Fair staffing levels
• Implementation of key ACORN standards in the perioperative environment
• Regular discussions about workloads at ward/unit/team meetings
• Nurse/midwife in charge not to have a clinical workload i.e. no patients
• Babies to be included in patient numbers for determining staffing
• Improved access to mentoring and support of beginning practitioners
Balancing life and work
• Roster to be displayed in a convenient place for all nurses and midwives
• No time limit on when employees can arrange a shift swap
• Changes to rosters to occur only by agreement
• Long service leave accrual to increase to two weeks per annum after 10 years service
• Improved paid parental leave of 26 weeks and two weeks partner leave
• Three hour minimum engagement for casuals
• Overtime payment for casuals
• Introduction of paid leave for family and community purposes
• Where overpayment has occurred, negotiation of the repayment plan should take into account each individual’s circumstances
• Employees to be able to choose to use other leave in compassionate circumstances where required
• Accrual of leave should match shifts worked e.g. 12 hour shift workers accrue a 12 hour shift when working a public holiday
• Permanent part-time hours review to ensure contract reflects actual hours worked
Recognise professional education, skills and experience
• Increase of 5% per annum to wages and allowances
• Revise recognition of service requirements in line with industry practice
• Incremental pay progression to occur automatically following each 1,976 hours of experience
• Improved classification structure for CNSs, CNEs and CNCs
• Access to five days paid study and CPD leave per year
• Guarantee adequate work time to complete mandatory training
• Nurses and midwives to be offered opportunity complete mandatory training before being asked to change roster
• Align Enrolled Nurse classifications with AHPRA registration
Ensuring a safe workplace
• Consecutive eight hour break after being recalled to work, or payment for the next shift at double time
• Limit number of quick shifts in a seven day period
• Adequate meal breaks and rest pauses for all time worked, including overtime
• Modernise on call provisions including increasing the on call rates and additional leave for those regularly required to be on call
• Two days off per week to be consecutive and not preceded by a night shift unless 8 hours sleep time is provided
• Ten minutes paid change time for those required to change into their uniform at work
