ANMF Calls on New Government To Continue Funds For The RHH Clinical Trials Unit On Cancer Nurses Day
July 2025
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch today honoured all members working in cancer services on Cancer Services Day.
ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the ANMF celebrates their strength, skill, dedication and resilience as they deliver life saving care every single day.
“Across Australia, 7700 cancer nurses stand beside patients and families during some of their hardest moments,” Ms Shepherd said.
“Here in Tasmania, our members do this while facing immense workload pressures and proposed staffing cuts.”
Ms Shepherd said while the positive contribution these nurse make every single day on their patients, their families and community cannot be overstatesd, it is with regret that nurses at the RHH Clinical Trials Unit are facing staffing cuts and as a result service cuts when Tasmanians need it most.
“Today the ANMF is calling on the new Tasmanian Government to protect staffing levels and safeguard the future of cancer care and clinical trials on 19 August when Parliament resumes.
“It is predicted that the 11 people in Tasmania diagnosed with cancer everyday will rise to 15 per day by 2035.
“Now is not the time to be reducing clinical trials, now is the time to be investing in research to stem to tide of the tsunami of cancer diagnoses that will severely impact the Tasmanian population.”
Ms Shepherd said while the discussion remains ongoing, it is clear that this is a budget savings measure, reducing cancer clinical trials is not the way to repair the budget.
“It will end up costing the Tasmanian Government more in the long term in terms of the economic impact of broad care delivery, but will cost Tasmanians more, some with their lives.
“Our cancer nurses don’t need thanks and kind words on Cancer Nurses Day. They just want the respect to be adequately resourced to do their jobs and do them well so they can keep saving lives.”
Media contact:
Emily Shepherd
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au