NEWSFLASH: Leave, compensation + PPE - Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (Tasmanian Branch)

COVID-19

Updates for nurses, midwives and care workers in Tasmania

Newsflash #1: We are here to support you

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic evolves in Tasmania, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) will be focused on delivering critical information to members to ensure that you are protected from a work health and safety perspective, both industrially and professionally. This Newsflash will be the first of many from the ANMF as we traverse the changing health requirements with you. We will continue to provide succinct information as it comes to hand to keep you informed on developments and entitlements, whilst also addressing your concerns via email, text and via the designated ANMF Tasmania COVID-19 web page here.

View the full COVID-19 page here

Workers Compensation

The ANMF have been lobbying for presumptive workers compensation for all healthcare workers who may acquire COIVD-19 in their workplaces across all sectors. The ANMF have written to employers to request that workers compensation be presumptive for all ANMF members who are exposed to the virus in their workplaces and subsequently become unwell. In the interim, we have secured advice from WorkSafe Tasmania that workplace transmission of COVID-19 is covered by the Act if a worker has contracted a disease and his/her employment contributed to this to a substantial degree.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The ANMF have sought an update from the Minister from Health on the availability of PPE in order to provide members with confidence that there is, and will be, enough throughout the pandemic. The ANMF have requested that the Health Minister publicly address the community on the need, to ensure they are not using or taking PPE from health facilities. It should be stressed that these resources must be kept for use by nurses, midwives and care workers. We also remind members that one of the easiest ways to help protect yourself is to wash your hands frequently and limit touching your face.

The Tasmanian Health Service (THS) have advised that they have sufficient pandemic stocks and that this is being replenished as required. However, THShave advised all staff to be mindful of using it appropriately to ensure there is a steady supply of PPE.

In the community, Primary Health Tasmania are in charge of distributing PPE from the Australian Government. The request form for this is available on the Australian Government Department of Health website. The ANMF Tasmanian Branch are working with the Federal Office to ensure that advocacy and assurances are received from the Australian Government on providing sufficient PPE to Primary Health Tasmania and in turn our community members.

The ANMF have called upon the Tasmanian Health Secretary and the Health Minister to ensure that there is sufficient supplies available for community nurses, midwives and care workers, as well as those working in GP practices and rural and remote areas.

The ANMF have been advised that an Australian manufacturer has been secured to make masks and we are expecting further feedback on other essential PPE production soon. We will update members as we receive this information.

Leave Arrangements

Public Sector: All public sector members are entitled to the below leave arrangements with respect to COVID-19:

An employee who is absent due to illness or caring purposes can access their personal leave entitlement. Specifically, where an employee is unwell, personal (sick) leave provisions apply as per the relevant award and agreements.
Where an employee is required to provide care for a member of their family or household who is sick, or has an unexpected emergency, personal (carers) leave provisions apply as per the relevant award and agreements. Such requests relating to an unexpected emergency will be considered on a case by case basis, which includes requests that may arise due to school or childcare centre closures, noting that flexible working arrangements should be explored first.
Employees who are absent due to illness or caring purposes and have exhausted their personal leave, should contact their HR team for further advice. These cases will be assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether another form of paid leave can apply.
Where an employee is not ill but is excluded from the workplace due to isolation requirements they will continue to be paid their normal salary (including regular allowances).

Private Sector: The ANMF have written to the employers of our private sector members to request the following:

Paid pandemic leave to cover self-isolation
Carers leave if required to care for an unwell family member with COVID-19 or if an unexpected emergency arises, such as childcare closures in which members have childcare responsibilities
Presumptive workers compensation for any employee with COVID-19.
These private sector employer commitments, where received by the ANMF, can be found on our COVID-19 web page. In addition, the ANMF are continuing to advocate for paid pandemic leave for all nurses, midwives and care workers at a State and Federal level.

Thank you

We wish to commend all nurses, midwives and care workers on your amazing work during this evolving crisis – particularly your professionalism and dedication. We are with you and here to support you.

Updates correct as at 20 March 2020
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary

COVID-19 TRAINING AVAILABLE HERE

In order to best support nurses, midwives and care workers throughout the current pandemic, we have partnered with My Midwifery and Nursing CPD to bring members up to date online training on COVID-19. This training is free for all ANMF Tasmanian members and includes 2 modules focused on COVID-19, totalling 6 CPD hours.

Access training here