Win for NWRH theatres in TIC with litany of workload grievances to come from ANMF members
27 August 2025
What: WIN FOR NWRH THEATRES IN TIC
When: 10:30am, Thursday 27 August 2025
Where: 19 Brisbane Street, Launceston
Who: ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch today welcomed the win for North West Regional Hospital Theatre members with the Tasmanian Health Service finally agreeing to staff the North-West Regional Theatres to the benchmarked 40.13 FTE which is an uplift of 7.35 FTE.
ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the increase is what is required to staff theatres safely and prevent unreasonable overtime and member burn out.
“The Tasmanian Health Service has also agreed to immediately staff to this increased FTE and have already commenced a recruitment process to be completed by November 2025 to fill these positions on 12-month fixed term contracts,” Ms Shepherd said.
“While this is welcome news by members, it is disappointing that the ANMF had to seek the matter to be listed for arbitration in order to seek these commitments.
“However, the ANMF, in good faith, has suspended the application in the Tasmanian Commission provided the Tasmanian Health Service continue to staff to the increased staffing complement and recruit to these positions.”
Ms Shepherd said the good news on the North-West Coast came as the ANMF lodged another workload dispute with the Tasmanian Industrial Commission on behalf of members at the Royal Hobart Hospital K9West surgical ward.
“Members have sought to lodge this matter after the 5.48 FTE Assistant in Nursing positions endorsed at benchmarking in 2024, which have still not been implemented or recruited to.
“This has resulted in unsustainable nursing workloads, which leave members feeling morally and ethically compromised, unable to consistently provide the quality care that wish to for their patients.
“Despite the Tasmanian Health Service agreeing with the required minimum safe staffing levels in 2024 to meet service delivery demand, K9West members are still awaiting the additional 5.48FTE AIN’s to ensure that they can deliver safe and quality care.
“Not filling these positions shows a blatant disregard to ensuring a safe working environment and in turn quality patient care.”
Ms Shepherd said K9 West members have reported that the absence of these additional positions has meant that they are not able to meet patients care needs, even basic ones like supporting patient nutrition.
“This has resulted in some patients not being able to achieve their daily nutritional needs.
Ms Shepherd said the K9 West workload dispute is one of a litany of workload disputes the ANMF intend to raise with the Tasmanian Industrial Commission.
“The issues of the failure to recruit to and meet benchmarked staffing minimums are widespread.
“Members continue to face unrealistic workloads and are burning out.
“The ANMF will continue to raise these disputes until all benchmarking is advertised and filled to mitigate member workloads and ensure quality patient care.”
Media contact:
Emily Shepherd
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au