ValleyView's nurse hunt hampered by red tape
COLLIE RIVER VALLEY BULLETIN, FEBRUARY 23, 2023 7
METRO-BASED skilled worker visas are being prioritised for processing over regional areas, such as Collie, according to Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson. Mr Wilson is calling on the Federal Government to prioritise processing of regional workers and reverse its decision to “impose a de facto regional processing penalty on skilled workers” in priority sectors. He said regional communities in his electorate, including Collie, are crying out for skilled healthcare workers, nurses, disability support workers, teachers and doctors, but are being unfairly prevented from priority visa processing because of Federal Government-imposed red tape. ValleyView chief executive officer Mark Sheldon-Stemm said he agrees with Mr Wilson’s remarks, with the aged
care home struggling to appoint registered nurses. “We would love the Federal Government to do something about getting more registered nurses into regional areas,” he said. Mr Sheldon-Stemm said he has been looking for RN’s for almost two years. “We have been trying for 18 months and have tried job agencies, but it’s just not happening,” he said. “It’s a real issue for us. “It means our current nurses are doing a lot of hours.” He has heard it is taking a lot longer, up to two to three years, to get skilled workers from overseas for regional areas. He said this was due to the Federal Government taking so long to process visa applications. Mr Wilson said the government was
THE Mineworkers’ Memorial Swimming Pool was closed last Saturday because it was not possible to provide an adequately qualified supervisor, Collie Shire chief executive officer Stuart Devenish said on Monday. “Adequately trained staff could not be found at short notice, so we had to close the pool,” he said. “It was unfortunate it was quite a hot day.” Mr Devenish said the department of health’s code of practice requires a supervisor with an “aquatic technical operator” qualification to be at the pool when it is open to the public. He described Saturday’s closure as “an
unavoidable absence by the rostered supervisor”. Mr Devenish said that with the co-operation of Royal Lifesaving WA, the everyday operations of the pool had been largely maintained through the 2022/23 season. He added that circumstances could always arise, such as chemical leaks or health concerns, which would lead to closure of the pool, but council did all it could to minimise occurrences such as these. “Pool closures do occur from time to time, such as when competition events or carnivals are held and when there is water contamination and need for chemical
failing to recognise the skilled regional visa (subclass 887) in its prioritisation, effectively encouraging skilled workers to move to the city. He said the government had issued a directive to prioritise visa applications for healthcare or teaching roles. “However, the direction did not account for applications for skilled regional visas,” Mr Wilson said. “As a result, when a healthcare worker or a teacher, or any other occupation, applies for a skilled regional visa, they are put at the bottom of the pile and not given priority processing even if they want to take up a critical role, such as a nurse, in a regional town or community.” Mr Wilson said this has been confirmed in official correspondence from the Department of Immigration. The website states 90 percent of skilled regional visas were being processed in 27
months. He added that information released under FOI indicates there could be as many as 19,000 skilled regional visas awaiting processing. Mr Wilson said regional members of parliament have received a large volume of enquiries from constituents with outstanding skilled regional visa applications, and have been raising them with the immigrant minister. “Our community deserves better than being relegated to the slow lane of visa processing just because we live in rural and regional Australia,” Mr Wilson said. “It is just not good enough and I am calling it out. “My office is regularly contacted by people seeking updates on the progress of their 887 visas. "It must be disheartening for them to know they’ve been pushed to the back of the line.”
treatment,” he said. “The circumstances last Saturday were unusual.”
However, if someone made personal choices such as going away on an extended holiday, it was unlikely that a refund would be forthcoming.
No supervisor, no swimming says CEO
1000 days of reading THE Collie Child and Parent Centre is encouraging reading development this term, with its 1000 Books Before Kindy program. Co-ordinator Carole English said the program has had great success, and there is proof that early exposure to reading has many benefits. Seven local children have participated so far, and many read 100s of books during summer. The program is based on extensive research, Mrs English said. “There is so much research that says that if you read to children, they will do well in school,” she said. The playgroup also offers the First 1000 Days program, which supports families up to kindergarten. Mrs English said the program is based on the proverb “it takes a village to raise a child”, and connects families to each other and community services. “These connections are especially important for people who don’t have an extended family to support them,” she said. The program is run during school terms and centre co-ordinators hope it helps attract people to its playgroup.
BIG READER: Ava Calton loves the 1000 Books Before Kindy program.
In answer to questions about season ticket holders, Mr Devenish said that historically, there had been no refunds, as from time to time, such things as major events or carnivals would mean use of the pool was restricted. “We would always deal with requests for refunds on a case-by-case basis,” Mr Devenish said. Given hypothetical examples, such as someone breaking a leg and being unable to use a season ticket, he said situations such as this would be dealt with sympathetically.
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“It would be the difference between a circumstance over which someone had no control, and something which was a personal choice,” he said. “We would need to look at all the particular circumstance.” The pool reopened on Sunday, one hour after ordinary opening times. The pool will be closed this weekend (February 25 an 26) until 1pm on Sunday for the annual underwater hockey Collie Cup.
For more information please contact us at the Forrest Business Centre: Unit 10, 13 Forrest Street T 9734 1000 rsm.com.au/collie
