, urological_nurses@hotmail.com

Optimising Patient Flow and Safety NZ Conference Date: 26 – 28 March Holiday Inn Wellington, New Zealand Contact: (02) 9229-1067 Email: sam.morrow@iqpc.com.au Web: www.iqpc.com.au/au-3507-001

RPA Hospital Nurses Reunion – PTS March 1972 Group Date: 9 March 2007, Rydges Hotel, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW Contact: Sally Boyle (02) 9624 3117 Email: ssboyle@northnet.com.au 1974 Mater Public Hospital Brisbane nurse intake reunion Date: 10 March, Brisbane Contact: Chris Brennan 0409-7679-05 brennanc@ramsayhealth.com.au Newcastle Mater Intensive Care Unit 25 Year Reunion Celebration Calling all staff past & present 17 March, South Leagues Club, Newcastle Contact: Maria Dolahenty or Frances O’Connor 02 4921 1801, foconnor@mater.health.nsw.gov.au Royal North Shore Hosp. 1984 Reunion For the February 1984, Red and Blue General Nursing Class.

Date: 31 March, The Oaks, Neutral Bay Contact: Helen Titcheradge, 0894 507 616, Helen.titcheradge@hbf.com.au Western Suburbs Hosp. Reunion 2007 Date: 26 May, 12 – 4pm, Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club

Registered & Enrolled Nurse Contractors Lifescreen Australia provides a Mobile Health Evaluation Assessment service to the Life Insurance industry.

• Self Employment Opportunity • Would suit nurses wanting a flexible lifestyle • You choose where and when you want to work • Currently competent with venepuncture.

• Own car essential A great way to supplement your income, payment is per procedure per client.

Enquiries to NSW Office on 1800 673 123 Or email your resume to: Sydney@lifescreen.com.au 44 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

SPECIAL OFFER FOR NSWNA MEMBERS

The Lives of Others: 100 double passes to be won!

Contact: Lesley Potter (02) 9349 8387 Email: catch63@bigpond.net.au Concord General (Repat) Hospital – 50 year reunion Searching for nurses who did their training at Concord General from 1958-1962.

Anyone who has any info please contact Jeanette Bundy on 02 6341 2818 or write to 2/33 Logan St, Cowra Port Kembla Hospital Reunion Date: 13 July, 6.30pm – 11.30pm Rydges Hotel, Burelli Street, Wollongong $75pp includes Buffet, beverages and entertainment. Booking prior to 31 May Contact: Helen or Jocelyn, 0438 695 076, portkemblareunion@yahoo.com.au UWS- Hawksbury 5 year re-union Five year reunion for all nurses who did their training at UWS Hawkbury from 1998-2001. Please contact Belinda Greer on 0411 028 234 for further details

Social event Illawarra International Nurses Day Glitz and Glamour Ball 2007 Date: 11 May, 6.30pm – midnight Venue: Fraternity Club Cost: $85/$20 pp deposit (non-refundable) Contact: Glen Barrington on 0402 000 841, barringtong@iahs.nsw.gov.au

Crossword solution

Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars

Diary Dates Diary Dates is a free service for members. Please send the diary dates details, in the same format used here – event, date, venue, contact details, via email, fax, mail and the web before the 5th of the month prior, for example: 5th of August for September Lamp.

Send information to: Editorial Enquiries Email: lamp@nswnurses.asn.au Fax: 9550 3667, mail: PO Box 40 Camperdown NSW 1450 Please double-check all information sent is correct. The Lamp cannot guarantee that the issue will always be mailed in time for the listed event.

Due to high demands on the page, some dates too close to publication or too far in the future may be cut.

The dates that are to be printed are for three months in total. For example, in the March Lamp = March, April, May dates will be printed. Only Diary Dates with an advised date and contact person will be published.

Diary Dates are also on the web – www.nswnurses.asn.au Special Interest Groups Special Interest Groups is now part of Diary Dates. If you are a special interest group, you now must send information about your event as above.

Send us your snaps If you’re having a reunion, send us some photos and any information from the night, and we’ll publish them.

At once a political thriller and human drama, The Lives of Others is one of the most powerful films to emerge from Germany in a decade.

Beginning in East Berlin in 1984, five years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the film traces the gradual disillusionment of State Security Captain Gerd Wiesler, a highly skilled officer who works for the Stasi, East Germany’s all-powerful and all-knowing secret police whose ultimate goal is to know everything about the ‘lives of others’. Wiesler’s mission is to conduct a full scale surveillance operation on a celebrated author and actress couple, whose interaction with other creative thinkers begins to cause concern amongst the highest levels of the East German Regime.

In this film nothing is as it seems and the final moments are nothing short of superb. In cinemas from 29 March.

Peter O’Toole Venus: 10 double passes to be won!

Maurice and Ian are a pair of veteran actors who never quite hit the big time. Now in their “golden years” they continue to work, though the jobs are far from glamorous.

But their comfortable routine is disrupted by the arrival of Ian’s grand-niece, Jessie. Jessie quickly tries her great-uncle’s patience; but Maurice is absolutely taken with her and tries to give Jessie the benefit of his experience. However, he is surprised to discover how very little he actually knows about himself.

Jessie, who had arrived with an enormous chip on her shoulders, slowly learns from Maurice the value of respect – for herself as well as others. In cinemas from 29 March.

The Lamp has 100 double passes to give away to see preview screenings of The Lives of Others, valid from 23 – 25 March and 10 double passes to Venus. To enter, email lamp@nswnurses.asn.au with your name, membership number, address and contact number. First entries win!

Tony McGrane Rural Scholarship for Nursing in Reproductive Health

MIDWIVES!!

WE NEED YOU TO HELP US DELIVER!

Call Kay at Staffing Synergy on (02) 9575 3901 or visit us at www.staffingsynergy.com.au

Applications close March 30, 2007 Starcom / 9835

At present Staffing Synergy has more work available than we can handle and we need your help! We can offer you full-time, part time or casual hours. With full indemnity insurance (including Delivery Suite), an ongoing education program, great rates of pay and the flexible hours. Why not call us today and become part of the Number 1 midwifery agency?

Application form & information, call 1300 658 886.

This scholarship provides funding for a nurse to complete the FPA Health Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Nursing). $6000 will be awarded for tuition, travel and away-from-home living expenses.

Applicants must be registered nurses with at least two years post-basic experience working in rural or remote NSW, Australian citizens or permanent residents, and able to commence study in 2007.

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 45

Choose super.

Choose HIP. %

15.9

2005/2006

as the financial years return for Growth (default) Option

Crediting Rate of HIP’s Growth Option (%) Growth* 20.0 Compound Annual Return for Growth Option − 9.8%pa

17.0 15.5

15.9

13.1

13.0 9.0

10.2

10.0

9.1

12.2 12.6

9.0

9.8

8.5

2006

2005

2003 -1.9

2004

2002 2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

• 3 year compound return 13.6% • 5 year compound return 6.2% • Return since inception 9.8%

6.1

6.0

-5.9 *Note that prior to 1997, the default Option (Growth) was called the Balanced Option.

For quality super contact HIP: 1300 654 099 or hipsuper.com.au 46 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

Note: The returns quoted are net of fees. The information is of a general nature only and is not intended as investment advice. Past performance is no indication of future performance and if you are unsure what investment option best suits your own personal financial situation, objectives or needs, then you may need to seek advice from a qualified financial planner. AFSL 247063 RSE L0001533 6004TL

Nursing USA

O‘Grady Peyton offers you: Career development Green Cards for the whole family Travel the USA Generous salary and bonuses O'Grady Peyton is the most experienced and largest travel nurse company in the USA. We have been taking nurses and their families to the USA for over 20 years.

Visit our website to learn more or call about our next USA Nursing program presentation.

C3726

ealth tal H n e r M RNs le fo ailab Delivery v a o als r& tions d Labou Posi an

www.ogradypeyton.com.au Presentation Dates (NSW - Sydney)

Australia free call

6th February

email

6th March

1800 100 139

info@ogradypeyton.com.au nursing your future

Best fee deals for super funds that anyone can join* Choose your future with First State Super Competitive investment returns# Comprehensive lump sum insurance cover Voluntary salary protection cover Pension options for income in (and before) retirement Speedy electronic systems so your super reaches your account fast!

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* Source: www.selectingsuper.com.au describes the best overall fees payable for funds where overall fees are calculated for a member earning around $50,000 pa and who has $50,000 in their super fund’s default investment option. Current at date of printing. # Of

the investment strategies monitored by SuperRatings, all out performed the median manager over the 1, 3 and 5-year periods to 30 June 2006. Source: SuperRatings Pty Limited’s survey of leading superannuation funds. Crediting rates are determined on $100 being invested at the beginning of the relevant period. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

† Source:

SelectingSuper, an independent research company, presented First State Super with its inaugural Fund of the Year Award 2006.

Important note: This communication contains general information only and does not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation or needs. It is therefore important, before deciding whether to become a member of First State Super (or, if you are already a member, to continue your membership) that you consider the First State Super Your Member Guide Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) having regard to your own situation. The PDS is available by visiting our website or by calling us. The information contained in this document is current as at February 2007. Prepared

by FSS Trustee Corporation (FTC) ACN 118 202 672, AFSL 293340, RSE L0002127 as the trustee of First State Superannuation Scheme RSE R1005134, SPIN FSS 0100AU.

THE LAMP MARCH 2007 47

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48 THE LAMP MARCH 2007

All you have to focus on is where to visit first.

At Hays, we make working in the UK and Ireland so easy, you’ll have more time to get on with enjoying your stay.

Ireland We have a great selection of permanent contracts across Ireland for Theatre, ICU, General and Mental Health RNs. Your skills and experience are currently in demand! Irish nursing registration is very straightforward which makes everything easier for you to start when you’re ready!

United Kingdom Exciting opportunities across the UK in both permanent and temporary contracts.

Theatre Staff, PICU, Critical Care and General Nurses work in Wales or locations across the South East or South West of England. We offer excellent benefits and a heavily discounted ONP (conditions apply).

For further assistance, information and to join our team, call now. We also have immediate opportunities Australia-wide!

T 1300 305 687 E

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Specialist Recruitment hays.com/healthcare

TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute is currently recruiting for teaching positions in Renal Nursing.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons who wish to be considered for placement on a suitability list for the above position.

Locations Ref Salary Status Duties

Meadowbank and North Sydney PT2007/07/14 $62.37 per hour Part-time (casual) Statement of Duties available with the information package.

For an information package phone the Recruitment Officer on + 61 2 9942 3968 www.tafestudy.info TAFE NSW – NORTHERN SYDNEY INSTITUTE THE LAMP MARCH 2007 49

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At Austra Health we take the time to get to know you, to make sure we find the job thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right for you. But our service doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop there. Once weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve found you a great position weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll provide you with ongoing support so your adventure is smooth sailing.

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Weíll pay your home loan for a year!* You could win a $10,000 payment to your home loan - apply for and settle a Members Equity Bank home loan between 1 February and 30 June 2007 to be in the draw! *Prize value of $10,000 is equivalent to monthly payments over a year for a 30 year loan of $119,000 charged ^ at 7.49% p.a.

With a Super Members Home Loan through Members Equity Bank, you’ll be better off because: • As a NSWNA member you receive a great discounted variable rate of 7.49%p.a.^ • There’s NO application fee and NO ongoing account-keeping fees (compare this to the major banks, which may offer you a competitive rate but then charge you high fees).

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52 THE LAMP MARCH 2007