30 May Blenheim Sun

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Inside The Sun

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Wednesday May 30, 2012 PH: 5777 868

Blenheim Marlborough

Sun Weather

Today 0-13

Thursday 2-14

Friday 3-14

Saturday 4-15

Outlook for Today Fine, early frosts possible.

Services help

Don Zimmerman is back on track to good health.

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Veteran unveils Jack Wakefield is one of 32 veterans heading to London memorial.

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More pay now File photo. An aged care professional with a rest home resident.

Higher wages needed to retain aged care workforce

Super rugby

Crusader reserve Quentin MacDonald comes back to home roots.

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History made A look back on the life of Ron Perano.

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Everyone gets The Sun

Total market coverage in Marlborough

By Annabelle Latz Our aging population requires a strong health care workforce. This needs to be reflected in decent pay. Carla Palmer is from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation. As organiser for aged care facilities in the top of the South Island, she sees all aspects of the workforce involved in all areas of care, from gardeners to registered nurses. Overall, Carla has observed the recurring theme that workers are paid minimum wage but work to the maximum of their ability. “They are not flipping burgers, they are caring for human beings.” Traditionally, workers in the Aged Care

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and in new Zhe2a0l12 Marc al First Nation

62 Market Street Blenheim

sector have been too afraid to argue their pay, potentially risking their given hours of work, and disrupting the service they provide to the patients. But Carla said this mindset is shifting. “People are recognising the need for a fair and living wage.” Carla oversees the needs of more than 250 NZNO members in the top of the South Island, involved in more than 20 Aged Care facilities. A representative from one health care facility in Blenheim, who wished to remain anonymous, said there are opportunities for workers to take part in training and upskilling, in order to increase their pay. Carla agreed, and recognised there are frame-

works within the sector for further training, providing workers the opportunity to upskill and earn wage increases. She said the problem has been that the framework is not consistent and transportable, so it has not been easy for staff to transfer recognised qualifications between different organisations. “The goal posts keep moving.” The NZNO is currently working on an education module aimed at putting evidence around issues of safe staffing levels, which will be offered to NZNO delegates and members working in the Aged Care sector in the Marlborough region in the near future. “We are actually heading for a crisis if we don’t start now.”

Mark Stevenson Robbie Moore gives a big thanks to all my clients helping me achieve Number one in New Zealand for number of confirmed sales for March 2012 and top seller for the office for the first three months of this year 2012 Let me help with your real estate requirements. For a free appraisal just text or call 027 278 4401. For help to find your right home, lets have a chat and sort out your requirements

www.marlboroughrealestate.co.nz

578 8059

Mark Stevenson First National Real Estate Ltd. Licensed Agent REAA 2008


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