Nurses and Midwives Call for Staffing, Protecting and Valuing in State Budget

20 May 2026

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) is today calling on the State Government to ensure Nurses and Midwives are Valued, Protected and have Safe Staffing in the State Budget.

ANMF Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the ANMF remains in good faith negotiations with the Department of Health but recognises the outcome of these negotiations will be largely dependent on whether the Government prioritises hard-working public sector nurses and midwives in this budget.

“The ANMF is calling on the Government to ensure that:

• That all public sector health services are safely staffed, including a commitment to roll out ratios, that also count the babies
• That all public sector nurses and midwives are valued as they have been in other states and territories to ensure that we can retain existing nurses and midwives and recruit to Tasmania
• That all nurses and midwives are protected and kept safe in their workplaces and that their health and wellbeing are recognised and respected.

“The ANMF is seeking a ratio model to ensure safe staffing which will address the ongoing inherent issues with existing staffing models which will address the ongoing chronic understaffing practices.

“Wages and conditions that are comparable to other states and Territories is critical with ANMF in NSW recently winning a huge wage uplift for their undervalued nurse and midwives, meaning Tasmanian Nurses and Midwives will be the worst paid in the country.

“Finally, seeing nurses and midwives be supported in their workplaces when serious incidents occur with a peer support program and personal impact days is crucial.”

Ms Shepherd said the ANMF is urging the Tasmanian Government to recognise that nurses and midwives are essential in delivering health services in Tasmania.

“Without appropriate staffing, wages, conditions and a safe working environment, nurses and midwives will choose not to work here.

“During negotiations, the detrimental impacts understaffing, violence and stress can have on nurses and midwives have been highlighted by our members across the State.

“Sadly we’ve heard of instances where nurses working with diagnostic imaging, theatre, cath lab or anywhere where imaging is required have been instructed to stand behind their medical counter parts, who have better fitting lead aprons and skirts, due to the flimsy and ill fitting apron and skirt that out members are provided.

“These types of issues are affecting our members everyday and it indicated that they are not valued and their health and safety is less than that of their colleagues.

“The ANMF urges the Tasmanian Government to provide a budget that covers all Tasmanian key priorities, one of which is definitely quality and accessible health care.”