LEADERSHIP
FROM THE SECRETARY
We are starting to see encouraging
Nurse/Midwife-to-Patient Ratios is a
signs with high vaccination rates for
critical first step in making workplaces
adults and children and hope this will
safer for patients and members.
enable us to get through the latest
Work is already underway to roll-out
COVID challenge and hospitalisation
mandated minimum ratios in other
rates will soon begin to stabilise and
areas of the public sector that were not
then fall.
included under the first phase roll-out.
There is still a lot we don’t know about the virus, particularly in relation to
We all know the past two years of the pandemic have been incredibly difficult for Nurses, Midwives and Assistants in Nursing (AINs).
Finally, at this time of the year, we want
cautious words of encouragement
to acknowledge and welcome all the
from epidemiologists about being ‘over
new Nurse and Midwife graduates
the worst’ of the pandemic. Naturally,
who are beginning their transition into
we’re all hoping that this optimism
the workplace as they embark on their
comes to fruition.
chosen careers. We know it can be
Our members have been at the front line of the pandemic response and have time and time again, given everything that has been asked of them. However, we know that fatigue amongst health care workers has set in and many experts are expressing concerns about the long-term psychological impact on
turning into years, we have been ever
the health care workforce.
hopeful that we had reached the peak
We also know, from members’
but this hasn’t been the case.
this win after such a long campaign.
any new variants, but there are some
During this time, and with months
and seen the worst of the pandemic,
Our members can rightly feel proud of
feedback, that this is true of our own workforce in the ACT. The ANMF ACT
an exciting, but daunting, time and we encourage our members to support each and every new Nurse and Midwife as they navigate the complexities and challenges of the health and aged care systems. These new recruits are the future of our professions and we must invest in making their transition a successful one. Don’t forget to encourage your new colleagues to join the ANMF ACT — we’re here to support them too.
We all felt the relief that came with a,
Branch has already commenced work
With a focus on early careers, we hope
much sooner than we expected,
on understanding the full impact the
you enjoy this edition of Observations,
vaccine breakthrough however,
pandemic has had on our members
where some of our members have
unfortunately that was short lived
and we will continue to pursue safe
shared their own journeys, pathways,
as the Omicron variant emerged and
workplaces for Nurses, Midwives and
and experiences joining the industry.
swept through our communities,
AINs.
colleagues, friends and family
Our members, across the public,
members leading to increased cases, hospitalisations, and tragically, deaths.
private and aged care sectors, have also told us that they won’t accept a return to unacceptable workloads once the worst of the pandemic has passed. Our public sector members’ recent win in achieving Mandated Minimum
4
Observations Spring 2021
Matthew Daniel ANMF ACT Secretary
