Rally Against Household Model of Care Amid Community Concerns
16 February 2023
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian Branch will be holding a rally and a community forum to protest Southern Cross Care Tasmania’s (SCCT) proposed Household Model of Care tomorrow Friday 17th February amid growing community concerns for residents.
‘The ANMF has had a growing number of concerns and complaints raised by members, residents, families and the community about SCCT’s Household Model of Care which will eradicate Enrolled Nurses (ENs) from their facilities,’ said ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary, Emily Shepherd.
SCCT has already seen a decline in EN numbers in their workforce due to their precarious employment situation, with a likely redundancy looming.’
While the Household Model of Care is an evidence-based model and is in use in other jurisdictions, it does not necessitate the removal of ENs from these facilities.
‘Concerned families have already seen a decrease in the quality and continuity of care in some SCCT facilities due to ENs leaving, leading to families needing to advocate more assertively on behalf of their relatives and now being the main conduit to communicate their clinical information to health professionals undertaking their care outside of the facility. This has been impacted by the loss of EN’s, and now Registered Nurse’s, who previously were aware of the resident’s needs.’
The rally will be supporting members to speak out against the proposed change which would result in the loss of essential EN roles at SCCT. The community forum will support members, residents and their families along with the community to better understand the proposed change, including an outline of avenues that can be taken to advocate against the change at SCCT, and more broadly for legislative change to protect ENs in Aged Care.
All concerned community members are welcome at the rally and community forum. State and Federal Politicians will be present at the ANMF community forum. Details below:
Rally:
Where: Rosary Gardens
When: 17 February 2023, 1:00-2:00pm
Who: ANMF members and ANMF Secretary, Emily Shepherd
Community Forum
Where: ANMF Office, 182 Macquarie Street, Hobart
When: 17 February 2023, 4:30-5:30pm
Who: ANMF Secretary, ANMF officials, Community members and Tasmanian and Federal Politicians
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Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au