From $20,000 sign-ons to up to $70,000 for those relocating to rural or remote areas for over two years the allure for nurses, midwives, and health worker to head across the border to Queensland is high.
NSW nurses and midwives have been seeking a 15 per cent pay rise after suffering an effective pay cut of ten per cent since 2020 with multiple strikes as they ask the NSW government to come to the table to negotiate.
‘With better wages and conditions just over the border, there is a massive attrition of nurses and midwives to Queensland, leaving our hospitals understaffed and overworked,’ said Mandy Nolan, local community advocate and Greens Candidate for Richmond.
This disparity has led to a significant exodus of skilled workers, with NSW Health reporting a 13.1 per cent loss in its nursing workforce in 2022-23.
Vital Work
Tomorrow evening, Wednesday, November 6, a public forum with local nurses and midwives to discuss the staffing crisis is benig held at Banora Point Community Centre, Corner Leisure Drive and Woodlands Drive, Banora Point from 6pm.
Other panellists include:
- Kristin Ryan-Agnew, Tweed Branch President, NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and Registered Nurse and Midwife.
- Angie Gittus, Murwillumbah Branch Secretary NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and Registered Nurse.
- Heather Dunn, Registered Nurse and Midwife and NSWNMA Lismore Member.
Ms Nolan will host ‘Vital Work’ forum and will be joined by Dr Amanda Cohn, Greens NSW Health spokesperson and local Nurses and NSWMA representatives.
‘In the last few months, they’ve been striking for the pay rise they were promised. But it still hasn’t been delivered. They’re at breaking point and they need the community to support them,’ said Ms Nolan.
The community is invited to come and find out more about why nurses are seeking a pay increase and improved conditions, just turn up or register at: www.mandy4richmond.com/vital_work.
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