ANMF Tasmania Commence Enterprise Agreement Negotiations, Presenting Extensive Log of Claims on Behalf of Members

24 April 2026

WHAT: ANMF Media Call

WHERE: 54 Tamar Street, Launceston

WHEN: Friday 24 April, 12 Midday –  ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd and ANMF members will be available for media interview

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmania Branch, the largest union in the country representing nurses, midwives and care workers, has formally commenced Enterprise Agreement (EA) negotiations, beginning the presentation of an extensive log of claims developed on behalf of its members.

The log of claims comprises 68 individual claim items, reflecting the depth and breadth of issues impacting nurses, midwives and care workers across Tasmania’s public health system. This week’s negotiations focused on claim items relating to mental health nursing, nursing roles within Ambulance Tasmania, and Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) models of care.

“ANMF workplace delegates — drawing on lived experience and frontline expertise — provided powerful and compelling evidence on the challenges faced by their colleagues in these specialist areas of practice”, said ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary, Emily Shepherd.

Mental Health Nursing

Delegates representing mental health services called for urgent action to address long‑standing inequities and risks in mental health settings. Key claims include:

• Addressing the multi‑disciplinary allowance to ensure nurses are not disadvantaged when working within multi‑disciplinary teams
• Implementing dedicated mental health nursing skill‑mix within mental health units
• Introducing a mental health environment allowance that reflects the unique risks and complexity of mental health nursing
• Ensuring access to damaged clothing allowances for staff exposed to frequent occupational hazards

Delegates emphasised that without these measures, mental health nurses continue to be undervalued and placed at risk while delivering critical care to Tasmanians with acute and complex needs.

Ambulance Tasmania Nursing Roles

Nurses working in Ambulance Tasmania highlighted significant disparities in the recognition of their expansive scope of practice, particularly for nurses working in statewide Secondary Triage and other statewide clinical roles.

Delegates identified inequities between paramedics and nurses undertaking comparable responsibilities, particularly in nursing‑dominated services, including:

• Lack of appropriate recognition and classification for advanced nursing roles
• Limited access to education and training opportunities
• The need for greater alignment of entitlements with paramedic colleagues performing similar functions

These disparities continue to undervalue nursing expertise and limit workforce sustainability in critical emergency and triage services.

Midwifery Group Practice

Midwives working in Midwifery Group Practice models spoke to the increasing workloads and pressures associated with continuity of care models. Delegates called for:

• Funded leave relief and backfill arrangements
• Capped working hours at 12 hours per day to improve safety for midwives and families
• Improved and sustainable caseload numbers
• Dedicated Nurse Unit Manager and Case Team Leader roles, classified at levels comparable to core midwifery positions

Midwives stressed that without these supports, the MGP model risks becoming unsustainable, despite its proven benefits for mothers, babies and the health system.

The ANMF will continue presenting its log of claims over the coming weeks. All claims are supported by evidence‑based practice, research, and frontline experience.

“The scope of the log of claims highlights the ongoing challenges faced by nurses and midwives across Tasmania, including persistent workforce shortages, unsafe workloads, and a lack of adequate government support. These challenges are compounded by the Tasmanian Government’s continued failure to ensure safe staffing levels and properly value nurses and midwives for the critical work they perform every day for the Tasmanian community”.

The ANMF remains committed to fighting for fair, safe and sustainable working conditions so nurses, midwives and care workers can continue to deliver high‑quality care to Tasmanians and will return to the negotiation table next week.

Media contact:
Emily Shepherd
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au

Updates are correct as of 24 April 2026.
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary