Calvary Healthcare Recruitment and Retention at Risk

The ANMF, who are currently representing members in bargaining for a new Enterprise Agreement, have persistently raised concerns with management regarding staffing levels and the impact of these on members workloads. The ANMF has proposed a safe staffing pathway that would allow members the opportunity to raise concerns through a dedicated channel with Calvary Healthcare management. This would provide the employer an opportunity to act on members concerns. However, Calvary Healthcare will not agree to this, they have instead threatened to reduce conditions and entitlements which would increase the fatigue of ANMF nurses and midwives.

“The ANMF are incredibly disappointed that Calvary Healthcare have not acted to address the workload concerns raised by members. This inaction ultimately affects the delivery of care available to private patients. Members are not able to meet the care needs of their patients to the level of quality they would like. Members are dismayed that their concerns appear to have fallen on deaf ears with Calvary Healthcare management,” ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary, Emily Shepherd said today.

“The public sector has a workload resolution pathway and an agreed staffing model of care, and now the aged care sector looks set to have one as well based on the Aged Care Royal Commission’s recommendations. It seems counter intuitive for Calvary Healthcare to not follow the expected health and community standards and do the same. Their inaction in this area could see them lose skilled staff and face difficulty with recruitment in the future.”

The ANMF will be meeting with members following a final negotiation meeting this Friday, where Calvary Healthcare’s final position will be made clear. The ANMF will take members direction on the outcome and will act on their requests to undertake industrial action if required.

Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au