lamp THE MAGAZINE OF THE NSW NURSES AND MIDWIVES’ ASSOCIATION
VOLUME 72 No.10 NOVEMBER 2015
Community nurses win parking permits BORDER FORCE MINEFIELD Print Post Approved: PP100007890
CLOSED BEDS SECURE MORE NURSES
THE LONGEVITY REVOLUTION
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CONTENTS
CONTACTS NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association For all membership enquiries and assistance, including Lamp subscriptions and change of address, contact our Sydney office. Sydney Office 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 (all correspondence) T 8595 1234 (metro) 1300 367 962 (non-metro) F 9662 1414 E gensec@nswnma.asn.au W www.nswnma.asn.au
VOLUME 72 No.10 NOVEMBER 2015
Hunter Office 8-14 Telford Street, Newcastle East NSW 2300 NSWNMA Communications Manager Janaki Chellam-Rajendra T 1300 367 962
COVER STORY
12 | Joint action drives parking permit win
Barbara Ackroyd and Phillip Sheard PHOTOGRAPH: GERRIT FOKKEMA
REGULARS
5 6 8 33 35 39 41 43 45 46
Editorial Your letters News in brief Ask Judith Social media Crossword Nursing research online Books Movie of the month Diary dates
SAFE STAFFING
20 | Bed closures secure more nurses
Community nurses working with faith groups, community groups and other unions through the Sydney Alliance have won over local councils to an innovative parking permit scheme in Sydney’s inner-west.
PROFESSIONAL
16 | Stuck between the law and responsibility Alanna Maycock’s experiences on Nauru highlight the conflict between legal restrictions and the professional responsibility to report abuse.
SAFE STAFFING
22 | Tamworth improvements but more to be done Hunter New England LHD has initiated some solutions to safe staffing issues at Tamworth Hospital, but the NSWNMA branch is still fighting for long-term resolutions.
COMPETITION
8 | Win a luxurious stay in the Blue Mountains
PROFESSIONAL
28 | The longevity revolution
For all editorial enquiries letters and diary dates T 8595 1234 E lamp@nswnma.asn.au M 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 Produced by Hester Communications T 9568 3148 Press Releases Send your press releases to: F 9662 1414 E gensec@nswnma.asn.au Editorial Committee • Brett Holmes, NSWNMA General Secretary • Judith Kiejda, NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary • Coral Levett, NSWNMA President • Peg Hibbert, Hornsby & Ku-Ring-Gai Hospital • Michelle Cashman, Long Jetty Continuing Care • Richard Noort, Justice Health Advertising Patricia Purcell T 8595 2139 or 0416 259 845 or F 9662 1414 E ppurcell@nswnma.asn.au Information and Records Management Centre To find archived articles from The Lamp, or to borrow from the NSWNMA nursing and health collection, contact: Jeannette Bromfield, Coordinator T 8595 2175 E gensec@nswnma.asn.au The Lamp ISSN: 0047-3936 General disclaimer The Lamp is the official magazine of the NSWNMA. Views expressed in articles are contributors’ own and not necessarily those of the NSWNMA. 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 NSWNMA takes no responsibility for the advertising appearing herein and it does not necessarily endorse any products advertised. Privacy Privacy statement: The NSWNMA 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 NSWNMA office. If you are still not satisfied that your privacy is being maintained you can contact the Privacy Commission. Subscriptions for 2015 Free to all Association members. Professional members can subscribe to the magazine at a reduced rate of $30. Individuals $80, Institutions $135, Overseas $145.
Age and Disabilities Commissioner says nurses approaching their 50s should start to look for jobs that build on their experience without making physical demands. THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 3
Nurses and midwives have unique stories to tell
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EDITORIAL BY BRETT HOLMES GENERAL SECRETARY
A righteous rebellion from within There is a time when decent people need to take a moral position and act against laws that sanction cruelty.
“This law effectively denies health professionals, including nurses and midwives, the ability to fulfil their duty of care to report incidents of abuse and of deficient, inadequate or unfair treatment.”
Health clinicians, including some very courageous nurses and midwives, have cut through the amoral political mantras surrounding the refugee debate and taken a heroic stand for these vulnerable people. It is a stand we should all applaud and support. While the Nauruan government has locked out journalists who have tried to expose the horrendous abuses that have been taking place on the island, this month in The Lamp (pages 16-19) we give voice to a very brave nurse, Alanna Maycock, who worked there. Alanna was one of 40 former Manus Island and Nauru detention staff, including health clinicians, who signed an open letter challenging the Department of Immigration to prosecute them for revealing child and sexual abuse, in contravention of the Border Force Act. There have been other actions by doctors and nurses, against the discharge of children to immigration detention centres they regard as unsafe. This rebellion by health clinicians, from within these institutions administering refugees, has exposed the awful, unconscionable policies that we have almost drifted to when it comes to dealing with refugees. As one commentator described it: “harshness, cruelty, sadism has become part of the means of deterrence. The policy encourages the worst aspects of human individuals in power … the indifference to the humanity of others under its care”. The actions of Alanna and her colleagues were taken not only to defend these people living a wretched existence hidden from our view, but also to defend the ethics and responsibilities of our professions. ACT UNDERMINES CLINICIANS’ DUTY OF CARE The government’s draconian Border Force Act, which came into effect on 1 July 2015, puts nurses and midwives in an untenable position. It aims to silence the very people whose
professional obligation it is to speak out and advocate for those in their care. The Border Force Act states that anyone who has worked on Nauru or Manus Island cannot speak about what they’ve witnessed in these detention camps. This includes information about the access to and quality of health care, sexual abuse and other violence or conditions that may compromise detainees’ physical and/or mental health. Any breaches of the Act are punishable by up to two years jail. This law effectively denies health professionals, including nurses and midwives, the ability to fulfil their duty of care to report incidents of abuse and of deficient, inadequate or unfair treatment. The federal government and the Labor Party try to tell us that there are still whistle-blower protections and professional obligations preserved. But who can trust a government agency that has at its heart secrecy and the denial of transparency? Who can trust a Nauruan government that locks out journalists? Who can trust a corporation, paid millions of dollars, to respond to concerns that might jeopardise their profits? We must condemn the Border Force Act and call for its repeal. It is imperative that nurses and midwives are allowed to meet their Codes of Ethics and Professional Practice Standards in the provision of proper, basic health care and not work in fear that they themselves could be jailed. I’m proud of the fact that at the recent ANMF Biennial National Conference in Adelaide, delegates from across Australia unanimously voted to condemn the Border Force Act. Jailing workers for speaking out about conditions of their employment is a contravention of the International Labour Organisation standards on freedom of expression in the workforce. This Act runs counter to the very protections of workers that the international union movement has fought for over many decades.
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 5
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YOUR LETTERS
Achievement comes with conference I attended the 30th International Confederation of Midwives Congress in Prague last year, which attracted more than 3700 midwives from 126 countries: 486 of those from Australia. The theme for this conference was Midwives: Improving Women’s Health Globally. The reason for my attendance was to stand on an international stage and present the findings of the UTS research I had been involved in, surrounding women’s experiences of a planned vaginal breech birth. Having never presented before I was extremely nervous when my time came, but my anxiety dropped quickly as I began to speak. As I looked around the room at the midwives, I saw smiles, nods of heads and how engaged people were while listening to our findings. This networking with others involved in research and education has given me invaluable knowledge, insight and a sense of achievement. I very much appreciate the support of a scholarship from the Edith Cavell Trust to attend this stimulating conference. Nicole Watts RM/RN Caringbah
Celebrating a magnificent nurse leader As NSWNMA president and a proud Edith Cavell Trustee, I would like to acknowledge the recent article published on Nurse Uncut (the Association’s blog for nurses and midwives) about the 100th anniversary of the death of British nurse Edith Cavell, a nurse who gave her life in order to save others during WWI. Managing the nursing services at a Belgian hospital she had helped establish, Edith found herself working in a Red Cross Hospital under German control. She knowingly did her bit for the war effort by secretly and heroically treating and assisting Belgian and British soldiers out of Belgium and back to England. Edith Cavell paid the ultimate price for her commitment to her patients when she was killed by a German firing squad on 12 October 1915, at just 50 years of age. After the war Australians learnt about the efforts of Ms Cavell and raised money to perpetuate her memory by providing a rest home for nurses returning from both World Wars. When it became clear in the 1990s that retired nurses were no longer in need of such a home, the (then) NSW Nurses’ Association decided to find another enduring way to commemorate Edith Cavell. In 1992 the Edith Cavell Trust became a reality, established to support nursing research and nurse
YOUR LETTERS
LE TTE R OF THE MONTH
education, for current and future generations of nurses, with an appointed Committee of Trustees managing all aspects of the Trust. Since 1992, well over $1 million in scholarships has been allocated to further the educational and research interests of NSW nurses and midwives. Many undergraduate student nurses, and more recently student midwives, owe their ability to complete their program of study directly to an Edith Cavell Trust financial scholarship. What a terrific way to celebrate the life of such a magnificent and inspirational nurse leader. Coral Levett NSWNMA president, Edith Cavell Trustee
Refugees must be welcomed: nurses protected I joined thousands of people, including many nurses, to march through the streets of Sydney recently, calling on the Australian government to welcome refugees. We demand an end to the cruel policy of offshore processing and the repeal of the Border Force Act (BFA), which threatens nurses with prison simply for doing their job. As a registered nurse I believe every person has a right to adequate health care. People detained in offshore detention camps are deprived of this right. The woeful health services on Manus and Nauru have been widely condemned by health care professionals working there, who now face years in prison under the BFA, simply for telling the truth about the appalling conditions they witnessed. The gag of the BFA is a desperate attempt to silence mounting opposition to the cruelty of offshore detention. Congratulations to our colleagues at Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, who refuse to discharge children in their care back into the inhumane, unhealthy conditions in the offshore detention camps. It was fantastic to see General Secretary Brett Holmes speaking in support of nurses and refugees at the rally. I am proud to be part of a union and a profession that loudly defends the right of every person to receive adequate and appropriate health care, and demands fair and humane treatment of refugees and all people who seek asylum. The NSWNMA is an active member of Unions for Refugees – a great way to get involved in this campaign. If you are interested in adding your voice, contact pmillard@nswnma.asn.au Nerida Grant RN Newtown NSWNMA responds You can read the speech given by Brett Holmes at the rally for refugees on Sunday 11 October on our blog Nurse Uncut www.nurseuncut.com.au/nurses-and-midwivesstand-up-for-refugees/
Domestic violence is never ok
Working as an emergency nurse you see all different types of trauma: car crashes, motor bike accidents, power tool traumas, falls from great heights. And then there are those that have been affected by domestic violence. As a survivor of domestic violence myself I vowed to my family and those closest to me that I would turn a negative into a positive. My goal is to raise awareness. I want to share my story in the hope that other survivors will know they aren’t alone, that they have a voice and that they are worthy of a great life! Domestic violence does not discriminate, it does not stereotype. It took what happened to me to realise the extent of this issue within Australia. Three women every week die at the hands of their partner. It’s time to make a stand and let people know that it’s never ok to hurt another, especially the one you are supposed to love. Angela Ivancevic RN Woodrising NSWNMA responds Angela Ivancevic will be a speaker at the White Ribbon Day Breakfast on 25 November 2015 at the Starlight Room,Wests New Lamberton from 7am till 9am. For further information contact jonchinjp@bigpond.com.au
HAVE YOUR SAY Send your letters to: Editorial Enquiries email lamp@nswnma.asn.au fax 9662 1414 mail 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017. Please include a high resolution photo along with your name, address, phone and membership number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space. Anonymous letters will not be published.
Letter of the month The letter judged the best each month will win a $50 Coles Group & Myer gift card!
unionshopper.com.au 1300 368 117
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 7
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Terms & conditions: Prize is available for mid-week stays (Sunnday - Thursday). Not valid on public holidays or block out dates. Subjust to availability. The T prize is non-transferable and can not be redeemed for cash. Must be redeemed by 30 April 2016. Please note: only one entry per member will be accepted. Competition entries from f NSWNMA members only. Competition opens 1 November 2015 and closes 30 Novembber 2015. The prize is drawn on 1st of the month following the competition.If a redraw is required for an unclaimed prize it must be held up to 3 months from the original draw date. NSW W permit no: LTPM/15/00192.
News reports that Coca-Cola “is backing a new ‘science-based’ solution to the obesity crisis: to maintain a healthy weight, get more exercise and worry less about cutting calories” has come up against stiff resistance from health experts. The New York Times reported that “Coke has provided financial and logistical support to a new non-profit organisation called the Global Energy Balance Network, which promotes the argument that weightconscious Americans are overly fixated on how much they eat and drink while not paying enough attention to exercise”. Health experts have responded vigorously arguing that good medical advice is being promoted in a misleading and potentially harmful way. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, says the soft drink industry is invoking “elements of the tobacco industry’s classic playbook: cast doubt on the science, discredit critics, invoke nanny statism and attribute obesity to personal irresponsibility. “Casting doubt on the science is especially important to soda makers,” she said. “So many studies have identified sodas as key contributors to chronic health conditions – most notably obesity, type-2 diabetes and coronary artery disease – that the first thing anyone trying to stay healthy should do is to stop drinking them. “Soda companies know this. For at least the past 10 years, Coca-Cola’s annual reports to the US Securities and Exchange Commission have listed obesity and its health consequences as the single greatest threat to the company’s profits. “The industry counters this threat with intensive marketing, lobbying and millions of dollars poured into fighting campaigns to tax or cap the size of sugary drinks.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
Australia
Australia
Government advises “sack Aussie workers”
Rich get richer and the rest stagnate
Federal government officials told an Australian company to sack Australian workers and hire cheaper foreign staff a Senate committee has heard. A representative for North Star Cruises Australia, Bill Milby, told the committee a senior transport department official had advised him he could reduce his wages bill by using a foreign crew. “She said to me there and then, ‘well we are in an international environment so we have to learn to compete on the international market. Maybe you should look at deregistering your Australian ship’ – in other words taking it off the shipping register – ‘and perhaps put on a foreign flag which will allow you to put on a foreign crew which will reduce your wages cost’,” he told ABC radio in Perth. “I was staggered. I was really surprised it was somebody from Canberra representing this department telling me that.” Initially, Transport Minister Warren Truss denied that any such advice was given. Finally, however, executive director of the Surface Transport Policy Division, Judith Zielke, and general manager of Maritime and Shipping, Michael Sutton, told a senate committee that they had advised Milby that re-registering his business overseas and hiring foreign crew “was an option”. The Senate committee was examining legislation that would allow foreign shipping operators into Australian coastal services, without paying Australian wages. Labor’s transport spokesman Anthony Albanese said the proposed law would hurt local shippers. “Australian industry could not survive if next to it, its competitors could pay foreign wages in Australia,” he said. ACTU secretary Dave Oliver said the government “wants to trash yet another Australian industry due to its ongoing ideological crusade”. The government’s plan to dismantle the Coastal Trading Act raised serious questions about national security, fuel security, jobs and skills and the protection of the environment, he said.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for Australian household incomes and wealth show that income inequality has risen in the past two years. The average annual income of the richest 20 per cent of Australian households rose by 7 per cent during the two-year period, while median households saw their income rise by just 1.3 per cent in the same period. Economics commentator for the Guardian Greg Jericho said “the drive in inequality is not so much the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer, as it is the rich getting richer while everyone else stagnates. “Low wages growth over the past two years has seen median incomes barely increase. “Increases in the minimum wage and the indexation of various pensions mean lower income households have seen their incomes grow by a similar, if pitiable, amount as median households since the GFC.” Jericho argues that Australia’s welfare system has kept the incomes of the poorest households largely in line with those of median income households. “In 1994-95, median households earned around 2.23 times the income of the poorest 20 per cent of households. In 2013-14 it was 2.25 times – barely any change at all,” he wrote. “By comparison, in 1994-95 the average income of richest 20 per cent was 2.13 times that of median households; now it is 2.42 times.”
Germany
Retired people are healthier A German study has found that retirees take more exercise, sleep longer and need to see their doctor less often than before they left work. The research conducted by Peter Eibich, an economist at the Health Economics Research Centre at Oxford, challenges the conventional view that retirement is the first stage in a person’s declining health. According to his research retired people: Are more likely to rate their physical and mental health as satisfactory or better than working people. Visit their doctor less. Get an extra 40 minutes sleep a day. 10% more likely to take frequent exercise. Overall, the research found that retirees pursue a more active lifestyle: they spend more time on repairs, gardening, running errands and caring for grandchildren. “My study shows older people will use leisure time to pursue an active lifestyle and improve their health,” Eibich told the Guardian. He said his findings had important implications for how people should view retirement. “This suggests incentives such as part-time work or partial retirement programmes might be effective in maintaining the health of older workers.”
• • • •
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 9
EDUCATION@NSWNMA
NEWS IN BRIEF
What's On November 2015
R U O B R A H S F F CO Are you meeting your CPD requirements? – ½ Day 19 November, C.ex Coffs Rendezvous Room, 9am – 1pm An essential ½ day workshop for all nurses and midwives to learn about continuing professional development (CPD) requirements and what’s involved in the process! Learn how to:  Ɋ -- --Ɋ3)/,Ɋ*, .# Ɋ Ɋ (.# 3Ɋ3)/,Ɋ& ,(#(!Ɋ(  Ɋ 0 &)*Ɋ (Ɋ#( #0# / &Ɋ& ,(#(!Ɋ*& (  Ɋ ( ,-. ( Ɋ")1Ɋ.)Ɋ, ), Ɋ3)/,Ɋ Ɋ .#0#.#  Ɋ #- /--Ɋ-* #Ʉ Ɋ#--/ -Ɋ#(Ɋ **,) "#(!Ɋ Ɋ Ɋ ^ Members $40 Non-members $85
Legal and Professional Issues for Nurses and Midwives – ½ Day 20 November, C.ex Coffs Rendezvous Room, 9am – 1pm Learn about potential liability, disciplinary tribunals, NMC and HCCC complaints, Coroners Court and more. This ½ day seminar includes:  Ɋ , -Ɋ) Ɋ*). (.# &Ɋ&# #&#.3Ɋ Ɋ #- #*&#( ,3Ɋ.,# /( & Ɋ )'*& #(.-IɊ /,-#(!Ɋ^Ɋ # 1# ,3Ɋ )/( #&JɊ Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC)  Ɋ ),)( ,-Ɋ )/,.Ɋ Ɋ %#(!Ɋ Ɋ-. . ' (.  Ɋ &."Ɋ , .#.#)( ,Ɋ !/& .#)(Ɋ .#)( &Ɋ 1ɊO PɊ )~Ɋ=;  Ɋ " Ɋ#'*),. ( Ɋ) Ɋ ) /' (. .#)(Ɋ Ɋ ^ Members $40 Non-members $85
REGISTER ONLINE www.nswnma.asn.au/education/ education-calendar For enquiries: Metro: 8595 1234 Rural: 1300 367 962
Britain
Social inequality costing lives daily More than 200,000 people in the UK are dying prematurely because of social inequalities according to Sir Michael Marmot, who is about to become president of the World Medical Association. He warns in a new book – The Health Gap – that a stark “social gradient� is emerging in Britain. He says the poor not only die on average seven years sooner than the rich, they can expect to become disabled 17 years earlier. The middle classes in the country had life expectancies of eight years less than the very richest. However, it was in the field of education where Marmot said the research clearly showed how unfair life was becoming. “If everybody had the same mortality of those with a university education, then [each year] we could prevent 202,000 premature deaths.� Since 1980, the share of total income received by the top one per cent of Britain has almost doubled, to about 13 per cent in 2011, reversing a three-decadelong trend towards greater equality. Meanwhile social policy research charity, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, has found at least 8.1 million parents and children living on incomes below what is needed to cover a minimum household budget, up more than a third since 2009. Marmot criticised the “austerity agenda� of politicians, especially cuts to public health budgets and the government’s plans to raise the pension age beyond 66 and link it to life expectancy.
NEWS IN BRIEF
North America
Australia
Eating the right vegetables
Undergoing unnecessary surgery
Eating more fruit and vegetables is often touted as a way to controlling weight but a research paper from Harvard University published in PLOS Medicine says it depends which ones you eat. The study looked at changes in the intake of specific fruit and vegetables recorded in the dietary questionnaires of 133,468 US men and women across 24 years. It took into account other lifestyle factors that affect weight such as smoking, sleep, hours watching television and exercise. Lead author Dr Monica Bertoia said that, for Americans, the most common choice of fruit and vegetable was orange juice and potatoes. “There are many fruits and vegetables that may be better choices for the prevention of weight gain, such as apples, pears, berries and non-starchy vegetables,” she said. Eating starchy vegetables such as corn and potatoes, especially with butter, was linked to weight gain. Eating high-fibre, lower-glycemic vegetables such as broccoli and brussel sprouts was associated with weight loss. Lower-glycemic foods do not raise blood sugar levels as much as higher ones.
A new report says too many patients in some Australian hospitals get treatment they should not receive, against all evidence that the treatment is unnecessary or does not work.
Australia
Champion climate change deniers An international survey has found that Australia has the most number of climate change sceptics, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. The research by the University of Tasmania found 17 per cent of Australians thought climate change was not real, compared with 15 per cent of people in Norway, 13 per cent of New Zealanders and 12 per cent of Americans. The research was based on data collected as part of the International Social Survey Programme in 2010 and 2011. The study covered 14 industrialised countries, including Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, New Zealand and the United States. In total, 19,991 people were surveyed with 1946 respondents from Australia. The study found that people were more likely to be sceptics in countries that had high carbon emissions and also if their countries were vulnerable because of climate change. In Australia, where views on climate change were described as “entrenched”, those who identified with left-leaning political parties were more likely than supporters of rightleaning parties to believe climate change is dangerous for the environment. Highly educated people and those who lived in a large city were also less likely to be climate sceptics.
The report, by Stephen Duckett of the Grattan Institute and his colleague Peter Breadon, suggests new ways to identify and reduce unnecessary care. It identifies five treatments that “should not be given to certain types of patients”. Yet this happened to nearly 6000 people – or 16 people a day – in 2010-11. Some of these treatments included: • treating osteoarthritis of the knee with an arthroscope • filling a backbone with cement to treat fractures and • putting patients in a pressurised oxygen chamber when it will not improve their condition. These treatments can cause harm the report authors say. “Some patients who had the treatments developed infections during their hospital stay or could have avoided the stress, cost, inconvenience and risk of a hospital stay altogether,” the report says. “These treatments happen in only a minority of hospitals, but some of those hospitals provide them at 10 or 20 times the average rate, at great cost to patients and the community. “Australia needs a system to let these outlier hospitals know where they stand so that they can improve their care.” The report explains how and why some patients get ineffective care and what governments should do to ensure that far fewer people get the wrong treatment. The report can be downloaded from http://grattan.edu.au/report/question able-care-avoiding-ineffectivetreatment/. THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 11
COVER STORY
Joint action drives parking permit win
Barbara Ackroyd RN and Phillip Sheard RN
Community nurses working with faith groups, community groups and other unions through the Sydney Alliance have won over local councils to an innovative parking permit scheme in Sydney’s inner-west. T HE PILOT SCHEME WILL ALLEVIATE longstanding parking problems plaguing the inner-west, which have had a negative impact on the quality and quantity of care community nurses have been able to deliver to their patients. The scheme will cover the three local council areas of Marrickville, Leichhardt and City of Sydney. All three councils have agreed to test a Joint Care Worker Parking Permit scheme, creating a single permit across all three local government areas. It is hoped the parking scheme will be rolled out across all Sydney local government areas following the pilot. The Sydney Alliance is a network of diverse community organisations, unions and religious organisations that “works to advance the common good and achieve a fair, just and sustainable city”. The NSWNMA was one of the Alliance’s founding partners. PROBLEM FOR DECADES NSWNMA General Secretary Brett Holmes says the Sydney Alliance has achieved a great win for community nurses and their patients. “This issue has been hanging over our heads for more than two decades. I’ve been at the Association for more than 25 years, 12 | THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015
a bit more, and this was a problem way back then when I started as an organiser,” he said. “I trained and lived at RPA for four years and I know how difficult it is to find parking anywhere in this area. The issue has been on the agenda for community nurses and community workers for a long time.” Barbara Ackroyd, an RN at Marrickville Community Health Centre, says parking can be very disruptive for district nurses trying to deliver care in the inner city. “Our workload is becoming more complex and obviously the time needed to give to patients is increasing, but the level of parking is decreasing. “Knowing we can park our car and give the care we need to give to patients – without changing or interrupting those visits, especially when they are palliative care patients – is enormous for us. “We’re all really very grateful for the work that Sydney Alliance have put into this and for the councils for coming on board.” Palliative care nurse Phillip Sheard agrees it is a big win for community nurses. “There is a lot of street parking that is time restricted or metered. In Pyrmont the parking might only be for half an hour.
You can’t do much with a patient in half an hour.” He says it is a real achievement that the permits cover three council areas. “Today I parked in all three of those areas. It’s going to remove the time pressure. It’s one less thing to think about. You can waste 10 minutes finding a parking meter then returning to your car with the ticket. Saving 10 minutes every visit adds up.” POWER OF WORKING WITH OTHERS Brett Holmes says the parking permit win shows the benefit of the Association working with other organisations in the Sydney Alliance. “Imagine what it is like to sit in a room with a decision maker and say ‘look at your community – religious groups, unions, health groups, community groups – all with issues in common, with influence and with the power of acting for the greater good’. “It is great to see the fruits of an enormous amount of effort that goes into the Sydney Alliance by so many people across the community. The parking permit win is just one of many achievements that I hope the Alliance can continue to achieve.”
Councillors who championed the cause The adoption of the care worker parking permit scheme was championed within the local government councils by former Marrickville mayor Jo Haylen and received bi-partisan support across all LGAs. At the Sydney Alliance Community forum to launch the permits there was support from all three councillors: Linda Scott (City of Sydney), Linda Kelly (Leichhardt Council) and Sylvie Ellesmere (Marrickville Council). At the launch of the scheme these three councillors pledged to “work with Sydney Alliance to ensure that this pilot scheme across Marrickville, Leichhardt and the City of Sydney is a success” and to “work with Sydney Alliance to extend the scheme to all councils across Sydney.”
The councillors are from left to right: Sylvie Ellesmere, Linda Kelly, Linda Scott.
Well supported by Sydney LHD Clair Edwards, acting Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services for the Sydney Local Health District, says the LHD was “delighted to be included” in the initiative to achieve parking permits for community nurses. “Sydney LHD has a real interest in partnerships with its communities. We are very active around our engagement with the people for whom we provide services,” she said. “The concept of nurses having more time to spend with people and being able to deliver a better service at the home is an absolutely fantastic outcome for us.” Ms Edwards cautioned that the scheme was a pilot project and more work would be needed for it to continue. “We need to make sure it continues not just through the three Local Government Areas but it spreads throughout Sydney.”
Become a community organiser
Clair Edwards
If you want to find out more about the Sydney Alliance and how to become a community organiser, the Alliance is running training sessions in Sydney’s inner-west on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th of December, 2015. Contact Rita Martin at 8595 1234 or rmartin@nswnma.asn.au
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 13
COVER STORY
From little problems, big problems grow Mark Ludbrooke from the Cancer Council and a member of the Sydney Alliance innerwest district explains to The Lamp how parking permits for care workers became a focus of the organisation’s work.
“Nurses told us they had been experiencing these parking issues over the past 20 odd years. We thought, let’s have a go at solving it.” — Mark Ludbrooke, Cancer Council, Sydney Alliance member 14 | THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015
THE SYDNEY ALLIANCE CONSISTS OF churches, community groups and unions all working together to identify local issues, take action and advance the common good locally. That’s a pretty good thing to be involved in. One issue surprised us and kept coming up over and over again. That, of all things, was parking: parking for community nurses and homecare workers across the inner-west. We kept hearing that time restricted parking and also expensive parking meters was a cost that community workers and homecare workers had to pay and it also took them away from what they should be doing, which was spending time with and caring for patients and carers across the inner-west. We heard from one community nurse who told us that recently she had an hour consult. She parked in a one-hour spot, but when she arrived to talk with her patient she found that the patient had soiled himself and was in considerable distress. As a result she spent the necessary time there caring for the patient – 75 minutes.When she got back to the car she had a $200 parking fine. We heard from another community nurse who told us she had to go into a palliative care consult and the first thing she had to say to her patient was ‘sorry, I can’t spend that long with you, I’ve got to go out and move my car’. She was really embarrassed and ashamed to have to share that with a patient in those circumstances. These stories and many others we heard were quite distressing. Distressing that
something as seemingly insignificant as parking could have such a disproportionately large impact on the lives of community nurses, homecare workers and people in the local community. We also heard it wasn’t a new issue. Nurses told us they had been experiencing these parking issues over the past 20 odd years.We thought, let’s have a go at solving it. We started by having meetings with some councillors in Marrickville and Leichhardt.We wanted to get a few champions within those councils to introduce a care worker parking permit scheme. We were successful in doing so. Then, we wanted all of the councillors to support the adoption of this scheme. At that point, critically, nurses of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association got involved.They lent their voice to the campaign. They told their stories in the local media and also came to local council meetings and shared their concern about the issue. As a result the Leichhardt and Marrickville Councils unanimously passed resolutions to support the introduction of care worker parking permit schemes in their respective areas. For me, this scheme is important because it means that the invaluable work that community nurses and homecare workers do in our local communities will be just a little bit easier as a result. As such, the lives of people living with cancer and older people with disabilities and others receiving nursing care and home care support, will be a little bit better as a result of that.
“Anything that makes their jobs easier is essential” Peter Jennings spoke to The Lamp about the contribution of community nurses when his wife Tess was dying — and why such a seemingly small thing as free parking could enhance the care they provide.
In January 2011 my wife of over 30 years, Tess, was diagnosed with cancer which began in the appendix, then spread throughout her lower abdomen. She had an operation about a month later. The surgeon was able to take out some of the tumours but, as he explained it, it was like bubble wrap around the vital organs so he couldn’t get all of it. After 14 months of chemo they decided the cancer was still growing inside her and getting larger. They decided there was no chance of remission or cure. It was a case of ‘prepare to die’. They gave her about six months. She actually lived for another 15 months. This was where the community nurses came in. They began visiting at this stage.
They would come about once a week and give us hints on how to care for her, how to bathe her, how to help her to the toilet – that sort of thing. She was still able to walk at this stage. Midway through 2013 I turned 65 so I retired and for the last six months I was able to care for her full time. As time went on the visits became more frequent. For the last five months it was a daily visit. And this was unbelievable, not just for Tessy, in explaining to her what was happening and what was going to happen next, but also for me. They would come along and make sure I was doing everything properly. That was a tremendous consolation to me, to know that I could help ease her pain and I was doing it the right way because
these experts were there. Tessy once mentioned that when she heard the knock on the door it was like an angel coming to visit. They were brilliant. Not just the reassurance and the advice but there was the compassion and she loved that they were able to share that. Tessy was able to spend the whole of her illness at home. She was able to die surrounded by her friends and family and those who loved her. We couldn’t have done that without the community nurses. They were unbelievable. So anything that helps them do their job better – even a simple thing like being able to park without getting a parking fine – that’s essential, that’s indispensable.
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 15
PROFESSIONAL
Stuck between the law and responsibility Alanna Maycock’s experiences at the refugee processing centre on Nauru highlight the conflict between legal restrictions imposed by the new Border Force Act and the professional responsibility of a nurse to report abuse.
16 | THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015
“You uphold your mandatory reporting obligations and you break the law and could possibly be sent to prison. Or, you uphold the law, then your organisation finds out you were aware of something … and you lose your job and your nursing registration.” — Alanna Maycock RN THE FIRST FEW TIMES SHE WAS WARNED THAT her phone might be tapped, Alanna Maycock laughed.“I’d say ‘oh for goodness sakes this isn’t an episode of Spooks, that’s ridiculous’.” Returning from a clinic at the Australian Regional Processing Centre in Nauru, horrified at what she had seen, she had spoken to journalists and at public meetings about what she regarded as child abuse. With her colleague, paediatrician Professor David Isaacs, she also presented a submission to the Senate Select Committee into the Nauru centre and, on June 9, she and Dr Isaacs gave evidence to the committee. On July 1, the Australian Border Force Act came into force. This now means that government-contracted workers, like Alanna, working at onshore and offshore detention facilities, risk up to two years jail if they speak out about what they see. The Australian Medical Association, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Australian College of Nursing, Australian College of Midwives and the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses have all opposed the new Act. The nursing boards have requested that the Act be amended, saying “we consider it inconceivable that the government should seek to place us at odds with our obligations under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency when delivering healthcare to people in immigration detention.” CLINICIANS CHALLENGE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION After the Act came into force, Alanna was the only nurse among 40 former Manus Island and Nauru detention centre staff, including social workers, doctors, nurses, teachers and psychiatrists, to sign an open letter challenging the Department of Immigration to prosecute them. Deciding to sign wasn’t easy. “One reason I’m the only nurse that signed the open letter is because the Border Force Act has had a negative effect on some nurses working with refugees. They are living in fear of being prosecuted,” Alanna said. “Also, I had signed a contract before we left for Nauru that said you will not speak about anything you see, you will not speak out about the government, you will not speak out about International Health and Medical Services
(IHMS). When David and I read the contracts we had our concerns, which we told IHMS.” Despite signing, by the end of their one week clinic in Nauru the pair knew they could not remain silent. “When people are in front of you, begging you, crying and begging you on their hands and knees to help them – what else can you do? “It’s been ingrained in me since the day I started my training that if I see anything that affects the health of my patient I have a duty of care to report it. It is part of any nurse’s professional code of conduct. CONCERNS ABOUT REGISTRATION “One of my biggest worries, before the Border Force Act, was my nurse registration. I wasn’t sure how my nursing colleagues would react that I had signed that contract. “You uphold your mandatory reporting obligations and you break the law and could possibly be sent to prison. Or, you uphold the law, then your organisation finds out you were aware of something that affects the health of your patient and you lose your job and your nursing registration.” Alanna says she appreciates the opportunity to share her experiences with other nurses through The Lamp. “I can’t tell you how relieved I was [to tell my story] because I didn’t know where I stood because of the contract I signed and I broke it and I didn’t know whether I would have a leg to stand on.” In the meantime, several people, including journalists from international news agencies, were warning Alanna that her conversations and talks would almost certainly be monitored. “Various journalists told me it to begin with and they kept saying ‘can we speak on another phone?’. I started to feel really naïve but I still thought it was ridiculous. “Then a few things began to happen. “A colleague had her home raided by the Department of Immigration and other things happened and it all started fitting into place.” Despite continuing to talk publicly, Alanna is apprehensive. “You wait for a phone call and you hope it never comes. I just wonder, are they collecting information for one big hit on us? That plays on my mind.”
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 17
PROFESSIONAL
Border Force a legal minefield Nurses need to think carefully before taking a job in Australia’s immigration detention centres. “IF YOU ARE GOING TO WORK ON NAURU as a permanent member of staff you need to really think about your registration,” RN Alanna Maycock told The Lamp. “You are going to see and witness things with children and adults that you are not going to be allowed to report and you have to weigh up whether you think that is something that you can do in your profession and in your daily work. I couldn’t. “Abuse is something that requires on-the-spot reporting. And, not just daily but minute-by-minute in Nauru, you are witnessing things that would be reportable.” Alanna and others in her situation are unsure how the new Australian Border Force Act, passed by the Coalition government with the support of the ALP, will affect them, given that they spoke out before the Act became law on July 1. According to human rights lawyer and refugee advocate Julian Burnside:“It is not clear from the Act whether disclosure is prohibited of facts learned before the Act came into force but disclosed after the Act 18 | THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015
came into force. The normal principle against retrospective criminal laws tends to the result that the Act would not apply in those circumstances, but it is not clear.” The federal government and the Labor opposition deny claims the Border Force Act will criminalise whistleblowers, including nurses. But many lawyers and refugee advocates disagree. Labor’s Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Richard Marles, says whistleblowers will be protected by the Public Interest Disclosure Act while Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg has said it is “unlikely” medical staff will be prosecuted. But Peter Roberts, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security at Charles Sturt University, and a former senior executive with the Federal Attorney General and National Crime Authority, said disclosures must first be made internally. He cautions anyone considering internal disclosure to get independent legal advice first and keep detailed written records of the
circumstances surrounding the disclosure. Evidence to the Senate inquiry of Dr Peter Young, psychiatrist and former director of mental health services at detention centre service provider, International Health and Mental Services (IHMS), and others, indicated that internal reporting had not been welcomed nor acted upon. Dr Young, who had responsibility for the mental health of asylum seekers in all Australian-run detention centres from 2011 to 2014, told the Senate inquiry:“We were repeatedly told … it was unacceptable to put in reports to the department that people’s mental health had been harmed by being in detention in Nauru.” In an Open Letter to the Australian People, released in April this year, 24 former and current employees of the Nauru detention centre said that as far back as November 2013 the government was aware of written reports detailing sexual and physical abuse of women and children, yet ministers were proclaiming an attitude of “zero tolerance” while the abuse continued.
Inquiries condemn immigration detention On August 31 the Senate Select Committee on Recent Allegations relating to Conditions and Circumstances at the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru, reported that it was “particularly disturbed by the evidence it has received about abuse of children, traumatisation and mental illness among children, and the impact of the persistent, indefinite detention of children in the poor conditions which prevail at the RPC. “The incidents and complaints recorded by Transfield [the principal government contracted service provider] since 2012 included some 45 allegations of child abuse and sexual assault.” The Select Committee inquired into the 2014 Forgotten Children Report by government-appointed president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Professor Gillian Triggs, into conditions in immigration detention under both Labor and Coalition governments. That report recommended the release of all children and families in immigration detention as quickly as possible. Professor Triggs faced accusations of bias from the
Coalition government as a result of the report. In March, the Moss Report, conducted by former integrity commissioner Philip Moss, was released. Mr Moss found no evidence to support federal government accusations that Save the Children staff had coached detainees who had complained of physical and sexual abuse of adults and children in Nauru. The government had denounced staff members for raising the alarm and ordered them off the island. Mr Moss recommended better training and supervision of Nauruan staff employed by Wilson Security and Transfield Services, and suggested that Nauruan police force take on a higher profile at the centre and adopt a “community policing” role. “It’s hard to think of any nationality treating people the way they do in Nauru,” RN Alanna Maycock said. “When you mention incidents, people often think you mean a Nauruan guard is involved. But bad experiences I had there were with Australians, Irish, English and Kiwis.”
The Senate Select Committee report of August 31, the dissenting minority report from Coalition members and transcripts of hearings and submissions are accessible at aph.gov.au/committees/ senate/ recent reports
HESTA divests from detention Health industry super fund HESTA is to divest its $23 million stake in detention centre operator Transfield. The August announcement prompted a flurry of comment in the financial media about the trend towards ethical investment. Sydney Morning Herald finance writer Sally Rose reported that First State Super had also sold down its Transfield shares, Christian Super had prohibited future investment and many others had their Transfield investments under review. The Victorian branch of the Australian Nursing and Midwives’ Federation and a web-based “HESTA divest” campaign have been calling for divestment on ethical grounds. HESTA chief executive Debby Blakey said divesting from Transfield was based on financial considerations. “Our review of this investment involved a prescribed and well-established environmental, social and governance escalation process. “We engaged with the company for over 18 months, first through the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors and later through our investment managers and directly,” Ms Blakey said. According to research by the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia (RIAA), responsible investment funds in Australia are producing returns that outperform over the short, medium and long term. RIAA says this is “adding evidence to the mounting global consensus that those who believe investing with your values means lower returns, have their heads in the sand.” THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 19
SAFE STAFFING
Bed closures secure more nurses Goulburn mental health nurses took action to improve safety at an understaffed mental health unit.
A S TA F F D E C I S I O N T O C L O S E B E D S AT A N understaffed mental health facility has led to the employment of more nurses and a safer environment for patients and staff. The Goulburn mental health branch of the NSWNMA voted unanimously on August 19 to close beds as they became vacant, because of a critical shortage of nurses at the Chisholm Ross Centre of Goulburn Hospital. In a media statement the same day NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda said there were 15 full-time equivalent (FTE) vacancies on the nursing roster and the facility was no longer considered to be safely staffed. “If management fails to act this week our members will begin closing beds to ensure the nursing staff levels match the number of patients in Chisholm Ross, allowing these nurses to meet their professional obligations for safe patient care,” she said. “That means the sub acute unit would be reduced from the current 23 beds to 18 beds while the high dependency unit would reduce from nine to six beds. “This is not an action our members take lightly. However management has failed to adhere to the nurse-to-patient ratio legal requirements stipulated in the Nurses’ State Award, using the nursing hours per patient day (NHPPD) formula.” Southern Local Health District senior management acknowledged that the staffing shortfall was putting extreme pressure on nurses
and agreed to close four beds for a period while recruitment commenced. That resulted in some improvement but did not ensure the award mandated six NHPPD were being met. The branch met again on August 27 and voted unanimously to temporarily close another two beds in the sub-acute unit, bringing the total beds closed to six. The branch continued to meet with senior management on a weekly basis to work through the staffing crisis. The LHD Director of Nursing sought and received approval from the Ministry of Health Nursing Branch for extra resources, which allowed for the full-time employment of a clinical services officer and a clinical nurse educator. Both positions, which have been advertised, were above the NHPPD and represent a big win for the branch. An afternoon shift nursing unit manager, also above the NHPPD, has been seconded into the unit. Branch secretary Emma Mouat RN said the work environment had “improved 100 per cent” as a result of the branch’s collective action. “In the past few weeks senior management have done an excellent job of recruiting both permanent and agency nurses, given the difficulty of attracting nurses to a rural psychiatric facility,” she said. When Emma started as a new graduate at Chisholm Ross two-and-a-half years ago, the facility was short staffed by nine FTE nurses.
“If management fails to act, our members will begin closing beds.” — Judith Kiejda NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary
20 | THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015
“At times I was scared for the safety of my patients.” — Emma Mouat RN
Left to right: Emma Mouat RN, Emily Bunt RN, Terry Vincent RN, Karen Rakete RN, Brad Greenlees RN and Colin Moore RN.
“Despite this, management kept opening beds and we worked very short for about two years. The mandated six NHPPD was never achieved. “At times I was scared for the safety of my patients. “We deal with very depressed patients, some chronically suicidal.There are people coming off ice, people in acute psychosis – potentially very dangerous people with lots of aggression. “At times I was allocated nine patients to care for – including two or three acutely suicidal. “It was quite common to have to work double shifts 7am to 10pm twice a week to ensure the roster could be covered. “Retention of staff was awful. Nurses were getting sick and morale was very low.” Emma said the Chisholm Ross centre also had trouble retaining security staff, which sometimes left nurses working without a security officer.
Attacks on staff had resulted in serious injuries. “It is astonishing how violently aggressive people coming off ice can be,” she said. “Such patients have to be restrained and medicated, otherwise they are a threat to other patients and staff.Very often we had to call police to assist us to safely restrain a patient. “With such potential for danger the centre should not have been allowed to become so short-staffed.” The branch met on September 18 and agreed to open two of the closed beds after new staff members had been recruited and orientated to the unit. On October 1 the branch met again but decided to delay opening any more beds until all new staff had been recruited and commenced. Management accepted this position. Emma said the branch would continue to meet with management and monitor staff recruitment.
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 21
SAFE STAFFING
Tamworth improvements but more to be done Hunter New England LHD has initiated some short-term solutions to safe staffing issues at Tamworth Hospital, but the NSWNMA branch is still fighting for long-term resolutions. HUNTER NEW ENGLAND LOCAL HEALTH District has withdrawn two disputes it initiated against the NSWNMA relating to Tamworth Hospital. LHD management launched the disputes in the Industrial Relations Commission during a long-running battle with the Association over hospital staffing. In withdrawing the disputes last month, 22 | THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015
management outlined to the Commission a number of short-term solutions it had adopted following pressure to improve staffing in the maternity unit and emergency department. However the union is not backing away from its campaign to achieve long-term solutions to improve patient safety and care. Branch secretary Jill Telford said the
branch regarded management’s measures as temporary and would continue to monitor their implementation and outcomes. “The measures adopted by management involve shifting staff from one area to another, rather than providing the additional nurses needed at the hospital,” she said.
“The measures adopted by management involve shifting staff from one area to another, rather than providing the additional nurses we need.” — Jill Telford Branch secretary
General Secretary of the NSWNMA Brett Holmes said the Association would continue to support the branch as staffing levels were monitored and reviewed in the coming months. The NSWNMA would push for the branch to be involved in promised reviews of staff levels and skill mix in the maternity unit and ED, he said. “It is important that all levels of management within Hunter New England LHD listen to their clinical staff when they raise issues and call for assistance to deliver safe patient care. “Local management has at least acknowledged that problems do exist and patient safety was being put at risk. “It is open to the branch to consider taking action down the track if members are not satisfied with the outcome of these interim arrangements.”
STANDING STRONG FOR SAFE STAFFING The LHD went to the Industrial Relations Commission after the branch decided to take action to ensure safe staffing before transferring to a new hospital site. Members voted not to transfer to the new ED and not to open the new birthing unit unless both were safely staffed. This led LHD management to adopt the following interim measures: • An additional 10 hours added to the maternity unit night shift roster, seven days a week. • An end to the practice of putting an enrolled nurse on the roster, rather than a midwife, as one of three night shift members of the maternity unit. • Agreement to separately roster nurses for the triage, resuscitation and team leader (in charge) roles within the emergency department, rather than combining them. Brett said management had decided to reallocate a vacant community midwifery position to partly fill the additional 10 hours in the maternity unit.The Association was seeking to clarify how management intended to fill the remaining hours. “It also remains to be seen what impact the reduced staffing profile has on the midwifery group practice’s community service,” he said. He said an end to the practice of rostering ENs on night shift was “an important step towards improving the skill mix” in the maternity unit. He said management’s agreement to separately staff the triage, resuscitation and team leader (in charge) roles in the ED was a step forward. However it would be met by shifting one RN from the Emergency Short Stay Unit (ESSU) to support the ED on all shifts in the next few months. Brett said this proposal would assist with the immediate staff shortage in ED because the ESSU is not yet at full capacity. “However it is likely to cause problems in the longer term when the ESSU becomes fully operational. “Management has given a commitment to review the performance of the ESSU and we have asked that our members be consulted as part of that review process.”
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson
Local MP helps out Tamworth Hospital branch secretary Jill Telford thanked Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson for his help in arranging a meeting between the branch and the LHD’s senior management. She said while the meeting failed to produce a long-term solution, the branch appreciated Mr Anderson’s stated support for nurses and his efforts to mediate between branch members and management. Kevin Anderson spoke to Health Minister Jillian Skinner to arrange the meeting, which was attended by Hunter New England LHD chief executive Michael Di Rienzo. At management’s insistence NSWNMA General Secretary Brett Holmes was excluded from the meeting, despite being in Tamworth at the time. The branch had earlier circulated a petition calling on MPs to intervene in the staffing dispute with Hunter New England Health. The petition was presented at a Tamworth community meeting attended by more than 100 residents. They heard a panel of local nurses and midwives outline their concerns about chronic staff shortages in the hospital’s emergency and maternity departments. The petition said Hunter New England Health “has a duty of care to the people of Tamworth and the New England and North West of NSW to deliver safe patient care ... and to ensure a safe work environment for all staff.” It added: “Nursing and midwifery staff are regularly required to work extended overtime and are missing meal breaks to meet demand.” To date, 1313 community members have signed the petition. THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 23
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Gabrielle Hook (centre) with her sisters Kelly (left) and Steffi (right) at the waterfront community assembly.
War on jobs Australians face an increasingly insecure future as employers move to eliminate quality jobs – and young people are hardest hit. NURSE CAROLYN HOOK WAS PLEASED AND proud when her daughter Gabrielle became one of the first women to get a job on the Sydney waterfront 14 years ago. “I thought it was a great opportunity for a woman to enter what was traditionally a man’s world and show what women can do,” said Carolyn, who recently retired from nursing after a 45-year career. She last worked at Prince of Wales Hospital where she was the long-serving NSWNMA branch secretary. Her daughter Gabrielle was just 19 when she started as a casual stevedore at Port Botany. “I did worry that Gabby wouldn’t be able to keep up with the men physically but she enjoyed the work and the challenge. She liked working with the boys – she was always a bit of a tomboy,” Carolyn said. 24 | THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015
By 2008, Gabrielle had succeeded in getting a full-time position with the port operator P&O (now DP World). She trained to become a controller and lead waterfront gangs comprising mostly men – a sign of respect from her fellow workers. When the international port company Hutchison entered Australia to set up a new terminal at Port Botany two years ago, Gabrielle successfully applied for a permanent job with the Hong Kongowned operator. But in August this year she was among 97 Hutchison employees made redundant without warning. The bad news was delivered at midnight by email and text message. There was no industrial dispute at the time. The sacked men and women – 40 per cent of the Sydney and Brisbane
workforce – were not accused of any wrongdoing.The multi-billion dollar company said it had decided to sub-contract some vessels to other operators and “downsize”. Carolyn said she and Gabrielle were shocked by the sudden blow: “The company did not even allow them to collect their personal possessions from their desks and lockers. To this day employees are still not allowed on site to collect their belongings. “The company issued a statement via the first redundancy notification that people’s locker contents would be couriered to them.” Carolyn says the company singled out Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) delegates and safety committee members for redundancy. They included Gabrielle who had been elected delegate.
NSWNMA’s nurses and midwives lend their support to MUA workers’ picket line.
TEXTBOOK UNION BUSTING MUA assistant national secretary Warren Smith accused Hutchison of adopting “textbook union busting tactics” via a secret company project dubbed Phoenix Rising. The aim was to bring in new technology without having to negotiate staffing levels with the workers and their union, he said. He pointed out that the company had not lost contracts but had chosen to sub-contract vessels to the two other operators, Patrick and DP World. “This is about manipulating contracts and colluding with other port operators in order to manufacture redundancies,” Warren said. “It is a plot to remove union delegates and activists and bring in a disposable, casual, pliable workforce when the contracts mysteriously reappear.” He said the MUA was prepared to accept job cuts if the company could justify them. “All we want is for Hutchison to meet and negotiate an outcome in a co-operative manner. But if they reject that position we are going to fight back using every tool we have – legal, political, industrial and community protest – to get justice for these workers.”
The union went to the Federal Court, which issued an injunction preventing Hutchison from dismissing the workers until the case was fully heard by the Fair Work Commission. The judge agreed the company appeared to have breached the enterprise agreement by making staff redundant without consultation. Hutchison put the workers back on the payroll but refused to roster them for work before the Fair Work Commission hearing. It put masked security guards on the gates to stop the sacked workers entering the docks. For weeks, workers and their supporters have maintained a permanent community assembly outside the terminals to protest the sackings. They have also picketed the offices of Vodafone, which is half-owned by Hutchison. A HARD FUTURE FOR OUR KIDS Carolyn said no company should be allowed to treat its employees this way. She said Gabrielle had an offer to go back to DP World before the dismissals but decided to honour her commitment to her new employer. “Gabby was brought up on values but loyalty counts for nothing these days and her loyalty to the company backfired. “There is no such thing as standing by your employees any more.Youth today are increasingly going to have to grab whatever work comes along. “I feel frightened for them, because many of them are never going to get ahead. They won’t have the security we used to
have in our day. There is nothing to say they can’t be laid off any tick of the clock. And it’s not that easy to get re-hired or pick up another job.” The ACTU says the past two decades have seen a dramatic decline in permanent work, and corresponding growth of insecure forms of employment such as casual, contract work and labour hire. And the chance of finding a job has been declining since the global financial crisis (GFC) in 2008, according to the Brotherhood of St Laurence. Young Australians continue to bear the brunt of high unemployment – and teenagers are faring worst of all. The national youth unemployment rate (for 15 to 24 year olds) stood at 14 per cent in January, more than twice the overall unemployment rate. More than 290,000 Australians aged 15 to 24 were then categorised as unemployed. The worst hit were the 15 to 19 year olds, with the unemployment rate for this group hitting 20 per cent. One in five unemployed Australians today is a teenager. The Brotherhood of St Laurence is calling for the establishment of a federally funded national program to aid young people from education to the workplace, while supporting employers who want to give them a start. “This is the first time in 25 years the Commonwealth government has not had a national youth transition program so there is a large group of young people who no longer have that pathway into work,’ said the Brotherhood’s executive director, Tony Nicholson. THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 25
PROFESSIONAL
Choosing treatments wisely Despite concern about whether all savings will be returned to the healthcare budget, there’s general agreement that the 5703 items on the medical benefits schedule (MBS) need to be reviewed. THERE’S A NEW ACRONYM IN GLOBAL HEALTH CARE: IT’S called CER and nurses and midwives will hear a lot more about it in the future. Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) looks at available evidence about the benefits and harms of each treatment choice, from existing clinical trials, clinical studies and other research. Researchers also conduct studies that generate new evidence of effectiveness or comparative effectiveness of a test, treatment, procedure, or healthcare service. 26 | THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015
Associate Professor Adam Elshaug is a leader in the field and a member of the advisory group of Choosing Wisely Australia. It represents a cross section of medical colleges and societies that identify practices that warrant scrutiny and develop a list of recommendations on tests, treatments and procedures to question. Choosing Wisely is now in talks with nursing and midwifery organisations. “There’s an awful lot of waste on the administrative process side and we’ve encouraged people who are thinking about these lists to perhaps develop two top fives,
“We’re talking about inappropriate treatments, excessive service intensity or duplication, excessive frequency of tests.” —Associate Professor Adam Elshaug
one of clinical practices and one of process waste and admin waste and that could be put back on hospital managers and the like to try and improve the systems you operate within,” Professor Elshaug told delegates to the 2015 NSWNMA annual conference. As well as sharing information between peers the website www.choosingwisely.com.au is also available to consumers. It follows the establishment of similar groups in the US and Canada. In the US, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reported an audit that showed that only 16 per cent of full-thickness rotator cuff tears had been managed appropriately, 31 per cent “may” have been appropriate and 53 per cent were “rarely appropriate.” Forty nine per cent of total knee arthroplasty procedures were appropriate and 34 per cent were inappropriate. “That’s before we even get into a debate about the prosthesis they received.”
INAPPROPRIATE TREATMENTS WASTE RESOURCES Professor Elshaug says that although Australia is regarded as a leader in the area of evidence based medicine and health technology assessment, it is still “spending money that is not delivering good outcomes for patients and could be harming patients. “We’re talking about inappropriate treatments, excessive service intensity or duplication, excessive frequency of tests, that kind of thing,” he said. Recently, Australia experienced a 4800 per cent increase in 10 years inVitamin D testing, with a spending increase from $3 million to $145 million.This mirrored an increase in the same testing in Ontario, Canada, where officials discovered that on the GP ordering software there was just a tick box. “They removed that box from the software.They did some clinical detailing with the medical community and in two years they managed to get the utilisation down quite dramatically, saving $60 million per annum.” In November last year Australia “tweaked” the item number on the Medicare Benefits Schedule software and changed the price it paid in order to better target patient groups that are known to need Vitamin D testing, and at the right frequency. Analysis has shown a reduction in volumes since then. “If that stays on track it’s looking like it might save over $600 million over five years: just one blood test. That’s substantial in terms of what it could deliver within the health care system or anywhere within our economy.” MBS NOT ASSESSED FOR EFFECTIVENESS Only three per cent of the 5703 items on Australia’s Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) have been formally assessed against contemporary evidence of safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. The government is currently conducting a review of all items. “We aren’t saying 97 per cent of the items are ineffective or unsafe.We just don’t know,” Professor Elshaug said. “Most patients who receive a practice are going to get good benefit from it. They’re the ones we want in our health care system “On the other side of the equation you have the low value category, where from day one the gain is very low and the harm could be quite high.” The president of the Australian Medical Association, Brian Owler, said his profession supports the review, with the provisos that it is clinician-led, is not simply a cost-cutting exercise and that savings are returned to healthcare. “Quite rightly some clinicians have thought this idea of appropriateness in health care, or low value health care, was a very binary discussion and they were being forced into a position of practising appropriately or inappropriately,” Professor Elshaug said. “But we know there is this legitimate grey zone and it’s hard for patients and doctors and everyone to know whether it’s appropriate or not, partly because there’s not the right data or the evidence base isn’t there. “This [CER] is a growing issue internationally and has hit its straps recently in terms of the media and policy circles and thankfully the clinical community is taking this issue by the horns.” THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 27
PROFESSIONAL
The longevity revolution Australia’s Age and Disabilities Commissioner says nurses and midwives approaching their 50s should start to look for jobs that build on their experience without making physical demands they can no longer meet.
“The fact is, many women over 55 who want and need work are unable to find it and that is mainly because of age discrimination.” — Susan Ryan
28 | THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015
THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR. THE REVOLUTION IS COMING. You won’t have to take to the barricades; but you will need to prepare for change in order to adapt to what Australia’s Age and Disabilities Commissioner Susan Ryan is calling the Longevity Revolution. She told the 2015 annual NSWNMA conference that by 2055 the number of Australians aged 65 and over would more than double. Men can expect to live to 95 and women to just over 96. Many will live longer than these averages. These and other statistics from the Intergenerational Report prepared by the federal Treasury appear frequently in the media “usually in a negative sense, often associated with words like tsunami or crisis,” she said. But despite the doomsayers, unmanageable economic and social change is not inevitable. “It could be, but it doesn’t have to be,” Commissioner Ryan said.“If a longer life is going to be a better life for everyone we must change much of our thinking and practices to harness the opportunities.” This will require a significant change in the prevailing attitudes in Australia that are already preventing older Australians from continuing paid work for much longer than they do now. “This not only involves getting rid of the barriers of ageism and age prejudice. It must take account of individuals’ own need to change jobs or sectors several times with longer working lives.” WOMEN SEEN AS OUTDATED The first national survey into age discrimination, released earlier this year, showed the highest incidence of age discrimination toward people aged between 55 and 64 and significant levels in the 50-54 age group. Women were far more likely than men to be perceived as having outdated skills, being slow to learn new things, or as someone who would deliver an unsatisfactory job. But the predominantly female nursing profession is a good example of how workforces can and do change as they age. Almost 40 per cent of nurses and midwives are aged over 60: that is almost double the number in 2001 and higher than in the overall workforce. “These figures mean that we have available to us the remarkable experiences of nurses who have spent many years caring for sick people and learning all the time how to do it better,” Commissioner Ryan said. “However, it also means that some nurses, as they approach 50, will need to think about re-directing their energy and getting re-skilled to work in jobs that are not so physically demanding. “But nurses [and midwives], like all other workers in Australia, can be held back from making such constructive changes by age discrimination that affects self esteem, financial security and health. It can be
devastating for individuals and the negative effect trickles through the economy costing us billions a year in increased welfare and health outlays and in lost tax revenue and business performance. “The fact is, many women over 55 who want and need work are unable to find it and that is mainly because of age discrimination.” POOR HEALTH EXCLUDES Poor health was one of the main reasons given by Australians aged 50 and over for their exclusion from paid work. “That’s very young, particularly considering the age pension doesn’t cut in until 65 and is moving up to 67. If a person is ousted from paid work in her early 50s, she may spend another 40 years living on benefits at a level that mostly results in poverty. “We need to understand why people as young as 50 are leaving the workforce permanently because of common conditions including back problems and osteoarthritis. “We need to work out, with health advisers and employers, what can be done to assist them to manage these issues better so they can continue working.” Commissioner Ryan says anyone approaching 50, and in a physically demanding job like nursing or midwifery, needs to think about where and how they can work for another 20 years. “They will need to look for and re-train for jobs that build on their experience but do not make physical demands they can no longer meet. “When I talk about this approach I’m usually asked where are these jobs to come from. I probably don’t need to tell this audience that the fastest growing areas of the workforce, with huge unmet needs for labor, are for human services and this won’t change for the foreseeable future. “We need to provide advice and training opportunities so that people needing a new direction can move into this most valuable sector. “As nurses and midwives you make a huge contribution to Australian life. Many of you will wish to continue making it into your 60s and beyond. If that is how you see your later work years every support should be provided so this can happen. “I’m not saying that people who can’t work and don’t want to work should be forced to work. Obviously we have to have provisions in our aged pension for such people. But I’m very aware of all the people who desperately want to work and are distraught because they’re locked out of the workforce.” Susan Ryan urges nurses to make submissions to “Willing to Work” the national inquiry into employment discrimination against older people and people with disabilities. Details are available at www.humanrights.gov.au.
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 29
NURSES & MIDWIVES: There are many benefits of being a financial member of the NSWNMA — did you know that
Authorised by B.Holmes, General Secretary, NSWNMA
YOUR MEMBERSHIP FEES COVER YOU FOR TRAVEL TO AND FROM WORK? If you are involved in an accident while travelling to or from work, NSWNMA’s Journey Accident Insurance provides you with peace of mind. In recent years this insurance has been a financial safety net for many members who have met unfortunate circumstances travelling to or from work. As a financial member of the NSWNMA you are automatically covered by this policy. It’s important to remember however, that it can only be accessed if you are a financial member at the time of the accident. So make sure your membership remains financial at all times by paying your fees by Direct Debit or Credit. Watch Alexis talk about Journey Accident Insurance
JOURNEY ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Your journey injury safety net
UNSURE IF YOU ARE FINANCIAL? IT’S EASY! Ring and check today on 8595 1234 (metro) or 1300 367 962 (rural). Change your payment information online at
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WORKERS COMPENSATION
Win for injured workers Many injured workers in New South Wales stand to benefit from successful legal action taken by the NSWNMA. A COURT CHALLENGE BY THE NSWNMA has overturned years of industrial practice that barred injured workers in the private sector from accruing annual leave while on workers compensation in New South Wales. A full bench of the Federal Court agreed with the union that the Fair Work Act 2009 did not remove the existing entitlement in NSW to accrue annual leave during periods of workers compensation. The court decision is worth an estimated $36 million a year to injured workers including nurses and midwives. Lynn Copas, an assistant in nursing employed by Anglican Care, was injured in December 2009 and was off work and receiving workers compensation until her employment ended in May 2011. Lynn was paid her accrued, untaken annual leave, but not for the period when she was on workers compensation, worth about $3000. NSWNMA General Secretary Brett Holmes said the Association went to the Federal Court to test the prevailing statutory interpretation that the law did not provide for the taking or accruing of annual leave while on workers compensation. “This was the conventional wisdom and accepted interpretation of most industrial parties,” Brett said. A judge of the Federal Circuit Court found that our member was entitled to accrue annual leave while absent from work and receiving workers compensation
payments.The court ordered Anglican Care to pay the amount owed with interest. Anglican Care appealed to a Full Bench of the Federal Court, which dismissed their appeal. “This decision has significant and positive ramifications for many injured workers across all of the private sector in New South Wales, regardless of their occupation,” Brett said. Brett said nurses and midwives who had not accrued annual leave while on workers compensation should contact the Association to discuss whether they were entitled to back pay. WORKCOVER NEEDS FIXING Meanwhile, the NSW government has failed to act on an independent report raising serious concerns about the plight of injured workers following its controversial changes to WorkCover laws. In November 2013, WorkCover Independent Review Officer Kim Garling reported to the government that a key aspect of the operation of the workers compensation scheme was unfair to injured workers and “needs to be fixed”. Mr Garling found that injured workers were being put at a “double disadvantage” due to changes introduced by the Liberal government in 2012. Under the reforms each insurer makes a work capacity decision about the injured worker, which is used to decide whether or not to pay them weekly compensation. The government removed the existing
right of workers to have their legal costs paid by insurers, on a regulated fee basis, when disputes arise. It also prohibited lawyers from charging for any advice in such matters, meaning injured workers had to rely on firms willing to work pro bono (free of charge). The government said the change was needed to create a “level playing field” given that insurers were also prohibited from obtaining legal advice. But Mr Garling’s report said insurers were “utilising the services of lawyers” regardless, thanks to a legal loophole. “That has therefore left the injured worker at a double disadvantage and contrary to the intention of the government that the system be efficient, fair and equitable,” the report said. Mr Garling told Fairfax Media the loophole “places the worker in a double disadvantage because they don’t understand the process of the law and are battling against someone who’s thoroughly qualified at what they do. “Access to lawyers is very important, particularly for injured workers, because many of them don’t have the same educational standard and language understanding as many other workers do,” he said. Mr Garling said it was “extraordinary to exclude lawyers from that process and not only to exclude them but say they can’t be paid. I think that was not appreciated at the time and needs to be fixed.”
Happy with NSWNMA support “I am very pleased with the decision – it has been a long time coming,” Lynn Copas AiN said following the NSWNMA’s Federal Court win. “Being injured and having to rely on workers compensation is punishment enough without being punished a second time by losing your entitlements. “You shouldn’t have to worry about losing your holiday pay and other conditions just because you get injured while doing your job.” Lynn said she was glad that as a result of
her case, other workers would no longer face losing their annual leave while on workers compensation. She was also pleased that private sector nurses and midwives on workers compensation would be entitled to accrue annual leave, like nurses and midwives in the public sector. “Nurses should be treated equally regardless of who we work for,” she said. Lynn said the NSWNMA also successfully fought for her on other issues. “I signed a contract to work 20 hours per
week but consistently worked 30 hours per week. However when I went on workers compensation the employer tried to pay me for only 20 hours. The union went into bat for me and won that too. “I keep telling everyone you need to join a union. It’s the only way we are going to get our voices heard and get paid what we deserve. “I’m so pleased we have such a strong union. I’ve had to call the NSWNMA for assistance many times and you are never a problem for the staff – they go out of their way to help you.” THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 31
2016 NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association Election of Branch Delegates and Alternate Delegates Pursuant to the Industrial Relations Act, 1996, Mr Neale Dawson will be the Returning Officer for the election of branch delegates and alternate delegates to the Annual Conference and the Committee of Delegates of the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association.
Nominations Nominations in writing are hereby invited on and from 1 January 2016 for the following positions: Branch delegates and alternate delegates to the Annual Conference and the Committee of Delegates. Each branch shall be entitled to elect such delegates according to the number of financial members in that branch as at 31 December 2015, as follows: (information as to the number of financial members in each branch is available from each branch secretary, or the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association, (telephone 1300 367 962)
(ii) such person has been, within the period of 2 years immediately preceding the date of nomination or election, dismissed from any office or position in accordance with rule 14 of the Association’s Rules. Nomination forms may be obtained from the returning officer, Mr Neale Dawson, c/- NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association, 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo 2017 or from NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (telephone 1300 367 962) or from the member only section of the Association’s website (www.nswnma.asn.au).
Close of nominations Nominations must be received by the returning officer, Mr Neale Dawson, not later than 5pm on Thursday 18 February, 2016. They may be hand delivered to Returning Officer, Mr Neale Dawson, NEW Law, 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo 2017; posted to Returning Officer, Mr Neale Dawson, PO Box 6373, Alexandria 2015 or faxed to (02) 9662 1463. Nominations received after the time and date specified will not be accepted. Nominations cannot be lodged with the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association.
50 financial members or less
1 delegate
51-130 (inclusive) financial members
2 delegates
131-300 (inclusive) financial members
3 delegates
301-500 (inclusive) financial members
4 delegates
501-750 (inclusive) financial members
5 delegates
751-1000 (inclusive) financial members
6 delegates
1001-1250 (inclusive) financial members
7 delegates
1251-1500 (inclusive) financial members
8 delegates
1501-1750 (inclusive) financial members
9 delegates
Voting
1751-2000 (inclusive) financial members
10 delegates
If the election is contested a postal ballot will be conducted. All members of the relevant branch of the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association financial as at 11am, Thursday 25 February 2016 and entitled to vote will be sent a ballot paper on Monday 7 March 2016. The ballot will close at 5.00pm, Friday 18 March 2016. The method of voting to be observed for this election will be first past the post. Any candidate in a contested election may nominate another person to act as their scrutineer at the counting of the ballot. Candidates should ring the Association to ascertain the date and time of counting.
And one additional delegate for every additional 250 financial members thereafter. Each branch shall be entitled to elect alternate delegates equal to the delegate entitlement of that branch, provided that a branch shall be entitled to elect at least 2 alternate delegates. Note: A person may nominate for one of these positions only. Candidates for election to the position of branch delegate or alternate delegate are required to be financial members of the Association at the date of opening of nominations 1 January 2016. A person is not eligible to nominate for, be elected to, or hold any office in the Association, Committee of Delegates or branch thereof if (i) such person holds any office in any other registered trade union or a like or kindred nature or having objects similar to the objects of the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association other than the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation,
Any defect in a nomination must be rectified by the candidate prior to the close of nominations. A candidate may only withdraw his/her nomination in writing so as to be received by the returning officer prior to the close of nominations. Should more than the required number of nominations be received a draw will be conducted to determine the order of candidates’ names on the ballot paper at 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo at 11am, Thursday 25 February 2016. Candidates or their representatives are invited to witness the draw.
Members should ensure that the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association has been advised of their current residential address as voting material will be posted to each member’s residential address. Any enquiries concerning this election should be in writing or by fax and be addressed to the Returning Officer Mr Neale Dawson. Neale Dawson, Returning Officer for the 2016 Election Term New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association Election
ask judith
when it comes to your rights and entitlements at work, nswnma assistant general secretary JUDITH KIEJDA has the answers. Domestic violence leave I am a registered nurse in a public hospital and need to attend court on a domestic violence matter. Is there leave for this? Under clause 11 of the Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award 2015 an employee is entitled to utilise sick leave and family and community services (FACs) leave to attend to matters arising from family violence situations. When that leave is exhausted the employee can receive up to five days of special leave per calendar year, on full pay, for this purpose. Flexible work arrangements, where appropriate, can also be considered. Personal information concerning family violence must be kept confidential by the employer. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence you can ring the Domestic Violence Line for help on 1800 656 463 (TTY 1800 671 442). This is a NSW-wide freecall number available 24 hours, seven days a week. Further support and assistance can be obtained by visiting the NSWNMA website and searching for “support for employees experiencing domestic violence”. (www.nswnma.asn.au/support-foremployees-experiencing-domesticviolence/) The prevalence of family violence in Australia and the importance of addressing violence in the workplace was one of the major topics of discussion during this year’s Professional Day – part of the Association’s 70th Annual Conference in Sydney. In a keynote address Australian of the Year Rosie Batty outlined her own experience of family violence and her campaign to support families, Never Alone.
Options other than being deleted I am a nurse manager and a proposed restructure is likely to lead to my position being deleted. I don’t want a redundancy and I want to keep working in the public health system. What are my options? Ministry of Health policy directive PD2012_021 (Managing Excess Staff of the NSW Health Service) sets out certain obligations on the employer prior to declaring a staff member as “excess”. No staff member is to be declared excess until the employer ensures that there are no other suitable vacant permanent or temporary positions in the organisation into which the staff member may be placed. Affected staff members should additionally be notified and given priority access to suitable vacancies across the NSW Health Service. The employer cannot forcibly transfer an excess employee into a vacant position of a lower grade or salary on a substantive, permanent basis. However, if an excess staff
member is placed, with their agreement, in a position at a lower grade or salary, they are entitled to three calendar months’ salary maintenance at their former salary. They will also remain entitled to priority consideration until they acquire a permanent position at an equivalent salary to their former position.
BREAKING NEWS HealthShare NSW is cranking up its rollout of HealthRoster. This proposed statewide roster platform has been undergoing developmental work for several years, with a limited trial initially conducted in Concord Hospital. British company Allocate won the tender to provide the roster system with changes required to make it suitable for the NSW setting. Although HealthRoster has undergone significant adaptation for the NSW environment, careful monitoring and consultation will be required as the rollout progressively occurs. It is important to note that HealthRoster will not only be the new rostering tool it will also constitute the time worked record to interface with StaffLink and enable remuneration to be paid. Calculation of overtime payments will sit in StaffLink but the activities/hours worked that constitute overtime will be identified via HealthRoster. HealthRoster is not designed or intended to circumvent award requirements or impose unnecessary or unreasonable constraints on roster practices. We are aware that some LHDs have taken the opportunity to redefine their existing roster practices. If any member becomes aware of changes arising from this rollout, please let the Association know via email on gensec@nswnma.asn.au.
Support for additional study? I work in a hospital operated by Ramsay Health Care and am undertaking some additional study. Do I have any right to be supported?
Clause 6.8 of the Ramsay Health Australia and NSWNMA/ANMF Enterprise Agreement 2015-2018 sets out that employees studying a subject relating directly to their role may be able to receive support in the form of study leave, paid or unpaid. Applications for study leave must be made in writing to the employer, who is required to consider each application with regard to: (i) available budget; (ii) benefits to the employee; and (iii) benefits to the business.
Conduct review cannot be avoided I am an RN working in a public hospital. I have been asked to attend a fact-finding interview to discuss certain allegations about my conduct. While I don’t believe I did anything wrong, I don’t need the hassle. What happens if I resign before the investigation is completed? Resigning will not result in the process stopping nor will it prevent potentially adverse findings being made that could impact upon your future re-employment in public health. Ministry of Health policy directive PD2014_042 (Managing Misconduct) requires the Local Health District to complete the investigation process, including making findings and decisions about any action that would have been taken against a staff member had they still been employed. A former staff member is still to be provided with an opportunity to respond to any allegation or adverse finding. An entry into the Service Check Register may also result from an adverse finding.
Excessive annual leave no excuse I have worked in the public hospital system for some decades. Recently I applied for long service leave (LSL) but was knocked back because other nurses in the ward had excessive annual leave and this, it was said, had to be cleared first. Is this right? The Association has made representations to the Ministry regarding a sharp spike in the number of calls being received from members who have been unable to access LSL. In short, the Association put to the Ministry that the LSL applications of nurses and midwives were being declined because of alleged “excessive annual leave” balances on a ward/department. We argued that this was not fair or acceptable. The Ministry was sympathetic and agreed that reducing one leave liability by creating another was not desirable. The Ministry confirmed it would raise this issue directly with LHD network directors of workforce and directors of nursing.
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 33
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social media | nurse uncut
www.nurseuncut.com.au Do you have a story to tell? An opinion to share? nurse uncut is written by everyday nurses and midwives.
We welcome your ideas at nurseuncut@nswnma.asn.au
WHAT’S
A BLOG FOR AUSTRALIAN NURSES AND MIDWIVES
HOT THIS MONTH
Nurse Uncut is also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NurseUncutAustralia and on Twitter @nurseuncut
How do you feel about mixed gender wards? An A Current Affair report on men and women sharing hospital wards in New South Wales got a huge response on our blog site with varying opinions on this controversial issue. www.nurseuncut.com.au/how-do-nurses-feel-about-mixed-gender-wards/#comments
From Nightingale nurses to modern professionals Sir Henry Parkes, a premier of NSW and founder of Australian federation, was also the man who invited nurse Lucy Osburn to Sydney Infirmary to establish a Nightingale training school for nurses. Parkes’ great-great-granddaughter, Georgina Willetts, coordinator of the Bachelor of Nursing at Monash University, has a modern perspective on the profession. www.nurseuncut.com.au/from-nightingale-nurses-to-a-modern-profession/#more-11203
Ice: Where to from here? On September 10 the NSWNMA hosted a sold-out education forum for mental health and drug and alcohol nurses to discuss the prevalence of methamphetamine or “ice” in the state. www.nurseuncut.com.au/ice-where-to-from-here/
Nurse Edith Cavell shot for treason A century ago Edith Cavell, a British nurse, stood before a German firing squad of eight gunmen in Belgium, put to death for treason. www.nurseuncut.com.au/edith-cavell-died-100-years-ago-today/
Cultural security for Aboriginal birthing women Dr Jenny Dodd, a Senior Research Fellow, is involved in an NHMRC-funded national research project to investigate Cultural Security for Aboriginal Birthing Women. www.nurseuncut.com.au/cultural-security-for-aboriginal-birthing-women/
The Shift – podcasts for nurses and midwives The NSWNMA is proud to introduce The Shift, a new series of thought-provoking podcasts. We start our series with speakers from Professional Day. The Shift is available on iTunes. www.nurseuncut.com.au/the-shift-podcasts-for-nurses-and-midwives/#more-11150
New on SupportNurses YouTube channel save our weekend tv ad Nurses and midwives got involved in the Save Our Weekend campaign. >>https://youtu.be/QG4ipBrWGuU nswnma support sacked port workers The NSWNMA rallies with the community. >>https://youtu.be/QPF9XepqHtk
NSWNMA on Instagram! We’re on Instagram, so share your local photos with us @nswnma and #NSWNMAforce4change.
Follow us on Twitter NSWNurses & Midwives @nswnma Watch us on YouTube SupportNurses Connect with us on Facebook
New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association >> www.facebook.com/nswnma Look for your local Ratios put patient safety first >> www.facebook.com/safepatientcare Branch page on Aged Care Nurses >> www.facebook.com/agedcarenurses our website. THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 35
TO ORDER FAX: Myrtle Finlayson, (02) 9662 1414 POST: NSWNMA, 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017 EMAIL: gensec@nswnma.asn.au
www.nswnma.asn.au
WEB
ORDER FORM NSWNMA Navy Polo Shirt with embroidered logo $20 Quantity: Size: Ladies Size 14 (to fit sizes 8-10) Ladies Size 16 (to fit sizes 12-14) Unisex S Unisex M Unisex L Unisex XL Unisex XXL Unisex XXXL
NSWNMA Navy Polo Shirt with embroidered logo $20
NSWNMA Navy Canvas Duffle Bag $25 Quantity:
Available in Ladies size 14 (to ďŹ t sizes 8-10) and 16 (to ďŹ t sizes 12-14); and Unisex sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL
NSWNMA Bone China Mug $10 Quantity: Total cost of order $ Please include postage & handling of $3/order for NSWNMA mug and $5/order for other merchandise. Bulk orders will be charged accordingly.
A NSWNMA Navy Canvas Duffle Bag $25
Large main zippered compartment; cotton webbing heavy duty double carry handles, removable adjustable shoulder strap, 1 side end slip pocket.
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36 | THE LAMP MARCH 2015
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NSW Branch Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2015 are available on the Members Only page at https://online.nswnurses.asn.au Members without internet access may obtain a hard copy of the statements by applying in writing to: Brett Holmes Branch Secretary Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NSW Branch 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017
social media | facebook
WHAT NURSES & MIDWIVES
SAID & LIKED on facebook www.facebook.com/nswnma We all deserve safe care It doesn’t matter what age you are everyone deserves to have safe care. Show your support here for RN 24/7.
Tamworth members call for safe care Jillian Skinner repudiates her responsibility as NSW Minister for Health, meanwhile nurses and midwives continue to lobby for safe patient care in ED and maternity at Tamworth Hospital.
Should we go Swedish? Sweden is shifting to a six-hour week day. What do you think? Could it work?
Parking permit win
All patients deserve decent staff patient ratios. And decent wages to help keep staff ! So true. Give them better staffing ratios and pay. The aged care workers are overworked and underpaid and under-resourced. Shame the dollar is more important than our elderly. Look at the aged care providers. They complain they make little or no profit yet they keep expanding their ownership. How they’re allowed to get unqualified people handing out medication to residents is nothing short of failing in their duty of care. In a hospital we are required to be registered and have knowledge of the medication we are administering. We are required to use our clinical knowledge whether to withhold a medication due to a change in the patient vital signs and or condition. Anyone who works or has worked in aged care can tell countless horror stories regarding working conditions and huge understaffing issues. I left aged care several years ago due to these things. I spoke to government agencies and they swept it under a rug.
[The minister] says that hospital management will continue to negotiate through the Industrial Relations Commission. This is no consolation when HNE LHD has failed to implement the Commission’s recommendations!
Lots of research shows that people are just as productive working 20 hours a week as 40. Then there are the health benefits. I would love a six-hour day! More family time. More options. Can accommodate my travel time to work better and not be so worn out. If we still got paid for eight. I remember when we got rid of 12-hour shifts! When they got brought back in I just shook my head. Sweden is a fantastic place. Bring on the six-hour work day!
Very smart! That’s my union! Natalie Sercombe you’re famous! Sydney Alliance wins a much-needed Joint Care Worker parking permit scheme for inner-west nurses.
PHOTO GALLERY
Nurses and midwives stand up for a fair go for all. Together, we will continue to stand up for refugees!
It was the 100 year anniversary of Edith Cavell’s death and nurses everywhere paid tribute.
The 2015 Mentors and Mentees of the Bob Fenwick Mentoring Program.
Jo Russell spoke at the NSWNMA Aged Care Nurse's Forum and discussed what nurses have to consider when it comes to Palliative Care. THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 37
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Across 1. A group of four main nuclei, which are located in the lateral region of the hindbrain beneath the floor of the rhomboid fossa (10.6) 9. Coming again into being; showing renewed growth or vigor 10. Implied or understood though not directly expressed 12. To follow 13. The services rendered by members of the health professions for the benefit of a patient 14. Antibody (1.1) 15. The container where cremated ashes are stored 16. Affected with rheumatism 18. Characterised by, or causing sweating
21. An optical device that produces an intense monochromatic beam of coherent light 22. An antiretroviral drug used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infections (1.1.1) 24. To pierce through or impale 25. Portions of alimentary canal between pharynx and stomach 28. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (1.1.1) 29. At all times; always 30. A unit of electrical charge equal to 10 coulombs 32. A small child 33. A purine nucleoside consisting of adenine and ribose; a component of RNA (abbrev)
34. Branches, as of nerves, veins, or arteries 35. A malformation in the back part of the cranium with protrusion of brain substance Down 1. The opening formed by the union of the vertebral arch with its body (9.7) 2. Fusion of normally separate bones 3. A discharge, as of blood or pus 4. Not aroused to pleasure, interest, agitation 5. Sponging or soaking to reduce fever (12.4) 6. Having but one lobe
7. A tribunal that is presided over by a magistrate or by one or more judges who administer justice according to the laws 8. A form of active exercise in which muscles contract and cause movement (8.8) 11. Symbol for methyl 17. A disfiguring mark; a blemish 19. The number of deaths resulting from some particular cause (5.4) 20. Relating to the care of women during and after pregnancy 23. Symbol for rhodium 26. An obstructing mass 27. Absence or weakening of individual norms or values 31. A stiff dressing or casing
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 39
ARE YOU A VICTIM OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE? Have you or a colleague been assaulted at work? Have you reported your incident?
Download the NSWNMA App and report your workplace violence incident The NSWNMA has a new tool as part of our NSWNMA Toolkit App that allows you to quickly report an incident to the Association as soon as it happens. It’s an easy fillable form that you can submit from your mobile device and an officer of the Association will be in touch with you. Nursing is considered one of the most dangerous professions. HELP STOP VIOLENCE AT WORK! NSWNMA Toolkit App is FREE and available to download from iTunes and Google Play store
nursing research online
It is often said that Australian health system is back-to-front: the people with the least need have the most access and the people in the most need have the most obstacles to access. A lot of people call this the “inverse care law”. The latest stats from the National Health Performance Agency demonstrate that we have a long way to go to reach our goal of universal access to healthcare. Peer reviewed versions of these papers can be found in a special Health Promotion International supplement (free of charge). VicHealth have provided a Fair Foundations explainer and more adventurous souls can download the full framework document here. http://croakey.org/new-resources-on-healthequity-and-sdoh/
Healthcare in Focus 2014: How does NSW compare?
Australians’ experiences with access to health care in 2013–14, MyHealthyCommunities. gov.au web update Updated information is available for 14 selfreported measures of health and care across Australia by Primary Health Network (PHN) area. These measures include waiting times for GP appointments, visits to hospital emergency departments, seeing a GP after hours, cost barriers to GP care and more. The findings are based on a local-level breakdown of results from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Patient Experience Survey 2013–14. The data reveals that in 2013–14: The percentage of adults who felt they waited longer than was acceptable for a GP appointment ranged from 15% on the Gold Coast to 38% in Western NSW PHN area. The percentage of adults who said they needed to see a GP but did not ranged from 10% in Northern Sydney to 25% in Western Queensland PHN area. The percentage of adults who said they delayed seeing a GP due to cost varied from 2% in Central and Eastern Sydney to 9% in Murray PHN area. The percentage of adults who said they delayed filling or did not fill a prescription for medication due to cost ranged from 4% in Northern Sydney and Country WA to 13% in Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN area. The percentage of adults who said they saw a medical specialist ranged from 23% in
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Western Queensland to 41% in Northern Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains and Gippsland PHN areas. www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au/ourreports/australians-experiences-with-primaryhealth-care-updates/october-2015
The Commonwealth Fund 2013 International Health Policy Survey of Eleven Countries Topics covered include comparisons of affordability and cost-related access barriers; access to primary care, emergency department, and specialist care; complexity; and system views. www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publi cations/In%20the%20Literature/2013/Nov/PDF_ Schoen_2013_IHP_survey_chartpack_final.pdf
New resources on health equity and social determinants of health Amy Coopes, Croaky.org As part of its new Fair Foundations framework for health equity, VicHealth uploaded a suite of resources on the social determinants of health in eight priority areas, listed below. Each heading includes a rapid evidence review, which includes best practice or policy suggestions. Healthy eating Physical activity Tobacco Alcohol Child and adolescent mental wellbeing Social innovation Early childhood development Addressing social determinants in healthy settings.
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Bureau of Health Information The Bureau of Health Information (BHI) recently published two reports that for the first time reveal how well the New South Wales healthcare system is accommodating the needs of NSW’s fastest-growing population group and largest consumers of healthcare services: people aged 55 and over. BHI’s fifth annual performance report Healthcare in Focus 2014 and Insights: Healthcare performance across the life span shows that overall, NSW is performing well in providing healthcare to its ageing population, when compared with Australia and 10 other countries, including the UK, the US and France. Other areas where NSW performs well included: Relatively few people visited an emergency department for a condition that could have been treated by a GP. People aged 55+ years with a chronic condition were more likely to say that a health professional gave them a written management plan and made contact between appointments to check on their condition than in eight of the 11 countries surveyed. Potential areas for improvement included: NSW had the highest rates of some postsurgical complications (including deep vein thrombosis and blood poisoning) of any country surveyed. Only 70% of hip fracture surgeries were performed within the recommended timeframe of two days — just one country had a poorer result. People diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis comprised half of all arthroscopies performed in 2013, despite little evidence that this procedure improves function or pain for these patients. One in 10 NSW adults surveyed said a doctor had ordered an unnecessary test in the past two years.
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www.bhi.nsw.gov.au/publications/annual_perfor mance_report_series/healthcare_in_focus_2014
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 41
Recruit a new member & go in the draw to visit
B g n i a z n a g m k a o k! e NSWNMA is pleased to announce the NSWNMA’s 2015 – 2016 Recruitment Incentive Scheme Travel Prize
The winner will be flying off to the amazing Bangkok! You and a friend will be flying Scoot’s brand new 787 Dreamliner from Sydney to Bangkok via Singapore, staying 5 nights in a superior room at Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel Bangkok with breakfast each day, airport transfer and a city tour. Centara Watergate is a trendy modern hotel located in the heart of the shopping district of Pratunam and close to Siam Square. Attached to Watergate Shopping Mall, the Centara Watergate has perfect accommodation for couples and families, including rooms with double beds and family suites with bunk beds. Stunning outdoor bar and dining areas with roof top ‘Walk’ lounge bar with stunning views across Bangkok, resident DJ and huge outdoor screen. A short walk to the Airport train link station for easy access from Bangkok International Airport.
Every member you sign up over the year gives you a ticket in the draw! RECRUITERS NOTE: Nurses and midwives can now join online at
www.nswnma.asn.au! If you refer a new member to join online, make sure you ask them to put your name and workplace on the online application form. You will then be entitled to your vouchers and draws in the NSWNMA Recruitment Incentive Scheme.
PRIZE DRAWN 30 JUNE 2016
book me All the latest Book Me reviews from The Lamp can be read online at www.nswnma.asn.au/library-services/book-reviews. Each review includes a link directly to that item in the library catalogue plus instructions on how to request a loan.
25% off for members Nursing by Heart: Transformational Self-Care for Nurses Julie Skinner Ayni Books via www.amazon.com RRP USD$14.95 ISBN 9781782797111 This book distils the author’s 30 years of professional learning and personal experiences in various nursing roles into a slim, accessible guide to the self-care techniques that had a profound effect on her own journey. The book takes a holistic approach to underpin the need for self-care to be effective and sustainable. Chapters explore values, truths, expectations, limiting perspectives and embracing courage and endurance to overcome resistance. Praised by reviewers for its honesty and gentleness, this book is an excellent read for all who may be feeling detached, burnt out or dissatisfied.
Global Aging: Comparative Perspectives on Aging and the Life Course Suzanne Kunkel, J. Scott Brown and Frank Whittington Springer Publishing via www.footprint.com.au RRP $96 ISBN 9780826105462 This book covers the major topics in social gerontology associated with global aging, with a focus on both universal similarities and sociocultural differences in the experiences of specific nations. It provides comparative international data, analyses the roles of governments and private organisations in serving older adults and discusses specific policies and programs from across the globe. The Australian situation is addressed for several issues, including the speed of population ageing, current palliative care arrangements, retirement and community support systems.
Understanding Mental Disorders: Your Guide To DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association American Psychiatric Publishing via www.footprint.com.au RRP $44.95 ISBN 9781585624911 This handbook is a companion to the latest edition of the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It follows the DSM-5’s structure but presents its material in plain language that can be easily followed by readers without psychiatric training. Definitions are based on symptoms and include case studies drawn from real situations, plus clearly outlined risk factors, tips for caregivers and ways to cope. Chapters include addictive disorders, trauma and stress disorders, gender dysphoria, dementia and other memory problems, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
McGraw Hill Publishers is offering NSWNMA members 25 per cent off the recommended retail price of all medical titles, plus a range of other professional books! Visit Book Me online at www.nswnma.an.au/library-services/book-reviews for a link to the promotion code and further instructions or contact the library.
special interest Between the Dances Jacqueline Dinan Ventura Press via www.booktopia.com.au RRP $32.99 ISBN 9781925183757 [body]From Asia to Australia, Malta to the Middle East and New Zealand to the UK, the challenges and adventures faced by women during World War II were unprecedented. Between the Dances draws from interviews with more than 300 women who served as nurses, farmhands, munitions workers or members of the defence forces. Their stories expose their struggle with gender stereotypes, the difficult release of social liberties and the dawning of new opportunities for all Australian women. The last tradition left was the weekly dance, which ceremoniously brought women and men together for a quickstep or a foxtrot and brief respite from the rigours of wartime.
Mastering Pharmacogenomics: A Nurse’s Handbook for Success Dale Halsey Lea, Dennis Cheek, Daniel Brazeau and Gayle Brazeau Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing via www.nursingknowledge.org RRP $59.95 ISBN 9781938835704 Pharmacogenomics, the study of the role of genetics in drug response, has become a vital resource in battling disease and improving patient outcomes. This book provides nursing professionals with a foundational knowledge of human genetics and genomics that can optimise targeted drug therapy, mitigate treatment side effects and alleviate harm from disease. It covers applications to obstetrics, paediatrics, geriatrics and oncology, as well as ethics, interprofessional education and practice. The final chapter outlines how the future of healthcare might look as genomics are infused into everyday practice.
All books can be ordered through the publisher or your local bookshop. NSWNMA members can borrow books via the Library’s Online Catalogue www.nswnma.asn.au/education/library-services Call 8595 1234 or 1300 367 962 or email gensec@nswnma.asn.au for assistance. Some books are reviewed using information supplied and have not been independently reviewed.
THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 43
easy!
BEING A MEMBER OF THE NSWNMA IS
Update your membership details online and go into the draw to
a
Hunter Valley
Escape
Condition apply: ^ Voucher expires 10 April 2016, non-transferable; *Dinner voucher excluding beverages Competition entries from NSWNMA members only.Competition opens 1 October 2015 and closes 31 October 2015. The prize is drawn on 1st of the month following the competition. If a redraw is required for an unclaimed prize it must be held up to 3 months from the original draw date. NSW permit no: LTPM/15/00192.
Log into the Association’s online portal at www.nswnma.asn.au to check your membership details are correct, and change if necessary. You will not only enjoy having the choice to do this at a time that suits you – but your name will automatically go in the draw to WIN A HUNTER VALLEY ESCAPE! So close to Sydney yet truly a world away, the Hunter Valley is the birthplace of Australian wine. Wine Country – as the Hunter Valley is known – is a dynamic wine region with more than 150 premium wine producers, 60 tempting restaurants and 180 inviting places to stay. It has all the ingredients for a perfect getaway, from gourmet regional produce, boutique breweries, indulgent spas and action-packed adventures, to acclaimed gardens, galleries and heritage towns. Wind your way between old delights and new surprises as you relax and unwind in this remarkable region. You and a friend will stay at Pokolbin Village for two-night midweek in a deluxe queen suite room^. This fantastic package also includes a bottle of Hunter Valley wine on arrival; late check-out of 12pm; discount vouchers for on-site shops and Audrey Wilkinson/Cockfighter’s Ghost; a 3 course dinner for two people* at the Mill Restaurant; entry for two people into Australia’s largest display gardens, the Hunter Valley Gardens; and to see the Hunter Valley from a different perspective, weaving in and out of the vines on a Segway tour, thanks to East Coast Corporate Xperiences. For a chance to win, simply register with your membership number, name and email address and create your own password. From then on use your member number and password to log in directly to the Members login area on the website. You can now change your details at any time – address, workplace, credit card number, mobile number, etc. You can pay fees online, print a tax statement or request a reprint of your membership card – it’s simple. All those who use our online portal from 1 October – 31 December 2015 will be automatically entered into the draw.
www.nswnma.asn.au MEMBERSHIP ONLINE VIA
movies of the month
This highly intense drama is for anyone who has ever asked the question “what happens when the bubble bursts?”, writes Loretta Musgrave. This razor sharp parable set in Orlando, Florida in the midst of the 2008 housing market collapse, explores the ethical dilemma of one man’s struggle to get back his family home by striking a deal with the devil. Construction worker Dennis Nash (Andrew Garfield) is abruptly evicted from his family home with his nine-year-old son and mother in tow. Nash, out of work and out of luck, finds himself humiliated, desperate and homeless when he is thrown to the street with all that he can carry. He takes up residence in a shabby and dangerous motel, his story replicated by other families living alongside him in hopelessness and despair. He finds himself at the mercy of enigmatic, gun-toting real estate shark/broker Rick Carver (Michael Shannon) who offers him the opportunity to get his home back, but at the cost of his integrity. Carver instructs Nash in how the rich get richer and entices him into the perilous realm of conning and stealing from banks and the government. Living a dual life, Nash rises fast and falls even faster, from making big bucks evicting decent families to risking all that is dear to him. Director Ramin Bahrani saturates his characters with sub-zero complexities and achieves an empathetic portrayal of an ordinary hard working American ensnared in the sub-prime American housing crisis and his struggle to keep his head above water, by whatever means necessary. Loretta Musgrave is a Midwife Educator at the Sydney LHD Centre for Education and Workforce Development. IN CINEMAS NOVEMBER 19
METROMEMBERGIVEAWAY Email The Lamp by the 1oth of the month to be in the draw to win a double pass to 99 Homess thanks to Madman Entertainment. email your name, membership number, address and telephone number to lamp@nswnma.asn.au for a chance to win!
DVD SPECIAL OFFER David Walliams (Little Britain) and Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife) team up in this jolly English romp following the travails of husband and wife sleuths, Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, two of the lesser known characters created by famed crime writer Agatha Christie. Tommy and Tuppence stumble into gambling dens and confront dangerous spies with upper middle class aplomb and fabulous costuming. Tommy has no head for business, but he does discover a knack for crime solving when Tuppence, a crime novel loving housewife who misses her wartime nursing work, leads them into adventure. This stylish six-part BBCI adaption set in 1950s Cold War Britain is based on two Christie novels, The Secret Adversary and N or M?. Fabulous.
RURALMEMBERGIVEAWAY Email The Lamp by the 15th of this month to be in the draw to win a dvd of Partners In Crime thanks to RJL Entertainment. email your name, membership number, address and telephone number to lamp@nswnma.asn.au for a chance to win! THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015 | 45
diary dates — conferences, seminars, meetings. diary dates is a free service for members Please send event details in the format used here: event name, date and location, contact details – by the 5th of each month. Send your event details to: lamp@nswnma.asn.au Fax 02 9662 1414 Post 50 O’Dea Ave, Waterloo NSW 2017. All listings are edited for the purposes of style and space.
NSW The NSW Urological Nurses Society Professional Development Day 6 November Burwood RSL Club www.nswurologicalnurses.com urological_nurses@hotmail.com 9990 4148 Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Nurses’ Association Conference Climbing to the Summit 11-13 November Sydney www.anzonaconference.net Perioperative Nursing Seminar 14 November Homebush www.acutecareeducation.com.au Humour and Happiness for Healthy Ageing 18 November Kingsford 9382 3753 ACPSforum@gmail.com Beyond the Basics – High Dependency Nursing Conference 20 November Westmead Hospital Ryan.Thomas@health.nsw.gov.au Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (NSW) Seminar 20 November University of NSW www.acccn.com.au Nurses Christian Fellowship Professional Breakfast Experience with AHPRA Audits 21 November West Ryde www.ncfansw.org Perioperative Nursing Seminar 21 November Wagga Wagga www.acutecareeducation.com.au Transfer of Care for Complex Consumers Conference 1- 3 December Sydney www.akolade.com.au Inaugural Australasian AYA Oncology Congress 3-5 December Sydney www.youthcancerevent.com.au ASPAAN Seminar 5 December Wollongong www.aspaan.org.au Nurses Christian Fellowship Christmas BBQ 7 December Waverton www.ncfanw.org
ACT Second National Complex Needs Conference 17-18 November Canberra complexneeds.org.au/events 2015 Australian STOP Domestic Violence Conference Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association 7-9 December Canberra www.stopdomesticviolence.com.au
INTERSTATE 2015 Annual Scientific Alcohol and Drug Conference 8-11 November Perth www.apsadconference.com.au ASPAAN National Conference 13-14 November Melbourne www.aspaan.org.au 2015 National Indigenous Health Conference 1-3 December Darwin www.indigenousconferences.com
3rd Eating Disorders and Obesity Conference Collaboration, Education and Innovation 16 -17 May 2016, Gold Coast www.eatingdisordersaustralia.org.au Australian and New Zealand Addiction Conference 18 - 20 May 2016 Gold Coast ww.addictionaustralia.org.au
Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Mental Health) in Canberra
INTERNATIONAL
First Semester 2016 February Intake Annual Salary RN 1 $60,772-$81,180 Closing date November 20th 2015
EMS Conference (for paramedics and acute care nurses) 18-22 January 2016 Hokkaido, Japan www.emsconferences.com.au 2nd Asian Congress in Nursing Education Innovative Nursing Education for Universal Health Care 26-29 January 2016 Tainan, Taiwan www.2016acine.org NCFI Quadrennial International Conference Healthy Lives in a Broken World – a Christian response to nursing 6-10 June 2016 Tagaytay City, Philippines www.ncfi.org
A nursing scholarship to study at the University of Canberra is offered by the Division of Mental Health, Justice Health, Alcohol & Drug Services (MHJHADS) and is an excellent opportunity for Registered Nurses to build their knowledge and skills base in caring for people experiencing a range of mental health conditions. Successful applicants are employed via temporary contract, studying either part-time or full-time. During the program, RNs rotate through the diverse services, both inpatient and community based, provided by MHJHADS.
REUNIONS Lewisham Hospital Graduate Nurses Association Annual Lunch 7 November Ryde Chris Majewski 0401 866 377 chris.majewski@bunzl.com.au Luke Bohun 4371 7098 lukebohun@netkey.com.au War Memorial Hospital Waverley RNs and ENs reunion 14 November 2015 BYO Picnic in hospital grounds Rosemary 0412 395 825 lechiyeem@gmail.com Bloomfield Hospital Annual Dinner 21 November 2015 Orange NSW Julie-Ann Rich richjulieann@yahoo.com.au 0458 999 930 RAHC Feb 1981 35-year reunion. 20 February 2016 Sally Aspinwall 0429 556 030, sallyaspinwall@gmail.com Louise Hay (Mann) 0468 461 196, 4loual2@gmail.com Gladesville Hospital 5th Bi-Annual Reunion. 21 February 2016 Gladesville Hospital. Robert Harrop 0416 764 200 Warren Martin 0428 727 384, warrenjmartin@hotmail.com St Vincent’s Darlinghurst PTS Class January 1976 40-year reunion 19 March 2016 fnethery@gmail.com.au jacquie.scott@btopenworld.com Auburn Hospital October 1976-1979 40th reunion Sharon Byers 0419 144 965 sbyers01@bigpond.net.au Margaret Borg (nee Mueller 0431 159 964 margaret_borg@bigpond.com Tamworth Base Hospital February 1976 intake 40-year reunion Sandra Cox sandra.cox@hnehealth.nsw Sean O’Connor 0408 349 126 Gerard Jeffery 0417 664 993
diary dates is a free service for members 46 | THE LAMP NOVEMBER 2015
Get paid while you study and work
Eligibility /other requirements: Registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Hold a current driver’s licence. Have Australian citizenship or permanent residency. For full details of how to apply contact Jo McDougal, Clinical Support Officer joanna.mcdougal@act.gov.au on (02)62053661
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At First State Super we believe Australians who choose careers looking
Consider our product disclosure statement before making a decision about First State Super. Call us or visit our website for a copy. FSS Trustee Corporation ABN 11 118 202 672 ASFL 293340 is the trustee of the First State Superannuation Scheme ABN 53 226 460 365.
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First State Super Caring for the people who care