Public Sector Updates – South

Adult Community Mental Health Service Continuing Care Teams

The ANMF recently met with members and management in relation to ongoing concerns around reform. The ANMF has written formally to the Statewide Mental Health Services (SMHS) acting Executive Director to confirm and clarify the status of current negotiations, as well as to raise new concerns around issues previously raised that have not been resolved through reform. View the latest update.

A response to the ANMF’s most recent letter to SMHS management is due on Monday 19 June 2023. Once a response is received the ANMF will send out a newsflash summary and arrange a member meeting.

Correctional Primary Health Service

The ANMF recently met with members in the Correctional Primary Health Service (CPHS) who raised a number of concerns, which members authorised the ANMF to escalate to their Group Director.

A summary of the questions and responses received was sent to members, see the latest update. A meeting was scheduled for last week but unfortunately had to be cancelled and the ANMF apologise for any inconvenience caused. A survey in relation to the roster pattern matter and further meeting time will be arranged and communicated to members soon.

Millbrook Rise Centre, Roy Fagan Centre, Mistral Place and Tolosa Street

The ANMF has visited the above sites in relation to their 12 hour rosters, shift patterns and paid or unpaid meal breaks. The ANMF question raised related matters several weeks ago with Industrial Relations (IR) and Human Resources (HR) for the Department of Health but at this time there has been no outcome.

Some members will remember, a Workplace Flexibility Agreement (WFA) was developed to prescribe how 12 hour shifts at these sites should operate and be compensated. IR/HR have since advised that as per the Nurses and Midwives (Tasmanian State Service) Award, they will need to register an agreement under Section 55 of the Industrial Relations Act. A formal proposal to resolve this matter is yet to be made by the service. The ANMF will be escalating this matter to a formal grievance this week, as endorsed by our members at a recent meeting at Millbrook Rise Centre (MRC). We are seeking consultation to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. A newsflash update will be sent to members with the details. If you have any questions, please contact Senior Organiser Jenna Bowling at Jenna.Bowling@anmftas.org.au.

Bruny Island Community Health Centre (BICHC)

The ANMF has been engaged in ongoing negotiations outside of the Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC) about a matter of the second on-call staff member at the Bruny Island Community Health Centre and the proposed removal of this position. It is our members firm opinion that the second on-call staff member is needed and has been validated through recent data collection and reporting. Throughout these negotiations the Tasmania Health Service (THS) has been slow in their responses and provision of updates. At this time, it is still unknown what the future may hold for the second on-call. Members anxiously await an end to what has been a tumultuous few months. The ANMF will be writing to the THS again this week to seek the next steps and implore an end to the reckless and unsafe removal of such a critical resource on Bruny Island. Any members wishing to provide feedback can do so by contacting Senior Southern Organiser Jenna Bowling via email at Jenna.Bowling@anmftas.org.au.