The Lamp April 2016

lamp THE MAGAZINE OF THE NSW NURSES AND MIDWIVES’ ASSOCIATION

VOLUME 75 No.3 APRIL 2016

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Sarah believes everybody deserves respect, including the homeless.

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Tickets now on sale Join us to celebrate 10 years of excellence in nursing at the 2016 HESTA Australian Nursing Awards, Thursday 12 May

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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 75 No.3 APRIL 2016

Hunter Office 8-14 Telford Street, Newcastle East NSW 2300 NSWNMA Communications Manager Janaki Chellam-Rajendra T 1300 367 962

COVER STORY

12 | These health cuts are killing us!

Thousands gather at a rally in Sydney organised by groups and unions to protest the cuts to Medicare and health funding.

COVER STORY

5 Editorial 6 Your letters 8 News in brief 29 around Ask Judith Cruise Sydney Harbour 31 inSocial media taking the spectacular 37 Crossword 39 Nursing research online 41 Books 43 Movie of the month 46 Diary dates Vivid Sydney is a feast for the senses & Sydney’s most spectacular outdoor lighting, music and ideas festival. Experience the full canvas of the massive shore side projections along the foreshore from the water. Vivid Lights 2016 is held from 27 May to 18 June.

Captain Cook’s VividSTAFFING Sydney Cruises Exclusive Price SAFE Vivid Lights Cruise $29 (normally $39). Departing Darling Harbour, enjoy a 1 hour cruise nightly during Vivid. Valid anytime during Vivid Sydney.

18 | Shoalhaven wins more midwives

Vivid 7.30pm Dinner Drinks The &Shoalhaven Cruise $99 pp (normally $145 pp). EnjoyNSWNMA a 3 course Contemporary Australian menu Branchsethas and an open bar of Tyrell’s house won extra wine, Tooheys New beeran & soft drinks. Discount applies to nonfour midwives peak nights 30 May–1 June, 6–9 June & 14–16 June for2016. its maternity To book go to www.captaincook. unit. com.au/sydney-harbour-cruises/ whats-on-in-sydney/vivid-festival and enter promo code L6EBL8A

WIN

For one lucky member we are giving away 2 complimentary tickets to the Gold Dinner cruise. Included in the prize isCOMPETITION 6 course degustation menu, vintage Australian wines to complement each course, house spirits, beer & soft drinks and live music. Valued at $398*

6 | Win a Gold Dinner cruise at Vivid Sydney

To enter simply email lamp@nswnma.asn.au with the subject Vivid Lights and your name, member number and address.

Produced by Hester Communications T 9568 3148 Press Releases Send your press releases to: F 9662 1414 E gensec@nswnma.asn.au

Jocelyn Hofman, RN Aged Care PHOTOGRAPH: SHARON HICKEY

REGULARS

For all editorial enquiries letters and diary dates T 8595 1234 E lamp@nswnma.asn.au M 50 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo NSW 2017

16 | Illogical cuts to preventative health

Ongoing cuts to preventive health programs expose the Turnbull government’s faulty logic and short term thinking on health funding.

HEALTH AND INEQUALITY

20 | Death rattle of the American Dream Middle aged, white working class Americans are killing themselves – by suicide and from alcohol and drug poisoning – and economic research pins the blame for this epidemic on inequality and economic stress.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

26 | Don’t trust this CSG industry

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 Danielle Nicholson T 8595 2139 or 0429 269 750 F 9662 1414 E dnicholson@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 2016 Free to all Association members. Professional members can subscribe to the magazine at a reduced rate of $30.

Individuals $80, Institutions $135, Overseas $145.

Nurses join a community protest against a controversial coal seam gas project in northern NSW. *Conditions apply. Offer valid for the duration of Vivid Sydney 2016. Prize must be redeemed by 30 November 2016 Competition entries from NSWNMA members only and limited to one entry per member. Competition opens 1 April 2016 and closes 30 April 2016. The prize is drawn on 2 May 2016. 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/14/00042

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 3

Update your membership details online and go into the draw to

win a smart watch IT’S EASY! Log into the Association’s online portal at www.nswna.asn.au to check your membership details are correct. Do this at a time that suits you and your name will automatically go in the draw to WIN AN APPLE OR ANDROID SMART WATCH*!

For a chance to win, simply register with your membership number, name and email address and create your own password.

Then 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 anytime – 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 February – 30 June 2016 will be automatically entered into the draw. *The winner will be able to select one of these watches.

Winner must be a financial member of the NSWNMA.

Membership online via www.nswnma.asn.au

EDITORIAL

BY BRETT HOLMES GENERAL SECRETARY

Funding cuts are a time bomb in our health system The impact of health budget cuts is beginning to be felt but much worse is to come as the states face a significant funding shortfall from next year.

“As nurses and midwives we cannot stand by and let these attacks on the public health system go uncontested.”

The scale and breadth of these cuts is frightening and there is a pattern to suggest they aren’t over. The cuts started with Tony Abbott’s first budget when he cut $59 billion from public hospital funding. At the time these cuts were underreported as they were delayed until 2017.

That date is now fast approaching.

A change in leadership hasn’t changed the federal government’s hostility to public health.

Malcolm Turnbull’s first economic statement – the Mid Year Economic Forecast saw another $650 million slashed from Medicare spending.

Bizarrely and illogically, many of these cuts have been in the area of preventative health – spending that an army of health economists will tell you will bring significant savings to the health budget in the medium to long term.

As Michael Moore from the Public Health Association of Australia has said ‘they hit areas in health that ought to be a priority’ (see pp14-15).

These cuts are being imposed at a time when demand is increasing on our public hospitals.

New Bureau of Health Information figures show that more than 664,000 patients visited the NSW’s emergency departments between October and December 2015. That is an increase of 2% on the previous year or 900 more people per week. There is evidence that waiting times are also beginning to increase.

An increasing demand for public health services and a significant cut in funding does not bode well. Nurses and midwives have fought hard over many years for the resources to be able to deliver safe and effective care.

These attacks are much more than an abstraction. There is more at stake than the bottom line. There will be a high human cost as services are undermined.

It has already been well documented how cuts to pathology funding will impact on women’s health with the costs of pap smears and MRIs rising markedly.

CUTS WILL IMPACT NURSES AND MIDWIVES Funding cuts to public hospitals will have an undoubted impact on nurses and midwives ability to do their jobs. Will ratios – something we have fought very, very hard for – remain untouched from the Treasury’s scalpel?

Neither Tony Abbott nor Malcolm Turnbull have ever adequately justified the cuts except with vague and faintly hysterical claims that health spending is spiralling out of control.

An inconvenient fact that the government remains silent about is that Australian health spending remains static around the 9 per cent of GDP mark. Our health system is lauded internationally as an efficient system which delivers outstanding health outcomes for a variety of reasons, not the least being the quality of the health workforce.

It also remains silent about the massive subsidies to private health insurers. They already receive more than $5 billion a year in taxpayers’ money and have just been allowed a 5 per cent increase in premiums without even a murmur from the health minister Sussan Ley. As nurses and midwives we cannot stand by and let these attacks on the public health system go uncontested. If we don’t stand up for Medicare, if we don’t stand up for public hospitals and other public health services, who will?

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 5

YOUR COVERLETTERS STORY

YOUR LETTERS

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Vivid Sydney is a feast for the senses & Sydney’s most spectacular outdoor lighting, music and ideas festival. Experience the full canvas of the massive shore side projections along the foreshore from the water. Vivid Lights 2016 is held from 27 May to 18 June.

Captain Cook’s Vivid Sydney Cruises Exclusive Price Vivid Lights Cruise $29 (normally $39). Departing Darling Harbour, enjoy a 1 hour cruise nightly during Vivid. Valid anytime during Vivid Sydney.

Vivid 7.30pm Dinner & Drinks Cruise $99 pp (normally $145 pp). Enjoy a 3 course Contemporary Australian set menu and an open bar of Tyrell’s house wine, Tooheys New beer & soft drinks. Discount applies to nonpeak nights 30 May–1 June, 6–9 June & 14–16 June 2016.

To book go to www.captaincook. com.au/sydney-harbour-cruises/ whats-on-in-sydney/vivid-festival and enter promo code L6EBL8A

WIN

For one lucky member we are giving away 2 complimentary tickets to the Gold Dinner cruise. Included in the prize is 6 course degustation menu, vintage Australian wines to complement each course, house spirits, beer & soft drinks and live music. Valued at $398*

To enter simply email lamp@nswnma.asn.au with the subject Vivid Lights and your name, member number and address.

LE TTE R OF THE MONTH

The right to protest is essential As an active member of the NSWNMA I’m incredibly proud of our organisation’s commitment to standing up, not just for our members and for patient safety, but for vulnerable and marginalised people everywhere. And standing against laws and policies that are unjust.

Our Association has a proud history of standing for equity, safety and justice for all – and many of those campaigns have used protest as a way of drawing attention to these issues.

Often these attacks have been the work of our government, who would seek to silence us.

The NSWNMA has held protest action • In 2016 – against Medicare cuts, against keeping kids in detention, against CSG (coal seam gas mining) in the Pilliga • In 2015 – the climate change rally, rally for RNs 24/7 in aged care, for protection of penalty rates, protesting the Border Force Act, opposing the TPP, for ratios and safe patient care • In 2014 – opposition to the privatisation of health facilities, at the G20 for a Robin Hood Tax, against a GP co-payment, at Bentley to protest CSG • In 2013 – against cuts to workers compensation and against harsh industrial relations laws.

Would these actions have been allowed under the proposed new anti-protest laws from the Baird government? Would nurses and midwives have faced large fines and possible jail for their actions?

As a unionist and humanist, I condemn these proposed restrictions on our right to participate in democracy in action. The right to protest is essential in allowing the voices of the marginalised to be heard.

We will not be silent!

Angie Gittus RN, Bogangar Thanks for the great prize!

I would like to thank you for the amazing time I had after winning The Lamp’s Christmas competition. ‘The Sound of Music’ was spectacular. It’s long been a favourite of mine and the production at the Capitol Theatre was exceptional.

It was lovely that my friend Jean, also an RN and NSWNMA member, could join me, we enjoyed singing all the songs and had a great night at the Mercure.

Thank you again for such a great night, Rachel Gillett RN, Sunshine Bay

*Conditions apply. Offer valid for the duration of Vivid Sydney 2016. Prize must be redeemed by 30 November 2016 Competition entries from NSWNMA members only and limited to one entry per member. Competition opens 1 6 April prize is 1 drawn a redraw | 2016 T H EandLcloses A M P30D AApril PER C2016.

IELM2BThe 0E1R 620 5 – onJ 2A May N U 2016.

A R YIf 2 0 1 6 is required for an unclaimed prize it must be held up to 3 months from the original draw date. NSW Permit no: LTPM/14/00042

YOUR LETTERS

Violence prevention needs to be taught in real time

Clarity needed on aged care ratios

Re: ‘A plan to tackle violence’ (Lamp Feb 2016) - I have been nursing for over 30 years, including 15 years in ED and more than 10 years as a mental health nurse. I was seriously assaulted by a patient three years ago, which left me with life-changing injuries.

As a result I no longer work in ED. Working parties on aggression management have historically been unable to arrive at any consensus. Currently there are two separate management-of-aggression training formats in use - CIPO (Critical Incident Positive Outcomes) and PVMA (Prevention of Violence and Management of Aggression). Accessing training for these involves a wait of months (commonly more than a year). It is usually the most junior ED staff who wait longest, despite data suggesting they are at greatest risk of assault. The chance of getting on a refresher course is even more remote.

Management have adopted a risk-adverse response to this issue and are providing ‘management of aggression/de-escalation’ training online. I don’t believe you can learn these vital skills online.

Violence prevention and management needs to be taught in real time with role playing and repetitive practice of physical skills.

I now read that the NSWNMA supports a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on violence. This is ridiculous! Many physically ill people can become violent during an illness, notwithstanding mental health patients. Zero tolerance policies are just buzzwords which have no place in nursing.

Keeping nurses safe is compatible with continuing to provide high quality care, but there needs to be a shift from the current status quo.

Glenn Chapman, Mental Health CNC, Marrickville

I am glad that you are fighting for better skill mix and better ratios in aged care. However I cannot support 24/7 RNs unless the RN has ratios specified, especially as sicker residents are coming back from hospitals quicker and higher expectations are placed on RNs. I work in one 60-bed aged care facility with only one RN on day shift seven days per week and yes we do palliative care with morphine infusions etc; and another where only one RN is on after hours and it is a 128-bed facility.

The community needs to have this information as they have very high expectations for so little resources.

Thanks.

NSWNMA responds: Along with other health unions, the NSWNMA adopted a 12-point plan at the February security roundtable. The Lamp will cover this in more detail in May edition.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Intensive training for all ED staff in managing aggressive behaviour Improve WHS culture, including for managers Detailed security audit of 20 EDs Working group on professionalisation of security staff TAFE to design a security course for the health environment Recruitment and training of new security staff Clinical reference group to develop management pathways for ‘ice’ patients Examine telehealth options for rural response to ‘ice’ patients Work with NSW Police on response to aggression at public hospitals Examine need for better legal protection for security staff Identify when security staff can remove disruptive non-patients Improve incident reporting systems

Advertise in The Lamp and Reach more than 61,000 nurses and midwives.

Jenny Murphy RN, Blackalls Park NSWNMA responds: We continually hear concerns from members about poor staffing ratios and skill mix in aged care. The staffing ratios you describe are unacceptable, but not uncommon. We have called for both Federal and State Governments to mandate minimum staffing ratios in aged care in our recent submissions to the NSW inquiry into registered nurses in nursing homes, NSW elder abuse inquiry and Senate Inquiry into the aged care workforce in Australia. We have similarly called for a registered nurse to be on site 24/7 in all high needs aged care facilities as a minimum requirement.

We know that often one RN cannot safely manage the number and acuity of people they are looking after. We would urge all members to continue to highlight issues that place both their registration and the people they care for at risk and seek support.

We have called for a mandated requirement that aged care providers advertise their staffing and skill mix. We also encourage all our members to get involved in raising community awareness.

Let’s save Medicare I agree, let’s save Medicare. There should be absolutely no cuts to pathology or life-saving tests.

Karen Light RN, Kings Cross

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.

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unionshopper.com.au 1300 368 117 THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 7 Union Shopper Letter of the Month.indd 1

23/02/15 11:53 AM

NEWS BRIEF COVERINSTORY

Australia

Australia

Wages growth slowest in two decades

Private health insurance profits skyrocket

Annual wages growth slipped to just 2.2% in 2015, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

It is the slowest growth since the wage price index was introduced in 1997. It was only just above the inflation rate of 1.7%.

Justin Fabo, an economist at ANZ bank, told AAP that he expected wages growth to remain low given the relatively high level of unemployment, low-inflation and downward pressure on national income from a declining terms of trade.

Private health insurers increased their profits by 10 per cent in 2015 pocketing an extra $106 million reports the Herald Sun. The latest figures from the prudential regulator show private health funds’ collective net earnings rose to $1.19 billion in 2015 from $1.08 billion in 2014.

The surplus capital held by funds soared by $566 million or 11 per cent over the year. More than $300 million of that was put away in the last quarter of 2015.

Despite the enormous profitability of the private health funds premiums are set to increase by another 5 per cent this year.

The high cost of private health insurance has already seen a dip in the proportion of people with cover in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the ACT. The Northern Territory had a small increase and Tasmania was flat.

The biggest decreases are among people in early 50s, who are exiting hospitals and “extras” cover for dental, optical and other general treatments.

The number of policies where holders have to pay an excess or co-payment when treated in hospital jumped by 124,000 or 7.5 per cent, from 1.66 million to 1.79 million.

Consumer Health Forum CEO Leanne Wells told the Herald Sun that the gap between the premium revenue health funds receive and what they pay out in benefits was at an all time high of $3.1 billion.

“This is unacceptable particularly given that taxpayers already finance health insurance to the tune of $6 billion a year through the health insurance rebates,” Ms Wells said.

Growth in mining and construction wages are among the slowest, falling behind accommodation and food services, a turnaround from when the resources boom was in full flight.

The shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen said living standards had fallen by 3.5% since the Coalition came to power in September 2013.

“Instead of delivering a long-term economic plan that will increase living standards, the Coalition has preferred to increase the cost of living through its attack on penalty rates and slashing family tax benefits for low-income households,” he said.

“Living standards have fallen by 3.5% since the Coalition came to power in September 2013.”

— Chris Bowen, Shadow Treasurer.

“DESPITE THE ENORMOUS PROFITABILITY OF THE PRIVATE HEALTH FUNDS PREMIUMS ARE SET TO INCREASE BY ANOTHER 5 PER CENT.”

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21/03/2016 12:37 PM

NEWS IN BRIEF

“POORER PEOPLE TEND TO LIVE IN LOWER-QUALITY ENVIRONMENTS AND ARE MORE EXPOSED TO AIR POLLUTION.” Britain

Air pollution kills 40,000 a year in Britain Air pollution is contributing to about 40,000 early deaths a year in Britain, reports BBC News.

The figures come in a report published by the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

The report says that outdoor pollution is linked to around 40,000 deaths. It said that indoor pollutants – previously neglected in assessments – also contributed significantly.

Air pollution can have a damaging effect from when a baby is in the womb and continue throughout life to older age, playing a role in many chronic conditions such as cancer, asthma, heart disease and neurological changes linked to dementia.

Air pollution is not a new problem but the perspective on the

health risks has changed. There had previously been a focus on pollution from solid fuel burning, such as coal which, as a result of policy, had seen its impact fall dramatically.

However, this has been replaced by concerns about exposure to pollutants from transport sources, especially cars.

The report says indoor sources of air pollution are not always considered with a number of sources such as gas cookers, cleaning products, damp and mould, cigarette smoke and carbon monoxide also contributing to ill health and deaths.

Evidence was found to suggest that long-term exposure to air pollution is linked to a decline in lung function in adults as well as asthma, type 2 diabetes, problems with brain development and cognition, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

The report also found evidence that poorer people tend to live in lower-quality environments and are more exposed to air pollution.

World

Exercise stops your brain shrinking A US study found people with good fitness levels in their 40s had larger brains than their unfit peers when measured 20 years later.

The study, part of a large, ongoing research project – the Framingham Heart Study - measured people’s exercise capacity and heart and blood pressure reactions to exercise during a treadmill test, at an average age of 40.

The same people were assessed about 20 years later, with a repeat exercise test and an MRI scan to determine brain volume.

People with 20% less fitness compared to the average, had smaller brains by the equivalent of one additional year of ageing. A similar effect was seen for higher blood pressure or heart rate in response to exercise.

The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Neurology.

The researchers say their findings “provide new evidence that lower cardiovascular fitness and elevated exercise blood pressure and heart rate responses in early to midlife are associated with smaller brain volumes nearly two decades later, thereby linking fitness over the life course to brain health in later life”.

They say that encouraging people to be fit in middle age could improve healthy brain ageing, especially for people with raised blood pressure.

“ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BE FIT IN MIDDLE AGE COULD IMPROVE HEALTHY BRAIN AGEING, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH RAISED BLOOD PRESSURE.” THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 9

NEWS BRIEF COVERINSTORY

World

Evidence of link between Zika virus and microcephaly

“SINCE 2015, BRAZIL HAS SEEN 4,783 CASES OF MICROCEPHALY IN NEWBORN BABIES, 20 TIMES HIGHER THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.”

10 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

Researchers have detected the Zika virus in amniotic fluid surrounding two unborn babies known to have abnormally small heads (microcephaly).

The link comes from a case study of two women in Brazil who had clinical symptoms of Zika virus in the first or second trimester of pregnancy. The women’s babies were later diagnosed with microcephaly.

The researchers analysed samples of amniotic fluid taken at 28 weeks, and detected the Zika virus. This suggests unborn babies are exposed to the virus while still in the womb.

They also found the DNA of the Brazilian Zika virus is very similar to those isolated during an outbreak in French Polynesia in 2013, as well as outbreaks in North and South America, south-east Asia, and the Pacific region.

NHS Choices reports that this is the strongest piece of circumstantial evidence yet that Zika is directly responsible for the alarming increase in the number of microcephaly cases in Brazil.

Since 2015, Brazil has seen 4,783 cases of microcephaly in newborn babies, 20 times higher than in previous years.

The researchers said that while no vaccine or antiviral for Zika is currently available, it is important to control the mosquito population, as well as conduct further studies to understand the mechanisms that may lead to microcephaly.

NEWS IN BRIEF

USA

Australia

Los Angeles reduces “urban heat island”

Coca-Cola Australia still mum on health funding

Climate change has changed California’s warm weather from an asset into its next big public health problem.

According to the Los Angeles Times, by 2050, the Los Angeles area is expected to warm by 5 degrees on average.

“Higher temperatures will create more smog, leading to more asthma and cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks. Water quality will also decline,” it reported.

Experts say Los Angeles is more vulnerable to climate change risks than other hot parts of the United States like Arizona.

“The L.A. region doesn’t have the infrastructure to deal with very hot weather — such as ubiquitous air conditioning — nor are residents in the habit of changing their behaviour to avoid the heat, making them more vulnerable to its effects,” Elizabeth Rhoades, from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, told the Times.

The city of Los Angeles has developed a sustainability plan to reduce the heat captured in the city. In highly urbanized neighborhoods, heat tends to get trapped, absorbed by the concrete and pavement of roads and buildings. That phenomenon, known as ‘urban heat island effect’ can

increase temperatures by as much as 20 degrees over what they would otherwise be.

LA aims to reduce the city’s urban heat island effect by 1.7 degrees by 2025. The city began requiring in 2014 that all new homes be built with ‘cool roofs’ and is testing a special kind of asphalt for roads that is supposed to absorb less heat.

Australia

Unemployment “stubborn” at 6%

“The Turnbull Government’s approach to industrial relations is deeply troubling.

If they’re not forcing jobs offshore, they’re attacking penalty rates.”

— Ged Kearney, ACTU President.

Unemployment has risen to 6% according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the ACTU is scathing of the Turnbull government’s response.

The ACTU describes unemployment as “stubbornly high” and accuses the Turnbull government of actively undermining jobs at every opportunity.

The ACTU says the government has: • a llowed “the brutal sacking of Australian seafarers and their replacement by exploited, ridiculously low paid overseas workers” • traded away jobs through free trade agreements • slashed 17,300 public sector jobs • a llowed key local manufacturing industries such as shipbuilding and automotive to die.

ACTU President Ged Kearney says families are already under pressure as a result of cuts to health and education and attacks on rights at work including an aggressive campaign to cut penalty rates.

“The Turnbull Government’s approach to industrial relations is deeply troubling. If they’re not forcing jobs offshore, they’re attacking penalty rates. It is time Mr Turnbull started articulating his plans to grow decent, well paid jobs Australians can rely on,” she said.

Six months after its US parent company promised to publish all financing of health groups and research globally, CocaCola in Australia is still to disclose its local partnerships.

The US parent was rocked late last year by a New York Times expose which showed it had secretly funded health groups that focussed on physical exercise to combat obesity rather than on the need to reduce sugar in diet.

Now the Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that the US disclosure has “exposed a glimpse of how it has supported health groups and research in Australia.

The Herald has revealed Coke’s funding of several prominent Australian academics including Prof Jeff Coombes from the University of Queensland’s school of human movement and nutrition sciences.

Dr Coombes, told the Herald he approached Coca-Cola to ask for financial support because “there had been a clear message from government that researchers needed to obtain more funding from industry”.

“Corporate philanthropy has become more important as less and less taxpayer money has been allocated in this area,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Coca-Cola South Pacific said it would reveal all its Australian grants and gifts “in the coming months”.

“CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY HAS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT AS LESS AND LESS TAXPAYER MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED IN THIS AREA.” THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 11

COVER STORY

These health cuts are killing us!

Thousands gather at a rally in Sydney organized by community groups and unions to protest the cuts to Medicare and heath funding.

Community anger at cuts to pathology services on top of previous attacks on Medicare and public hospital funding was palpable at a rally outside Sydney Town Hall last month.

NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda was scathing of the Turnbull government’s attack on the public health system.

“A Medicare card is a most precious possession for any Australian because it is a ticket to quality healthcare regardless of capacity to pay.

“These cuts to health started with Abbott, continue with Turnbull and Australians will not stand for it. We have a different Liberal leader but the same policies and an ideological fervor to slash and burn Medicare,” she said.

Judith said undermining Medicare “is leading Australians down the path towards an Americanisation of health”.

“Turnbull government plans to cut $650 million from funding from pathology tests and diagnostic imaging services are on top of Tony Abbott’s cuts to health funding.

“We know Australians are paying more out of

pocket expenses than ever before and that will only increase if these cuts eventuate.

“Medicare is there for all Australians whether you are rich or poor. It works well and needs continuing investment - not death by a thousand cuts as it’s dismantled piece by piece. We’re sick of this government fiddling around with things that aren’t broken,’ she said.

Judith was joined on the podium by Kerry Rodgers, NSWNMA councillor from Nepean Hospital.

“Ripping funding from frontline primary healthcare services makes absolutely no sense. This is the cheapest part of our healthcare system. The government should be putting additional resources into this area, not cutting funding. Primary healthcare keeps patients as well as possible and keeps them out of hospitals, the most expensive section of our healthcare service,” she said.

“Patients who can’t afford the extra expense of essential tests will end up sicker, driving them in to our already overcrowded and under-resourced emergency departments. In Western Sydney where I live and work, EDs are already seeing increases in presentations of around eight per cent each year. This will only worsen if these cuts go ahead.”

“Medicare works well and needs continued investment not death by a thousand cuts as it’s dismantled piece by piece. We’re sick of this government fiddling around with things that aren’t broken.”

— Judith Kiejda 12 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

‘‘People are red hot angry about it”

Campaign Director Sally McManus says defending Medicare is a high priority for the ACTU.

“If nurses and other healthcare workers can’t stand up for Medicare we can’t expect the rest of the community to.”

— Sally McManus, ACTU. The ACTU has launched a major campaign against the cuts to Medicare, with broadcast and online advertising, a door knock in 22 marginal seats and community protests around the country.

ACTU Campaign Director Sally McManus says the ACTU has been organising cross-union groups of activists throughout the country to campaign in defence of Medicare.

“These people have been getting together in 30 communities across the country and working out local plans to campaign for Medicare.

“In some places people have made big banners they have hung over flyovers or at the side of roads in little towns in Tasmania.

They have been holding big rallies in cities like Sydney or Melbourne. They have been protesting outside local MPs offices in places like Townsville or going into hospitals holding events for health care workers.

“What they have all been doing is talking to people about what the government has been doing and asking them to join the fightback.”

Sally says social media has been an effective medium for getting out the union message on Medicare.

“Earlier this year we shared a graphic about the charges for diagnostic testing. It went viral. It ended up being shared 25,000 times and got seen by two million people. It shows how strongly people feel about the government chipping away at Medicare. People are red hot angry about it,” Sally said.

Sally says nurses and midwives have a critical role to play in the campaign.

“We need nurses to talk their co-workers, friends and neighbours and encourage them to stand up for Medicare.

“If nurses and other healthcare workers can’t stand up for Medicare we can’t expect the rest of the community to.”

MEDICARE IS A GREAT UNION ACHIEVEMENT Sally says it was the union movement that won Medicare in the 1980s and the responsibility falls back on us to defend it.

“Medicare is one of the union movement’s biggest achievements. We’re responsible for it and we know that when it is under attack we have to stand up for it. This has always been the case because just about every Conservative government has tried to undermine or attack Medicare,” she said.

“We know that without the trade union movement there to defend it we probably would have lost it already.”

Sally says Medicare –one of the most efficient and effective universal health care systems in the world – is something to be proud of.

“What we’ve got is a very precious thing. You can see what terrible fights there have been in places like the United States to achieve a system half as good as ours.”

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 13

COVER COVER STORY STORY

“Medicare is one of the best things we have” — Andrew Sipowicz, RN, Westmead Branch

“

I strongly believe in the value of Medicare. For me it is something that creates equality for all in regard to healthcare. It is absolutely under threat.

I feel strongly about it because I value having good health. I’ve always had access therefore my children and I have had the appropriate healthcare whenever it has been needed and at an affordable cost.

We should all defend Medicare. I see the threat getting bigger and bigger all the time. I think doctors see it that way as well. I know the last time I saw my doctor he was mumbling under his breath about not being able to get MRIs done and things like that.

These cuts to preventative health are diabolical. We have come so far with science and research. We can prevent illnesses quite easily but without those diagnostics, things aren’t going to be picked up in the early stages and illnesses are not going to be prevented. Look at the rise of diabetes because of changes in diet. Our culture has changed and our health system has been able to keep up with that. But without access to Medicare people will just get sick and die or end up in hospital.

Life is going to get tougher and tougher under this government.

”

14 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

“

Medicare does work and it is important that we look after Medicare. Basically any Australian that has a Medicare card can get treatment. It’s not free – we all have to pay a Medicare levy – and I don’t think people would mind if that levy was increased if they got good public health.

Medicare is one of the best things we have. We all know that we get bang for our buck compared to other countries. The amount we spend is minimal for the outcomes we have.

Every person in Australia should defend Medicare and public healthcare.

Cuts to funding have put a whole lot of uncertainty into the public health system. There are also privatisations of health happening all the time.

Why as taxpayers do we still subsidise private health insurers? Why is it that when private health insurers ask for an increase in premiums they get it?

The public health system trains our health professionals – nurses, doctors, pharmacists, psychologists, radiologists.

To cut that is to cut our future as nurses and midwives.

I also think they would take back ratios if the funding cuts hold. How can you afford to keep ratios going without the money to fund them?

The American senator Hubert Humphrey once said “the moral test of a government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of their life, the children; those that are in the twilight of their life, the elderly; and those that are in the shadows of their life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

I think that this Liberal government does not care about the young, the old, the sick and the needy.

”

“Medicare creates equality for all in regard to healthcare” — Lorraine Gaunt, Retired, former RN in aged care

“

“I’ve been taught not to waste anything”

— Catherine Donald, 3rd year student nurse

“

I’m very passionate about our Medicare. I arrived in Australia in the 1980s from a third world country.

There was always something very special about Medicare and for it to be dismantled is like going back to the third world where only the rich can afford the best healthcare and the poor have to make do with very poor services.

The harshness of what is happening with $59 billion in health funding being slashed and Medicare being sabotaged – it’s all going backwards.

With the funding cuts working in public hospitals will become like working in aged care. We have to fight just to have a registered nurse on the floor. We are fighting for the most basic things like having skilled workers in aged care.

To top if off we have the TPP which will mean medicines will cost more. I don’t understand how this government – who should be acting in the interests of their citizens – would allow themselves to be dictated to by the big pharmaceutical companies.

Our healthcare is being attacked from all different angles.

Nurses are at the coalface of all this and we can’t allow this to happen. We have to educate our communities about this. We have to stand up. I’m scared for our children if we let all this go.

I feel like the government is letting us down.

Every ward that I have worked on has been careful to ensure that we don’t waste anything.

I have been taught as a nursing assistant as soon as I got into a ward not to waste anything. Then you find the government is making huge cuts when nurses are trying to save on resources.

What I see from my perspective as a assistant in nursing is everyone works very hard to make sure nothing is wasted.

I can’t really see how we can afford to make those cuts. If anything we should be putting a lot more money into the health of our nation and we should be helping people in need of healthcare.

It is scary and it is sad what is happening to Medicare.

We should be trying to support the less vulnerable.

We shouldn’t be saying - you need to pay for this.

What does it say about us when someone turns up and we think something is wrong and we can’t use the diagnostic tools. We have to say – you have to pay for this. What does this say about our society? It doesn’t say something good.

This will lead to more people turning up in EDs, more pressure on emergency staff and in the long run it will lead to much higher costs for the healthcare system. People will leave it till the last minute because they can’t afford it. We’re going to have to deal with it down the road.

”

“Nurses can’t allow this to happen” — Jocelyn Hofman, RN Aged Care

”

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 15

COVER STORY

Illogical cuts to preventive health Ongoing cuts to preventive health programs expose the Turnbull government’s faulty logic and short term thinking on health funding.

Over the next four years the federal government will cut $1.7 billion from health funding. Over the next 10 years $59 billion will be cut from the public health system.

These cuts threaten many areas of preventive health including chronic disease prevention, health protection, alcohol and other drug treatment and some rural health sector initiatives, as well as programs dealing with the health workforce, capacity building, communicable disease and health surveillance.

Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) CEO Michael Moore told the National Press Club last year that the cuts mean “we have reached the tipping point”.

“Some people believe prevention is better than cure,” he said.

“These cuts suggest the opposite. They hit areas in health that ought to be a priority.”

In 2011 the Gillard government created 16 “Flexible Funds” as vehicles to finance key health services that were expected to address national health priorities.

Since Joe Hockey’s 2014 budget, which kick started a relentless attack on health funding, 14 Flexible Funds have seen their funding seriously eroded.

Only two funds have been quarantined: the Indemnity Insurance Fund that monitors medical indemnity insurers and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Chronic Disease Fund.

Michael Moore says this does not mean that funding for Aboriginal and Torres Islander health has been spared.

“One of the flexible funds supports better outcomes for individuals and communities affected by alcohol and drug misuse including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“Considering their rhetoric on Ice, you might think that the government would be considering expanding its investment in the substance use treatment sector,” he said.

The latest cuts to Medicare In the Turnbull government’s Mid Year Economic Forecast (MYEFO) there were cuts of $650.4 million over four years from 2015-16 by: removing bulk billing incentives for pathology services

✂ reducing the bulk billing ✂ incentive for MRI services these cuts could see women pay ✂ $30 for a pap smear

✂ an MRI could cost $173

“Some people believe prevention is better than cure.

These cuts suggest the opposite. They hit areas in health that ought to be a priority.”

— Michael Moore, Public Health Association of Australia.

16 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

KEY PROGRAMS SLASHED Funds severely impacted by the cuts include: Chronic Disease Prevention Fund which has a goal to improve practice in prevention, detection, treatment and management of chronic disease.

The annual cost of treating chronic disease is upwards of $27 billion and for obesity $58.2 billion.

“You might think that this fund could see a comprehensive return on investment and would be immune from funding cuts,” says Michael Moore.

CO-OPS Obesity Prevention Network reached at least 1.4 million Australians each year. Its funding ended last year. At the time it was described as not being a cut. It was just “not renewed.”

Communicable Disease Fund for the prevention, treatment and management of blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections.

Half a million Australians live with chronic hepatitis B and C, fuelling rising rates of serious liver disease, including liver cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer, the fastest increasing cause of cancer death in Australia.

Health Surveillance Fund to improve detection, prevention and awareness of communicable and chronic diseases to provide evidence-based preventive health policy in Australia.

“How can we expect a quality health system without effective implementation and management of the government’s key surveillance and monitoring priorities?” asks Michael Moore.

Health Workforce Fund to strengthen the capacity to deliver high quality care by increasing the

supply of health workers, ensuring a capable and qualified workforce and addressing health workforce shortages in Aboriginal communities as well as regional, rural and remote Australia.

CUTS THAT WILL COST

Sheila McHale, CEO of the Palmerston Association – one of WA’s leading not for profit drug and alcohol rehabilitation services – says the logic behind the cuts is hard to fathom.

“These anticipated cuts are nonsensical and bad policy, particularly against the backdrop of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Ice, the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse and the increased PTSD among defence personnel.

“The people who need services for drug and alcohol issues have been poorly served by government policy and fiscal decision making over a number of years. We have seen little real leadership or vision and certainly limited growth in funds to support innovation,” she told the National Press Club.

The roll back of resources for preventive health makes even less sense in rural and remote Australia.

A report commissioned from Novartis supports the economic argument for funding allied health services in rural and remote areas – services taken for granted in cities.

It suggests, “if all patients with diabetes, stroke and osteoarthritis in the hip and or knee were able to access appropriate allied health interventions, it would result in annual savings of around $175 million to the health care budget – this is a conservative estimate.

The assault on health funding (so far) Since Tony Abbott’s first budget as Prime Minister in 2014 and continuing with Malcolm Turnbull’s mid-term budget (MYEFO) late last year the assault on public health funding has been relentless and massive:

PREVIOUS BUDGET CUTS TO HEALTH, HOSPITALS AND MEDICARE CONTINUED BY THE TURNBULL GOVERNMENT • $59 billion in cuts to public hospitals • $2 billion four year freeze on Medicare rebates for GP visits • 1.3 billion hike in essential medicines • $267 million in Medicare safety nets • $800 million in cuts to health flexible funds

MYEFO CUTS TO MEDICARE • $650 million out of Medicare by cutting bulk billing incentives for diagnostic imaging and pathology • $595 million from health workforce training programs • $146 million from health prevention and eHealth programs • $472 million cut from aged care (the Aged Care Education and Training initiative and the Aged Care Vocational Education and Training professional development programs)

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 17

SAFE STAFFING

Shoalhaven wins more midwives The Shoalhaven NSWNMA Branch has won an extra four midwives for its maternity unit.

“We were becoming increasingly concerned that we were no longer able to give safe and consistent care to the mothers and babies in our unit.”

18 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

Early in 2015 a group of senior midwives at Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital in Nowra sought help from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association.

They were concerned that a chronic shortage of midwives and ever-increasing workloads had contributed to a cluster of near misses and adverse outcomes in the maternity unit.

“We wanted to discuss our concerns with the union and decide on a plan to help us approach management effectively and professionally,” said midwife and NSWNMA delegate Jennifer Greed.

Jennifer said staff struggled to cope with “ever increasing workloads and expectations, increasing patient acuity and presentations, a chronic shortage of midwives including a dwindling pool of casual staff, and skill mix concerns.”

“Midwives felt overwhelmed, exhausted and in a number of cases seriously traumatised,” she said.

“Though the near misses and negative outcomes were not directly related to midwifery care, patient safety is the bottom line at all times.

“We were becoming increasingly concerned that we were no longer able to give safe and consistent care to the mothers and babies in our unit.”

MANAGEMENT WERE INITIALLY RESISTANT Shoalhaven hospital’s NSWNMA branch initially tried to find a resolution through the Reasonable Workloads Committee but management claimed the maternity unit was over staffed according to its previous Birthrate Plus review and management’s calculations of current staffing levels.

“This message was repeated several times but we found it very difficult to accept,” Jennifer said.

“Over the previous two years our unit had become busier and busier.

Many full time staff regularly had to work overtime and extra shifts.

“Being called on our days off to do overtime was routine. Many of us found it difficult to say no, because we knew the situation our colleagues would face if we didn’t go in.

“Meal breaks had become a luxury on most shifts and sick leave was increasing as staff became exhausted.

“Senior midwives felt an increasing burden of responsibility and expectation.

We had no educator and they felt they were too busy to offer enough support to less experienced and junior staff.”

Jennifer Greed, Midwife, NSWNMA Delegate

An Association organiser travelled to Nowra and met with five senior midwives.

The Association arranged meetings with senior management including the hospital’s Director of Nursing and the Area Director of Midwifery. They eventually agreed to bring forward by several months the unit’s next Birthrate Plus review.

“All staff worked diligently over the next few months to make sure every occasion of care was accurately recorded on the Birthrate Plus forms,” Jennifer said.

“It was a huge undertaking on top of already stretched workloads but if we hadn’t pursued it I believe we would still be arguing.”

INCREASED PATIENT ACUITY Jennifer said that despite the extra numbers, staff will still face a heavy workload: the four staff on evening and night shifts must cover four delivery suites, an assessment room and a 13 bed postnatal/antenatal ward.

She said the maternity unit has experienced increased patient acuity and intervention rates, and outpatient presentations have dramatically increased.

“Labour ward midwives must assess all pregnant ladies greater than 20 weeks. This can often take an hour or more. There are no extra staff for this, it is on top of the care they may be giving to labouring ladies.

“In addition, all outpatient CTG monitoring is attended by labour ward midwives.

“There is no registrar, the resident medical officer works only Monday to Friday mornings and may have limited experience.

“The Special Care Nursery only cares for babies born from 36 weeks so any patient at risk of delivering before that date or

“The recruitment process is still in progress, but we have four experienced agency midwives who have made an enormous difference to our unit.” with a high risk pregnancy will be transferred with midwifery escort to Wollongong, Sydney and sometimes Canberra.

“There is rarely time or available staff to replace this midwife who may be gone for six hours or more.

“There is no clerical support after 3.30pm and midwives are required to answer all incoming calls.

Jennifer said the drawn out staffing and skill mix problems took a toll on many midwives.

REVIEW BACKS THE BRANCH A review completed in November upheld the branch’s concerns, finding the unit was short of 5.65 full time equivalent midwives.

Despite the ongoing issues Jennifer said the extra staff are a big improvement. “We were overjoyed by the result of the review,” she said.

The prospect of a drawn out approval and recruitment process led branch officials to call a meeting where members resolved to ask management to hire experienced agency midwives to fill the shortfall as soon as possible.

“It is now March and the recruitment process is still in progress, but we have four experienced agency midwives who have made an enormous difference to our unit,” Jennifer said.

“They have helped us overcome some of our skill mix issues, providing support for less experienced staff, and we now have four midwives on night duty and five most weekend mornings.

“And we have a Clinical Midwifery Educator for the first time.

“We are grateful for our union’s support and advice – the NSWNMA was there for us the whole way.”

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HEALTH AND INEQUALITY

Death rattle of the American dream Middle aged, white working class Americans are killing themselves – by suicide and from alcohol and drug poisoning – and economic research pins the blame for this epidemic on inequality and economic stress.

New research has found that the death rate for white Americans aged 45 to 54 increased by 20 per cent in the 14 years between 1999 and 2013. This represents about a half a million lives cut short.

The study’s authors – Nobel economics prize winner Angus Deaton and his colleague Anne Case from Princeton University – say this rising mortality rate is comparable to the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s.

“The increase… was largely accounted for by increasing death rates from drug and alcohol poisoning, suicide and chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. Those with less education saw the most marked increases,” the study found.

The mortality rate from poisonings rose more than fourfold for this group during the 14-year period and mortality from chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis rose by 50 per cent.

“Poisonings overtook lung cancer as a cause of death in 2011 in this age group; suicide appears poised to do so,” the authors reported.

The study also found that these middle aged mortality rates were accompanied by a parallel increase in morbidity.

“Self reported declines in health, mental health and ability to conduct activities of daily

living and increases in chronic pain and inability to work as well as clinically measured deteriorations in liver function, all point to growing distress in this population,” it said.

FOR EVERYONE ELSE LIFE EXPECTANCY RISES The dramatic increase in mortality of middle-aged white Americans stands in stark contrast to health trends for other parts of the US population and with other countries.

“This change reversed decades of progress in mortality and was unique to the United States; no other rich country saw a similar turnaround,” the study said.

Other countries too have shown a consistent decline in mortality rates. Before and after 1998 mortality rates in France, Germany, Britain, Canada, Sweden and Australia declined by about two per cent every year.

Afro-Americans and the aged have proven to be more resilient and have survived better the recession that followed the Global Financial Crisis of 2008.

Mortality rates for white Americans aged 65-74 continued to fall at two per cent per year from 1998-2013. There were similar declines in all other racial and ethnic groups.

“THE STUDY’S AUTHORS SAY THIS RISING MORTALITY RATE AMONG WHITE MIDDLE AGED AMERICANS IS COMPARABLE TO THE AIDS EPIDEMIC OF THE 1980s AND 1990s.”

20 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

STUDY FINDINGS All-cause mortality, ages 45-54 for US White non-Hispanics, US Hispanics, and six comparison countries – France, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Sweden 450

— Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel prize winner in economics.

ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IS A FACTOR The Princeton research pinpointed chronic pain as a driver of suicide among middle-aged people. Nearly 30 per cent of people who commit suicide in the US have chronic pain or chronic illness.

Health experts link the increase in chronic pain with opioid abuse which has surged in the US. Unintentional poisonings from drugs and alcohol have increased by 160 per cent since 1999.

Lack of access to healthcare is also a major contributing factor. About 44 million people in the United States have no health insurance, and another 38 million have inadequate health insurance.

The Princeton study also links the crisis of the white middle-aged with their failed expectations of life – the implosion of the ‘American dream’.

“Many of the baby boomer generation are the first to find in midlife that they will not be better off than their parents,” it said.

INEQUALITY KILLS Fellow Nobel prize winner for economics Joseph Stiglitz says the CaseDeaton study shows that America has become a more divided society.

“Divided not only between whites and African Americans, but also between the one per cent and the rest, and between the highly educated and the less educated, regardless of race. And the gap can now be measured not just in wages, but also in early deaths. White Americans are dying earlier as their incomes decline.

“This evidence is hardly a shock to those of us studying inequality in America.

The median income of a full-time male employee is lower than it was 40 years

ago. Wages of male high school graduates have plummeted by some 19 per cent in the period studied by Case and Deaton.”

Stiglitz clearly lays the blame for this human disaster on the economic policies pursued during the first decade of the century.

“To stay above water, many Americans borrowed from banks at usurious interest rates. In 2005, President George W. Bush’s administration made it far more difficult for households to declare bankruptcy and write off debt.

“Then came the financial crisis, which cost millions of Americans their jobs and homes. When unemployment insurance, designed for short-term bouts of joblessness in a full-employment world, ran out, they were left to fend for themselves, with no safety net (beyond food stamps), while the government bailed out the banks that had caused the crisis,” he wrote on the Project Syndicate website.

“There was no way that this mounting financial pressure could not have placed middle-class Americans and their families under greater stress. And it is not surprising that this has been reflected in higher rates of drug abuse, alcoholism, and suicide.”

350

300

250

200

1990

2000

US White non-Hispanics France Germany US Hispanics

2010 United Kingdon Canada Australia Sweden

Mortality by cause, white non-Hispanics ages 45-54 30

25 DEATHS PER 100,000

“AMERICA HAS BECOME A MORE DIVIDED SOCIETY AND THE GAP CAN NOW BE MEASURED NOT JUST IN WAGES, BUT ALSO IN EARLY DEATHS.”

DEATHS PER 100,000

400

20

15

10

Read the research To read the study in full: “Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century”

by Anne Case and Angus Deaton go to http://www.pnas.org/ content/112/49/15078.full.pdf

2000

2005

2010

2015

Poisonings Lung cancer Suicides Chronic liver diseases Diabetes

Source: “Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century” by Anne Case and Angus Deaton.

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 21

HEALTH INEQUALITY COVERAND STORY

Why US nurses support Bernie Sanders for President US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has galvanised nurses across the United States with his advocacy for a free universal healthcare system and his call to bring Wall Street to account.

A nurse union leader and a prominent American health activist share their reasons for supporting Bernie with The Lamp.

THE NURSES’ UNION LEADER National Nurses United Executive Director, RoseAnn DeMoro.

‘‘

National Nurses United, I’m proud to say, has endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders.

Bernie Sanders aligns perfectly with nurses on the most critical problems facing our nation; from income inequality, to guaranteeing healthcare for all, to holding Wall Street and corporations to account, to opening the doors to college education for everyone, racial justice and the climate crisis.

Those are the same issues that animate nurses when we talk about voting for nurses’ values – caring, compassion and community to heal America.

But we also support the Sanders movement also because of the rare opportunity his campaign represents to not just speak truth to power, but to join movements together to change our country. To stand as a social movement against the obscene wealth that controls our lives, starves our communities, destroys our people and expand a populist movement that puts human life before profit.

Nurses take the pulse of America, and have to care for the fallout of every social and economic problem: malnutrition; homelessness; unpayable medical bills; the stress and mental disorders from joblessness; higher asthma rates, cancer, heart ailments and birth defects from environmental pollution and the climate crisis. Bernie Sanders’s prescriptions best represents the humanity and the values nurses embrace.

A central focus for nurses is our dysfunctional healthcare system. Too many Americans, even with the Affordable Care Act, remain priced out of access to the health care they need even if they have insurance. That is due to the lack of effective price controls, and a still broken system based on private profit not patient need. Sanders has long championed the full, humane reform we need, an updated, expanded Medicare for all.

Economic inequality remains the fundamental issue of our time. Sanders’ leadership in calling for Wall Street to pay its share for rebuilding our national and global communities is a reminder of why we need his vision leading America.

’’

RoseAnn De Moro and Bernie Sanders 22 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

“BERNIE SANDERS ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH NURSES ON THE MOST CRITICAL PROBLEMS FACING OUR NATION, FROM INCOME INEQUALITY TO GUARANTEEING HEALTHCARE FOR ALL TO HOLDING WALL STREET AND CORPORATIONS TO ACCOUNT.”

THE HEALTH ACTIVIST Donna Smith is a US health advocate who spoke at the NSWNMA Annual Conference in 2013.

‘‘

Bernie Sanders is an American hero. For me, and millions of other people, Bernie stands his ground - our ground – at moments when it really matters. This campaign for president of these United States is a natural and fitting progression for Bernie and for working class people like me.

I make a distinction between the working class and what used to be known as the middle class. What I see is a huge class of people like me working two or three (or more) jobs trying to piece together enough income to pay the bills. In pre-Reagan years, people like me might have been homeowners, but today many of us pay so much for other necessities of life, like health insurance, that owning a home is out of the question. There is no money for a down payment. There is no way to be a part of a shrinking class of people who can still afford those things often associated with being in the middle class.

I heard Bernie Sanders’ address at the Denver Convention Centre: (talking about) crumbling infrastructure, climate change, youth unemployment, mass incarceration, Medicare for all, healthcare, campaign finance reform, tuition-free public education, Social Security, poverty, income inequality, income equity, a woman’s right

to control her own body and more. Was there one single thread running through his firebrand speech? Of course. And that single thread is the tie that binds people to Bernie’s campaign. Enough is enough. It’s time for a political revolution, and anything short of that will not bring about the changes that must occur if we are to reclaim our government for all of us.

As I gazed around the crowd seated around me and across the sea of nearly 20,000 people gathered to listen to Bernie’s message, I was blown away by the young people and their joy in hearing someone actually express what they already know. The system is rigged in favour of a sort of political and financial royalty of which they will never be a part.

’’

“AS I GAZED AROUND THE CROWD SEATED AROUND ME AND ACROSS THE SEA OF NEARLY 20,000 PEOPLE GATHERED TO LISTEN TO BERNIE’S MESSAGE, I WAS BLOWN AWAY

BY THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR JOY IN HEARING SOMEONE ACTUALLY EXPRESS WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW.” THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 23

ADOs

$4.4 million in Public Health System ADOs recovered Software flaws resulted in nurses losing their accrued days off.

Now the NSWNMA is winning back members’ entitlements.

Thousands of nurses who were wrongly told they had negative ADO balances have had their entitlements restored. And there may be more to come.

Last year, union action led to an extraordinary 21,199 ADOs being credited to nurses and midwives across the state.

That is equivalent to 4,239 weeks worth of ADOs costing around $4.4 million.

The issue arose in late 2014, when the NSWNMA started getting calls from members who had been told they had negative ADO balances.

After a preliminary union investigation revealed clear anomalies, the NSWNMA lodged a dispute with the Industrial Relations Commission.

Talks were inconclusive but the IRC recommended that members should continue to get ADOs when due pending further negotiations.

Commissioner Peter Newall said: “My view is that ADO’s should continue to be rostered, where they fall due, even in circumstances where the individual to whom they fall due has on record a negative balance. One is not yet sure whether that negative balance represents something real or illusory and whether those figures are accurate or not, one does not know.”

PAYROLL HAD SOFTWARE FLAWS Some nurses who were told they had a negative ADO balance had decided to forfeit their regular ADOs in an attempt to address this.

However NSWNMA General Secretary Brett Holmes warned members at the time: “This is incorrect and should cease immediately until the dispute is resolved.”

After more IRC hearings the Ministry of Health and HealthShare conceded that the StaffLink payroll system had software flaws.

24 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

First, Stafflink was not including the extra annual leave provided to shift workers when calculating ADO entitlements.

Second, the 19-shift counter built into StaffLink did not accurately calculate ADOs for those working combinations of shifts (such as 8 and ten hours) in a roster cycle.

The error resulted in these nurses and midwives having a reduced ADO entitlement.

As a result, the software was reconfigured and ADO entitlements were recalculated on November 5 to fix the first problem – ADO accumulation on additional annual leave.

ADOS WON’T BE LOST Assistant General Secretary Judith Kiejda said the union and ministry agreed that if recalculation results in an accumulation of ADOs greater than three (contrary to the Award) members would not lose any ADOs. Instead, management will work with members to use these additional ADOs before the end of June 2016 to ensure any excess balance held is three ADOs or less.

Judith said that in relation to the 19-shift counter anomaly for those working a combination of shift lengths, talks are still occurring between the Association, Ministry and HealthShare to ensure Award entitlements are met.

“Consultation is continuing on this matter, although this may take a little time to reach an orderly conclusion,” she said.

“Credit should go to all those members who persisted with their claims that something was terribly wrong – despite what the computer system was telling them.

“It was that persistence and union action that resulted in a breakthrough and changes to StaffLink.”

Check your ADO balance

ADO loss causes angst

NSWNMA General Secretary Brett Holmes says it is important for all full time Public Health System members to check their ADO balances.

“ADO balances can be checked by logging into StaffLink under the ‘Leave Accruals’ tab. More importantly, make sure you continue to roster your ADO in each roster cycle until this dispute is completely resolved,” Brett said.

“If you have more than one negative ADO balance or in the past not taken an ADO to negate a negative balance we request you contact the NSWNMA via gensec@ nswnma.asn.au with your details and a brief summary of your particular problem.

“That way we can ensure you are added to our list of potentially affected employees.

“Nurses and midwives who are not members but affected by this issue should join the NSWNMA to make sure they don’t miss out.”

Wayne Hogan CNS, a community mental health nurse in the central western city of Orange, said the “muck up” with ADOs had caused “a fair bit of angst” at work.

“The issue has affected morale in the office.

However we have had telephone discussions and supportive advice from the union,” he said.

Wayne said he always made sure he took ADOs when they fell due.

“Then all of a sudden I discovered I was three days in arrears. The pay office couldn’t tell me why.

“I then worked eight weeks straight without an ADO because I didn’t want to get too far in arrears.

When I checked the balance I was surprised to find I was still three days in arrears.”

Some of Wayne’s colleagues have found themselves eight or nine days in arrears due to incorrect calculations.

“One colleague found himself five or six days in arrears so he stopped taking ADOs and started to use up his recreation leave in order to get a threeday weekend,” he said.

“I’ve been in mental health nursing for 28 years and never come across this problem before.

“I had always assumed the system was working well.”

Wayne does not know whether he will be compensated for the ADO he avoided taking in the mistaken belief he was in arrears.

“The only information we’ve had has come from the union.

“I’m very appreciative of the way the union is handling the issue. They are doing a lot to restore our entitlements.

“The fact that they are taking up the issue frees me from having to do all the running around to sort out this mess.”

“CREDIT SHOULD GO TO ALL THOSE MEMBERS WHO PERSISTED WITH THEIR CLAIMS THAT SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG – DESPITE WHAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS TELLING THEM. IT WAS THROUGH THAT PERSISTENCE AND UNION ACTION THAT RESULTED IN A BREAKTHROUGH AND CHANGES TO STAFFLINK.” — Judith Kiejda

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 25

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

‘Don’t trust this CSG industry!’

Nurses join a community protest against a controversial coal seam gas project in northern NSW

“Scrubs on the Frontline”, a group of nurses opposed to coal seam gas (CSG) mining, joined a protest camp inside the Pilliga state forest near Narrabri recently.

The camp is aimed at stopping Santos’ 850-well Narrabri Gas Project and its Leewood CSG wastewater facility now under construction.

Santos has faced several blockades a week by hundreds of people for the past two months.

Nurses and midwives at the camp said they felt a responsibility to stand up for the health of the environment as it has a direct impact on human health.

Their concerns include the release of toxins and carcinogens into the environment, including the Great Artesian Basin, the health risks to workers, the harm to communities caused by conflict and division over CSG proposals, the impact on farming and the long term risks to the health of future generations Scrubs on the Frontline came to the Pilliga with this 26 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

message: “The people you trust to take care of your health don’t trust this industry.”

There was no police presence at their protest, in contrast to the previous day, when police arrested five women members of the Climate Guardians, all aged over 50.

The Scrubs on the Frontline contingent included Northern Rivers district nurses who did the all-day drive to Narrabri in the New England area.

NURSES FROM DIFFERENT AREAS COME TOGETHER Northern Rivers nurses played a role in defeating a proposed CSG operation at Bentley near Lismore in 2014.

Angie Gittus, an emergency nurse and NSWNMA alternate delegate at Murwullimbah Hospital, said Northern Rivers nurses introduced themselves to local nurses and “opened up a discussion” about CSG. In 2014 NSWNMA delegates from around the state

“IN THE PILLIGA SANTOS HAS ALREADY ADMITTED TO CONTAMINATING THREE AQUIFERS WITH URANIUM, LEAD, ARSENIC AND OTHER HEAVY METALS.” — Angie Gittus

resolved to support the actions of members protesting against CSG on health grounds.

“The union has had the guts to come on board and support these actions and I think that’s a very powerful message,” Angie said.

She said the CSG extraction process involves the heavy use of toxins and carcinogens while also disturbing heavy metals in the ground.

“In the Pilliga Santos has already admitted to contaminating three aquifers with uranium, lead, arsenic and other heavy metals.”

Angie said gas flaring was also highly poisonous and had been linked to high levels of birth defects, stillbirths and miscarriages.

“We are also concerned for the gas workers: we don’t want to see them in 10 years time with some terminal illness they have contracted from these toxic processes.

“CSG mining is also a big contributor to climate change which is the biggest public health threat we face. It is a very dirty way of getting fuel.

“I didn’t know much about CSG until it came to my district in the Northern Rivers. But the more you know the more worried you become.”

CSG IS A HEALTH ISSUE Midwife Heather Dunn, of Lismore Base Hospital branch of the NSWNMA, said she came to the Pilliga to support the rest of the camp in protecting public health and the environment.

“As a nurse and midwife I’m here to protect children including those yet to be born from a dirty industry that puts at risk our water, our farmland and our children’s future,” Heather said.

She said CSG had a tendency to divide communities especially in areas of high unemployment.

“Some people think it will provide jobs, but it is usually Fly In Fly Out workers not locals who are employed and the jobs can be very short term.

“And it obviously impacts on the health of workers involved.

“We should be investing in clean renewable energy that creates permanent

jobs and not in dirty fossil fuel industries.”

“Premier Mike Baird should listen to the communities and health care workers and extend the ban on CSG in the Northern Rivers to the whole of NSW.” Also joining the protest camp was former nurse Julie Lyford who chairs the community group Groundswell Gloucester. It has helped to fight off a massive CSG project that threatened to devastate the Gloucester Valley on the Mid North Coast.

AGL HAS PULLED OUT OF THE INDUSTRY The Gloucester Valley project was one of several CSG projects to be scrapped when gas giant AGL recently announced it would pull out of the CSG industry in NSW and Queensland.

“I’m really proud to be here today with members of the NSW Nurses Association,” Julie said.

“They are an example of health professionals stepping up to say CSG is risky to our health, our water and our land.

“I come from a family of health professionals – my husband is a GP in Gloucester and my son is a registered nurse doing medicine.

“We are really concerned about what CSG is doing to our water supply.”

She said the AGL proposal for the Gloucester Valley was defeated after a five-year campaign.

“AGL will spend 12 months remediating the site to make it safe. They will also exit from the Camden gas field and Queensland fields.

“We applaud AGL’s decision and ask why the state government keeps pushing CSG when there is no shortage of gas in NSW. “We met yesterday with People for the Plains, a group of farmers deeply concerned about what is happening to their water supply and the Great Artesian Basin.

“The Baird government needs to wake up and see what’s happening in front of their eyes. The community has shifted but the government is stuck in the dark old days.”

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 27

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ASK JUDITH WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR RIGHTS AND ENTITLEMENTS AT WORK, NSWNMA ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY JUDITH KIEJDA HAS THE ANSWERS. When is sick leave ‘unsatisfactory’?

I am an Enrolled Nurse and work full time in a public hospital. I recently received a warning from the NUM about my ‘unsatisfactory’ sick leave record. I have had a number of days off unwell recently and some were supported by medical certificates. How is ‘unsatisfactory’ determined?

The relevant policy directive (Leave Matters Manual for the NSW Health Service – PD2014_029) provides some parameters around this. At Section 3.1, it sets out that a ‘review point’ includes: • “Frequent short term absences (eight separate absences unsupported by medical certificates in any 12 month period should be considered unsatisfactory, but discussions may commence with the employee after five separate unsupported absences)”; and • “Absences displaying trends (for example, periods of unsupported absences immediately before or after a public holiday or approved leave or large amounts of sick leave taken prior to retirement or close to where the employee may work overtime)”.

If the hospital believes that your sick leave is unsatisfactory, the basis of that belief should be made known to you in the first instance, and a response sought from you, including that the days identified as being absent on sick leave are in fact correct.

You should make known any extenuating circumstances that may need to be considered by your employer.

Responding to an adverse finding I work full time as a Registered Nurse at a public hospital. Recently I attended a fact finding interview on my own as it looked pretty straight forward. However, I have now received a letter from the General Manager of the hospital stating that an adverse finding has been made about my conduct.

They have asked me to respond within two weeks but I am bewildered as to how they have come to this conclusion. How should I respond?

The relevant policy directive (Managing Misconduct – PD2014_042) sets out the obligations of the employer and your rights. In short, if an adverse finding is supported by the decision-maker, you must not only be so advised and provided an opportunity to respond, but you must also be given access to all relevant information taken into consideration in making such a finding. The material should be sufficient to allow you to fully understand the alleged misconduct and be able to provide a considered response (Section 7.5.2).

Remember, the Association can give you advice and support at this stressful time,

and ensure that the employer fulfills all their obligations under the policy directive.

BREAKING NEWS The NSW Parliament recently passed the Government Sector Employment Legislation Amendment Bill, which seeks to create alignments of the Health Executive Service (and those in Transport and Police) with the Senior Executive Service in the Public Sector. Prior to its passage through the NSW Parliament, the Association was successful in receiving an assurance from the Ministry of Health that it would have no affect on nursing and midwifery staff employed under the award, regardless of their seniority.

This is important as this approach is at odds with the process utilised in the Public Sector whereby certain senior officer positions under the award were transitioned to the Senior Executive Service (and outside a number of award based protections and rights as a result).

The Association was anxious that a similar process was not rolled out in the NSW Health Service.

In summary, the Bill makes the following changes: • Chief Executives (‘CEs’) of LHDs and Specialty Networks will have their employment relationship shifted from being with the Secretary of Health to their respective Boards, who will undertake the hiring and firing.

• Health Executive Service (‘HES’) positions employed within LHDs and Specialty Networks will now have their employment relationship with the CE. • Existing contracts for CEs and HES positions will also under the Bill be deemed as being on going and not time fixed (as is currently the case).

Preparing for an ambush I am an Enrolled Nurse working in an aged care facility. I have received a letter from my manager requesting I attend a meeting with her and another person from Human Resources. The meeting is, apparently, to answer questions about a complaint from a resident’s relative that was made

some months ago. I have no idea what it is about and am worried that I will be ambushed. Can they do this?

Anyone accused of wrong doing is entitled to procedural fairness.

You should be provided with any allegations in writing, which should include sufficient details to allow you to properly prepare and provide an informed response. This should include any documentation maintained by you pertaining to the care of that resident over the time of the alleged incident.

The employer should also ensure you are aware of your rights to have a support person at the meeting. Please contact the Association for further advice if you receive a direction to attend any meeting that may have a potential disciplinary outcome.

FACS leave and flooding I am a Registered Nurse employed full time in the public health system. Recently I was unable to attend work due to flooding in my area and I was granted FACS leave on that occasion. Can I also use FACS leave if I need to take a further day off to be present at my home for a subsequent insurance assessor inspection?

Under clause 32A(b)(4) of the Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award 2015, Family and Community Services (‘FACS’) leave in this situation is for the initial emergency only (i.e. “in case of pressing necessity”). If you need to attend to subsequent property repairs and insurance assessor inspections, you will need to arrange this in your own time or request other forms of paid leave.

Talking to us confidentially I need help about my employment but don’t want my employer to know if I ring the Association. Are such contacts confidential?

The Association regularly provides information and support directly to members. Often this is sufficient to resolve the issue or allow the member to undertake more informed discussions with their employer. The Association would not contact an employer on your behalf without your specific request or approval.

Leave rights when resigning I work in a public hospital and am thinking about resigning. Would I be paid out for all my accumulated and pro rata annual leave and public holiday leave if I did?

Under clause 30 of the Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award 2015, you should be paid on resignation all your annual leave entitlements, including untaken accrued leave, pro rata leave (accrued leave for an uncompleted year of service), and public holiday leave.

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 29

EDUCATION@NSWNMA

what’s ON april 2016

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FORUM – 1 Day n Friday 15 April, Camperdown Members $60 | Non-members $85

PRACTICAL, POSITIVE LEADERSHIP – 4 Days n Monday 18 April, Monday 9 May, Wednesday 8 June & Monday 11 July, Waterloo Members $340 | Non-members $600

71 annual conference PROFESSIONAL DAY

g n i g n a in a Ch h t l a He

ARE YOU MEETING YOUR CPD REQUIREMENTS? – ½ Day n Thursday 28 April, Waterloo Members $40 | Non-members $85

POLICY AND GUIDELINE WRITING FOR NURSES AND MIDWIVES – 1 Day n Friday 29 April, Waterloo Members $85 | Non-members $170

TOOLS IN MANAGING CONFLICT AND DISAGREEMENT – 1 Day n Monday 2 May, Waterloo Members $85 | Non-members $170

THE INFLUENTIAL THOUGHT LEADERS IN LEADING – 2 Days n Friday 13 May & Friday 24 June, Waterloo Members $250 | Non-members $450

FOOT CARE FOR NURSES – 2 Days n Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 May, Port Macquarie Members $203 | Non-members $350

Register online

WWW.NSWNMA.ASN.AU/ EDUCATION/EDUCATION-CALENDAR For enquiries contact NSWNMA Metro: 8595 1234 Rural: 1300 367 962

NSWNMA MEMBER NEGOTIATION & ADVOCACY PROGRAM 2016 NEGOTIATION & ADVOCACY PT 1

n Wednesdays 18 May, 21 September, 16 November 9am – 4pm, NSWNMA Waterloo

NEGOTIATION & ADVOCACY PT 2:

‘The IRC, FWC, AHPRA & You’ n Wednesdays 18 May, 21 September, 16 November 9am – 4pm, NSWNMA Waterloo For enquiries contact Lyn Stevens at 8595 1234 (metro) or 1300 367 962 (rural)

g n i g n a h C d l r o W Wednesday 20 July 2016 Rosehill Gardens Racecourse Grand Pavilion

9am to 5pm Registration opens at 7.30am MC Norman Swan GUEST SPEAKERS Peter Martin, Richard Denniss, Kate Swaffer and more COST members $100 non-members $150 students $20 (limited places)

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Closes Wednesday 13 July 2016

REGISTER ONLINE

www.nswnma.asn.au/education

SOCIAL MEDIA | NURSE UNCUT

WHAT’S

A BLOG FOR AUSTRALIAN NURSES AND MIDWIVES 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

THIS MONTH

Nurse Uncut is also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NurseUncutAustralia and on Twitter @nurseuncut

Lessons from my first 10 years as a nurse Lesson number one: life is short! Jess looks back on her first decade in nursing. www.nurseuncut.com.au/lessons-from-my-first-10 -years-as-a-nurse

Fewer registered nurses = more deaths Yet another study shows that without RNs, mortality climbs. So why does aged care lack even minimum staffing requirements? www.nurseuncut.com.au/fewer-registered-nurses-more-deaths

A champion of aged care Dr Maree Bernoth shares her insights about aged care. www.nurseuncut.com.au/maree-bernoth-improving-the-quality-of-aged-care

Conditions on your registration?

An RN with conditions on her registration wants to make contact with others in the same boat. www.nurseuncut.com.au/healthcare-groups-of fer-medical-asylum

Trans-Pacific-Partnership – on the brink Once you’ve read about the TPP process and its potential outcomes, you’ll be as concerned as we are. www.nurseuncut.com.au/conditions-on-your-registration

Health workers force climb down on Baby Asha A vigil by health workers outside a Brisbane hospital puts pressure on Peter Dutton not to discharge Baby Asha into Nauru detention. www.nurseuncut.com.au/vigil-to-letthemstay-forces-ministerial-climbdown

New on SupportNurses YouTube channel PILLIGA PROTEST Nurses sound the alarm on the dangers of CSG in the Pilliga State Forest.

RPAH SOLIDARITY RALLY Sydney shows support for the health workers’ vigil in Brisbane.

http ://bit.ly/Pilliga

http ://bit.ly/ RPAsolidarity

We’re on

Instagram!

Share your photos by tagging @ nswnma and don’t forget to use the hashtag #nswnma!

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 Ratios put patient safety first >> www.facebook.com/safepatientcare Aged Care Nurses >> www.facebook.com/agedcarenurses

Look for your local Branch page on our website.

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 31

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SOCIAL MEDIA | facebook

WHAT NURSES & MIDWIVES

SAID & LIKED on facebook www.facebook.com/nswnma Nurses’ right to fight for Asha Health care workers in Sydney rallied to support Brisbane health staff who would not discharge a baby back to Nauru detention.

Give with one hand, take with the other Private health profits rise astronomically as cuts to Medicare continue.

My entire family are so proud of you in taking this ethical stand and applaud your professionalism in supporting children’s rights!

I am a nurse, I am in the union, I disagree and don`t think the union should be involved with this.

It is your right to disagree. I see this as a highly relevant cause for a nurses’ union to be involved with. Anyone involved in the care of baby Asha, who speaks about her or her parents, risks two years in jail for doing so. My primary reason for becoming involved was to support my colleagues who by law are not able to speak about this without risking jail. I have been involved in the direct care of refugees and have talked at length with them. In one case a patient asked me to share his story. He was shocked to learn that for me to do so would expose me to the risk of prison. We are duty bound to care for and advocate strongly on behalf of our patients. That is now a crime. I have a BIG problem with that.

If you want to understand the economics of how best to fund our health care system, check out what monospony is - it’s the reverse of a monopoly. Instead of having absolute power over the price for selling your product, you have a major influence over the price of what is purchased. So, if the government used their buying power for healthcare, via a public health system & Medicare, we would have the most efficient & cost effective system in the world, to say nothing of the social benefits of a healthier society.

Shocking fact: there are no ratios at all in aged care.

Private hospitals pay their nurses approximately 10% less than government hospitals. Private mental health facilities want their clients kicked out after 8 weeks as the private companies don’t make a profit after 8 weeks of inpatient care.

The age of fear

Where I work the ratio is 1:80.

One to 60! At night one to 99.

Don’t blame the managers, they are reporting to owners and board members who are only interested in making money.

I’m an EN and at the place I worked was 1 RN to 90 and 1 EN to 30/45 which is why I have left this industry. My registration is too important to me.

Forget ‘extra services” and try some ‘extra’ service with ‘extra’ staff.

Aged care’s staffing crisis

The NSWNMA told the inquiry into elder abuse that many staff would not report abuse or neglect, as they feared reprisals. We asked if this was your experience.

PHOTO GALLERY

Orientation for new nursing students at the Hawkesbury campus of Western Sydney Uni.

Yes it does. When you are understaffed and management don’t follow their own protocols, staff get hurt and residents hurt each other, themselves and staff.

I have worked in aged care for at least 25 years and have NEVER seen any abuse!

I was assaulted at work by a person who could not help it. I understand that they had no control, but I was still injured and lost my job over it.

It saddens me to see the true hard working staff being accused of neglect when the real perpetrators are the owners and managers. If you do not have enough pairs of hands or enough experienced ones provided, then that IS NEGLECT!

After the sad news of his death, we found this pic of Jon English with Coffs nurses.

Drug/alcohol & sexual health nurse Nerida at the Medicare rally against pathology cuts.

Health workers made the trek into state forest near Narrabri to protest against fracking.

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 33

Cavell Edith

COVER STORY

TRUST BEQUESTS

T

he Edith Cavel Trust is now able to receive non-tax deductable donations/ bequests.

The Trust – named in honour of Edith Cavell assists in the advancement of NSW nurses and midwives through further studies and research, made available through scholarship. The knowledge and expertise gained by nurses and midwives, supported by the Edith Cavell Scholarships, is an asset to the care of their patients and clients. Bequests to the trust would continue to support this important work.

Edith, a British nurse serving in Belgium in WW1, is a hero to most nurses and midwives. She helped some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium. Her actions saw her arrested, accused of treason, found guilty by a court-martial and sentenced to death. Despite international pressure for mercy, she was shot by a German firing squad.

ks Sunday n i s r e d d May 1st 2016 Ri and ent m d Foo rtain Belmore Park te n Assemble at Belmore Park E

(Corner of Railway Square and Eddy Avenue) Marching to Victoria Park.

11 am

assembly for 11.30am March

NAME ADDRESS

PHONE EMAIL

$

BEQUEST/ DONATION AMOUNT

Preferred method of payment ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER Account name: New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association Bank: Commonwealth Bank BSB: 062-017 Account no: 10017908 CREDIT CARD I authorise the NSWNMA to debit my credit card for the amount of Mastercard

Visa

CARD NO NAME ON CARD

$

Expiry Date

SYDNEY MAY DAY MARCH & Family Fun Day @SydneyMayDay

/ www.facebook.com/ sydneymayday/

SIGNATURE OF CARDHOLDER 34 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

Sydney@mayday.org.au

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THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 35

Family Planning NSW

Upcoming courses for nurses Reproductive and Sexual Health Clinical Accreditation Program: June 2016 120 CPD hours

This 21 week clinical competency-based program will prepare nurses and midwives to function in an extended clinical role in the specialty of reproductive and sexual health. The Reproductive and Sexual Health Clinical Accreditation Program will develop your skills in: • History taking • Contraception • Men’s health

• Sexually transmissible infections • Breast awareness • Diversity

• Cervical screening • Safer sex • Disability

Nurses’ Short course: June 2016 40 CPD hours

This 12 week course provides theoretical upskilling in reproductive and sexual health.

There is no clinical component and the course is mostly conducted online.

Clinical Forum: Kiama, 30 April 2016, Ashfield 6 CPD hours

A one-day forum for doctors and nurses led by Family Planning NSW Medical Director and expert clinicians. Update your knowledge on the latest in reproductive and sexual health.

Now taking enrolments. For more information or to enrol now, visit www.fpnsw.org.au or email education@fpnsw.org.au

Gather. Share. Give.

REGISTER NOW!

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36 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1

2

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9

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7

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11 13

12

14 15

16

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39

Across 1. Brain death (12.4) 9. A spherical body 10. The capability or willingness to learn something new 11. The electrical signal used in electronic computers 12. Lysinuric protein intolerance (1.1.1) 13. A termination; an extremity 14. A sweetened liquid that contains alcohol, water, and medicine 15. Easily observable 16. A threadlike structure or part 17. Mentally quick and original 19. Torn apart, split, rent, ruptured 20. A unit of magnetic field intensity 21. Osteoarthritis (1.1) 22. Symbol for silicon 23. The dorsally concave curvature of the cervical spinal column when seen from the side (8.8) 37 | THE LAMP JULY 2015

29. Open systems interconnection (1.1.1) 30. The self 31. To leave out 33. The act of stretching 36. Class, rank 37. Cone-shaped 39. A triangular smooth area at the base of the bladder between the openings of the two ureters and that of the urethra (7.2.7) Down 1. The pH at which an amphoteric substance, such as protein or an amino acid, is electrically neutral (11.5) 2. Tularemia (6.5) 3. One of the stellar figures on the surface of the lens of the eye (6.6) 4. A benign tumor derived from striated muscle

5. Relating to the ilium and femur 6. Polygraph (3.8) 7. To mitigate the effects of; absorb the shock of 8. A severe, sustained impairment of social interaction and functioning (8.8) 18. A toxic metal linked to poor functioning of central nervous system 22. Specific immune globulin (1.1.1) 24. Expressing a choice or an opinion 25. Vitamin P 26. The fine hair on the body of the fetus 27. Oswestry Disability Index (1.1.1) 28. A unit of time 32. Immunotoxin (1.1) 34. Oral contraceptive (1.1) 35. Gangrenous processes of the mouth or genitalia 38. One of blood type (1.1)

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 37

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

38 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

www.nswnma.asn.au

NURSING RESEARCH ONLINE The Association has adopted a strategic plan for the next 5 years to guide us forward as we face the challenges to our professions and the environments where we live and work. A key objective of the strategic plan is to promote a world class, well-funded, integrated health system. Over the following months, this page will cover some of the issues we need your feedback on. Go online to NurseUncut to share your wisdom and experience. This month we begin with aged care.

The challenges for aged care LIFE EXPECTANCY IN AUSTRALIA IS THE SIXTH HIGHEST IN THE OECD AT 82.2 YEARS There are over one million people aged 65 years and over in NSW, comprising 13.8% of the State’s population, slightly higher than the National average. Life expectancy has increased, and birth rates have declined and these factors change the age profile of our communities. It is predicted that by 2020, residents aged 65 years and over will make up nearly 20% of the state’s population. Globally, the population aged over 65 years will double between 2000 and 2050 in most countries, but in India the number will triple and in Kuwait it is expected there will be a ninefold increase during this timeframe. There has also been a significant rise in people aged over 85 who now total around 8% of the world’s 65 years and over population, and this figure is more likely to be around 12% in developed countries.

AGE-RELATED HEALTH CONSEQUENCES WILL RISE Overall, older people in NSW have a high standard of health and good access to health care services. However, as the proportion of older people increases, so will the incidence of age-related health consequences, including acute and chronic illness, frailty and disability. Most significant are dementia, cardio-vascular illness, some disabilities and some cancers. Other factors that are not specifically age related but impact on health and wellness during ageing include insecure housing or homelessness, lack of transport, social isolation, poverty, mental illness, violence and exploitation, and effects of drug and alcohol use.

WHO OPERATES IN AGED CARE The health and wellbeing of older people in our community connects with many public sector services in NSW, as well as services in the non-government and private sectors. Most people in NSW will continue to age in their own homes with support of family and friends, and from a range of primary care and community services. A smaller proportion will access Commonwealth funded in-home packages or residential aged care.

There are 885 residential aged care homes in NSW operated by federally funded providers. About three quarters are run by non-government providers such as church, and charitable providers, with some run by community organisations and local government.

The rest are run by private operators. There are also

a small number of nursing homes managed by the NSW Government, although the government is in the process of transferring its state-run homes to the non-government sector, and has only ten remaining residential aged care homes.

Aged care beds are also operated by the NSW government in Multi Purpose Services. These are attached to public hospitals in rural and remote areas, and include a mix of beds for short term and long term stay. Overall, NSW Health has 1714 high care, low care and transitional aged care beds, across 56 services. It is predicated that public long-term care spending will double in OECD countries by 2050.

AGEING AT HOME Despite the increased risk of depression and social isolation that living alone can bring, most older people would prefer to stay in their own home for as long as possible. This has led to many countries developing policies aimed to maximize the length of time people can be cared for at home. Over recent years Australia has seen both legislative and policy changes as part of its aged care reforms, allowing people to ’age in place.’ By enabling people to live at home for longer, those entering long term care facilities are generally frailer and nearing the end of life, or have dementia type illnesses. Aged care providers have traditionally sold their services through promotion of lifestyle and hotel environments. This shift in acuity will require an increasing focus on acute, end of life and dementia specific services which will inevitably increase the need to employ registered nurses around the clock.

THE IMPORTANCE OF NURSING CARE The reality of most people requiring long term care is that they are too frail to take advantage of a resort style hotel environment and require much more emphasis on nursing care and specialised equipment.

In the case of aged care facilities formerly classified as hostels they are not legally required to provide registered nurses, despite statistics which show that 80% of all people entering any classification of aged care home receive increased funding due to their high care needs. Of those, most are classed as having high care needs across all three domains (behaviour, daily living and complex healthcare). NSW has an opportunity, through State legislation to ensure legal requirements are established to take account of this. However, at this time no decision has been made as to whether this will be done.

13.8%

of NSW’s population are aged 65 years and over

20%

of NSW’s population will be over 65 in 2020

We want to hear what you think Please go to Nurse Uncut to read more about the current state of aged care and give us your feedback on our strategic plan:

www.nurseuncut. com.au/visionstatements NSW NurSeS aNd midWiveS’ aSSociatioN

Strategic Plan

2015

to

2020 THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 39

NSWNMA EDUCATION

FRIDAY 15 APRIL 2016

Nurses, Midwives and interested health personnel:

Working Towards a Sustainable Health Care Future Environmentally Sustainable Practice in Hospitals and Community Setting L POTENTIA CPD HOURS

In partnership with the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Sydney LHD and following last year’s successful seminar, the focus is on the importance of nurses, midwives and interested health personnel being involved in sustainable health care … from nursing students learning about sustainable health care in their course through to hospitals, using the Global Green & Healthy Hospitals (GGHH) network at their workplaces and becoming a member.

GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Patricia Schwerdtle | Lecturer & Keynote Speaker, Monash University, Victoria

Chris Hill | Director Environmental Sustainability, Mater Hospital Queensland and CAHA’s Sustainable Healthcare Project Officer The Green Team: Mahmoud Chatila & Anne Newman | Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT), Cardinal Gilroy Village, Merrylands NSW

Michelle Skrivanic | Concord Hospital – “The Sydney Based Nurses Environmentally Sustainable Approach”

REGISTER NOW & SAVE THE DATE! Friday 15 April 2016!

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Kerry Packer Auditorium, Missenden Road, Camperdown

9am to 3.30pm

Matt Power | Group Manager Energy and Environment, St Vincent’s Health, Sydney.

Members $60 | Non-members $85 | Students $30 Associate Members no cost* Lunch and refreshments provided

Susan Wilburn | Sustainability Director, Global Green & Health

*Associate member please contact the Association to register

Hospitals – “Quality and Safety on Medicines and Chemicals”

REGISTER ONLINE www.nswnma.asn.au/education/education-calendar ENQUIRIES: (02) 8595 1234 (metro) or 1300 367 962 (regional) 40 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

Authorised by B.Holmes, General Secretary, NSWNMA

BOOK ME All the latest Book Me reviews from The Lamp can be read online at www.nswnma.asn.au/library-services/book-reviews.

The Midwife’s Tale: An Oral History From Handywoman To Professional Midwife Nicky Leap & Billie Hunter

Pen & Sword Books (through Peribo): www.peribo.com.au.

RRP $44.99. ISBN 9781781593745 The Midwife’s Tale is a fascinating oral history of the lives of mothers and midwives across Britain in the first half of the twentieth century. The book is based on extensive interviews with mothers and retired midwives about their experiences of childbirth before the NHS. It explores the very real poverty of the time, how woman coped with rearing large families and the lack of knowledge of contraception and abortion. Gripping accounts of women’s experiences are set against an informative background of events in the midwifery profession, particularly the transition from unqualified ‘handywoman’ to professional midwife in the 1930s.

A Practical Guide To End Of Life Care Clair Sadle

Open University Press & McGraw Hill Education: www.mheducation.com.au. RRP $57.95 (Member discount available). ISBN 9780335263561 This book is an accessible guide for all those working in health or social services and caring for people at the end of their lives. It advocates for a person-centred approach that highlights equally the dignity of the patient, needs of the family and importance of care givers’ well-being. Written by members of the Princess Alice Hospice community care team, it combines their extensive experience in palliative care into a cross-disciplinary resource that is deeply compassionate while also offering sound practical advice.

Shaping Global Health Policy Alexandra Kaasch

Palgrave Macmillan: www. palgravemacmillan.com.au. RRP $119.95.

ISBN 9781137308887 This book investigates global social policy in the field of health. While legal or regulatory obligations to run health systems have primarily remained at the level of national governments, the ideational and discursive exchanges about suitable models, appropriate reforms, and socially protective arrangements extends to various transnational forums across multiple scales. Using an approach that combines transnational and comparative social policy analysis with international relations, Shaping Global Health Policy assesses various global social policy actors and compares their ideas and prescriptions about national health care systems. The book particularly focuses upon the ensemble of health provision, financing and regulation to a comprehensive system of health and social protection.

DISCOUNT BOOKS FOR MEMBERS! The Library is pleased to announce that McGraw Hill Publishers are now offering members a 25% discount off the RRP! The offer currently covers medical as well as a range of other professional series books. Please see the online Book Me reviews for a link to the promotion code and further instructions, or contact the Library directly for further information.

SPECIAL INTEREST The Mindful Way Through Stress Shamash Alidina

Guidlford Press (through Footprint) www.footprint.com.au.

RRP $37.95. ISBN 9781462509409 This practical, easy to read manual explores the many different elements of stress and explains how to cope, drawing on decades of research and experience with the highly successful mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program. Full of examples and step-by-step guidance, it details an 8 week mini-course that focuses on taking 10 minutes a day to develop mindfulness through topical essays, guided meditations and simple stretching exercises. The book is from the author of Mindfulness for Dummies, and is supported by a companion website that offers audio files and other practice tools, plus additional lessons and online mindfulness teacher training.

Global Health Nursing: Building And Sustaining Partnerships

Michele Upvall & Jeanne Leffers

Springer Publishing (through Footprint Books): www.footprint.com.au. RRP $109. ISBN 9780826118684 From Florence Nightingale’s efforts in the Crimea to today, nurses have worked to improve patient outcomes and affect the social determinants of health globally. This book demonstrates how nurses can build sustainable health programs that will improve health outcomes worldwide. It offers expert guidance gained from many years of successful involvement in international collaboration, which is supported by detailed, real-life examples.

It aims to help global health nurses sustain successful programs and services even after formal programs or funding ends through providing essential tools and strategies drawn from case studies.

All books can be ordered through the publisher or your local bookshop. NSWNMA members can borrow the books featured here via the Library’s Online Catalogue: visit http://www.nswnma.asn.au/library-services. Call 8595 1234 or 1300 367 962, or email gensec@nswnma.asn.au for assistance with loans or research.

Some books are reviewed using information supplied and have not been independently reviewed.

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 41

EDUCATION

?

16 0 2 in s ie d u t s g n ci n e m Com g Professional Education?

Updating your Continuin

The NSWNMA can help members and associate members achieve their career aims with our ...

SCHOLARSHIPS Edith Cavell Scholarship Your membership allows you to apply for an Edith Cavell education or research scholarship at www.nswnma.asn.au/ the-edith-cavell-trust-scholarship-information

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

LIONS NURSES’ SCHOLARSHIP The Lions Nurses’ Scholarship is available for nurses and enrolled nurses. For more information go to www.nswnma.asn.au/ the-lions-nurses-scholarship-information NSWNMA members are able to attend current, relevant workshops and study days both at the Association and in regional areas. These workshops are subsidised for members. See the 2016 NSWNMA education calendar at www.nswnma.asn.au/ education/education-calendar

The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation runs a suite of online education programs. Check them out at http://anmf.org/pages/online-education-programs. As a member of the NSWNMA, you are able to access the ANMF courses at a subsidised rate.

LIBRARY SERVICES 42 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

The Association’s Library Services can support you while you are studying. The library has access to a large range of databases as well as a comprehensive textbook collection.

Check out our library services at www.nswnma.asn.au/ about-library-services-information

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

Michael Moore is back with a new axe to grind Where To Invade Next is a documentary that explores the current social and economic issues facing the USA. Ironically following America’s historically aggressive approach towards international affairs, Moore takes his gung-ho attitude and invades countries with a loaded camera and rounds of questions.

To begin with Moore discusses less sensitive issues with a flavour of humour and a hint of crass. Lightly dancing around what makes people happy Moore repeatedly asks “Why?” Why does it work? Why isn’t that silly? Why are you laughing at my ridiculous questions? OK, maybe not the last one.

As the film progresses the issues become bigger and his message becomes clearer: European countries are doing something right compared to America. From healthy school lunches in France to forward-thinking rehabilitation gaols in Finland, the brush strokes become wider and paint a large picture. Alternative approaches to the world’s big issues start to make a lot of sense, so much so that I was left wondering why this wasn’t already the universal approach.

After seeing this film I found myself raising interesting facts with friends, such as: ‘did you know that in Germany it’s illegal for an employer to contact an employee outside of work hours?’

I enjoy being informed and up-to-date on current issues, and Moore’s approach to interviewing people sat very comfortably with me. As with any documentary it has an air of bias, but as a whole it was thought-provoking, engaging and highly informative.

Lyndall Frost is an RN at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital In cinemas April 16. Check out the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KeAZho8TKo

METROMEMBERGIVEAWAY

EMAIL The Lamp BY THE 12TH OF THE MONTH TO BE IN THE DRAW TO WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO WHERE TO INVADE NEXT 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 Ripper Street The third series of this riveting crime drama opens with a cataclysmic event which reverberates throughout the series. Fifty-five souls are lost to a terrible locomotive disaster, with the wreckage landing right in the lap of “H” Division – on Leman Street itself. From the twisted debris of the crash emerge clues that uncover long hidden deceits. These crimes threaten not only to destroy Reid’s iron grip on “H” Division, but to unravel his fragile psyche too. The personal damage to Reid is profound and there is no limit to what he will do to avenge his own, deep-seated grief.

RURALMEMBERGIVEAWAY EMAIL THE LAMP BY THE 15TH OF THIS MONTH TO BE IN THE DRAW TO WIN A DVD OF RIPPER STREET THANKS TO ROADSHOW ENTERTAINMENT. EMAIL YOUR NAME, MEMBERSHIP NUMBER, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER TO LAMP@NSWNMA.ASN.AU FOR A CHANCE TO WIN! THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 43

Calling all runners, joggers & walkers – join us on 8 May for the

MOTHER’S DAY CLASSIC

The Mother’s Day Classic held on 8 May is a national fun run raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The NSWNMA have created a team to participate in the 2016 event. Come along and join in the fun on Mother’s Day as we make our way around the Domain in Sydney or around any one of the events held across NSW. There are both running and walking events to cater for all levels of fitness.

TO REGISTER: 1 www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/ register your details and select the 2 Enter event and race

Register and nominate the Association as your team, all participating members will receive a NSWNMA team running shirt for the day*.

*To be eligible for the team running shirt, please register by Wednesday 6 April.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

When prompted with the page asking if “you would like to join a team” select yes

4

Search and select our team name – NSW Nurses and Midwives Association

We are also looking for volunteers to hand out water and refreshments on the day at the Domain and Parramatta events. Please contact Miriam Galea at events@nswnma.asn.au

POSITION VACANT

Professional officer

44 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

3

We are recruiting a permanent full-time Professional Officer to join our Professional Services team within the NSWNMA. For more details and to apply visit

www.nswnma.asn.au/about-us/jobs-at-nswnma Applications close Friday, 15 April 2016.

Going to work shouldn’t mean stepping into this.

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

THE LAMP APRIL 2016 | 45

COVER STORY 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.

DIARY DATES IS A FREE SERVICE FOR MEMBERS lamp @ nswnma.asn.au NSW My Career Pathways to Practice, Mental Health Practitioner Conference 2016 6 April 2016 SMC Centre, Sydney www.mycareer2016.com.au Consumer and Carer Co-Designing Mental Health 7 April 2016 Collective Purpose, Sydney www.civilsociety.org.au/March2016. htm Professional Development Day 30 April 2016 Harbourview Function Centre, Newcastle www.empowernurseeducation.com.au ACN National Nurses Breakfast 12 May 2016 www.acn.edu.au/acn-national-nursesbreakfast “The Yin and Yang of Continence”, The Continence Foundation of Australia in NSW Inc. State Conference 2016 1 July 2016 Dockside, Darling Harbour Sydney cfahpo.nsw@gmail.com Dimensions of Cardiology Conference 8-9 July 2016 Harbourview Function Centre, Newcastle cfahpo.nsw@gmail.com Declared Delirium Clinical and Research Days, 3rd Biennial Conference Australasian Delirium Association 14-15 July 2016 University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia www.delirium.org.au DANA 2016 NSW Drug and Alcohol Nurses Forum 12 August 2016 Park Royal Hotel Darling Harbour www.danaonline.org The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Paediatric Perioperative Seminar 14-15 July 2016 10 September 2016 Novotel Parramatta, Sydney claudia.watson@health.nsw.gov.au 4th Annual Anaesthetics & PARU Conference 20-22 September 2016 Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney www.empowernurseeducation.com.au Australasia-Pacific Post-Polio Conference 20-22 September 2016 Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney www.polioaustralia.org.au/

INTERSTATE Caring for Country Kids Conference 17-19 April 2016 Alice Springs Convention Centre, Alice Springs www.countrykids.org.au 4th National No 2 Bullying Conference 18-19 April 2016 Mantra on View Hotel, Gold Coast www.no2bullying.org.au/ ANMF Health and Environmental Sustainability Conference 29 April 2016 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne

46 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016

www.anmfvic.asn.au/events-andconferences/2016/04/29/2016anmf-health-and-environmentalsustainability-conferenceCancer Nurses Society of Australia 12-14 May 2016 Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns www.cnsacongress.com.au 3rd Eating Disorders and Obesity Conference 16-17 May 2016 Mantra on View, Gold Coast www.eatingdisordersaustralia.org.au The Australian & New Zealand Addiction Conference 18-20 May 2016 Mantra on View, Gold Coast www.addictionaustralia.org.au 17th International Mental Health Conference 10-12 August 2016 Sea World Resort, Gold Coast www.http://anzmh.asn.au/conference 11th National Conference Australian College of Nurse Practitioners 26-28 October 2016 Melbourne Park Function Centre www.dcconferences,com.au/acnp2016 The National Nursing Forum 30 August-2 September 2016 Alice Springs www.acn.edu.au/nnf2016 Hospital In The Home (HITH) 9th Annual Scientific Meeting 2016 2-4 November 2016 Stamford Grand www.conference.hithsociety.org.au/ ASPAAN Twilight Seminar Thursday 17th December Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth www.aspaan.org.au

INTERNATIONAL 12th World Congress of Nurse Anaesthetists 13-16 May 2016 Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC), Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, UK www.wcna2016.com 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 5th World Congress of Clinical Safety 21-23 September 2016 Joseph B. Martin Conference Center, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, USA www.iarmm.org/5WCCS/ BIT’S 3rd Annual World Congress of Orthopaedics 29 September-October 2016 Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX), Goyang-Si, South Korea www.bitcongress.com/wcort2016/ 5th International Conference on Violence in the Health Sector 26-28 October 2016 Dublin, Ireland www.oudconsultancy.nl/dublin_5_ ICWV/index.html

REUNIONS Wollongong Hospital Nurse Intake of 1976 Reunion 16th April 2016 Jacqueline Hurley: jacqui0322@hotmail.com 0423286080

RNSH May 1973-1976 Reunion 14 May 2016 Judith Parker: 0419243083 or Judithp193@gmail.com Cathie Cowell (Scholes): 0414593676 or cathiecowell@gmail.com RAHC Camperdown May 1978 Reunion 28 May 2016 Janet Whitaker (Howland): jsnettie@gmail.com Denise Randall (Little): drandall@aapt.net.au or 0409 607 968 Royal Prince Alfred Hospital June 1976-1979 40 Year Reunion 11 June 2016 Carroll Nada (Varda): carrollnada@gmail.com Marcia Sherring: marcia.sherring@bigpond.com St Vincent’s Hospital Darlinghurst PTS Class June 1975 41 Year Reunion 9 July 2016 Janelle Schwager: 0407 107 357 or Janelleschwager@gmail.com

St Vincent’s Darlinghurst PTS Class March 1976-1979 40 year reunion 22 October 2016 Kerrie Maher: kerriefmaher@hotmail. com or 0408464903 Tamworth Base Hospital February 1976 intake 40-year reunion Contacts: Sandra Cox: sandra.cox@ hnehealth.nsw Sean O’Connor: 0408 349 126 Gerard Jeffery: 0417 664 993 Auburn Hospital October 1976-1979 40th Reunion Sharon Byers: 0419 144 965 or sbyers01@bigpond.net.au Margaret Borg (Mueller): 0431 159 964 or margaret_borg@bigpond.com RAHC Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children PTS 1977- 40 Yr Reunion 4-5 February 2017 Coleen Holland (Argall): bobandcolh@ yahoo.com.au

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48 | THE LAMP APRIL 2016