Nurses and Midwives

The Proposed Queensland Health Nurses and Midwives Award - State 2009

Background

The State Award Project commenced as an outcome of the Nurses (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement (EB6) 2006 (‘nurses EB6 agreement’).  The parties were required to move the current nursing and midwifery awards from the federal to state jurisdiction, due to amendments to federal industrial relations legislation at the time.

As a result of this, it was agreed that one award would be drafted.  The proposed award does not create a loss or diminution of any existing conditions or entitlements for employees.  The new award will merely consolidate the provisions of the existing awards, which include:

• Nurses (Queensland Health) – Section 170MX Award 2003;
• Nurses (Queensland Public Hospitals) Award 2004; and
• Nurses (Queensland Public Health Sector) Award 2004.

The proposed award will apply to all nurses and midwives employed by Queensland Health.  This does not include registered nurses covered by the Public Service Award – State 2003 working in Corporate Office as public service officers.

What do you need to do?
 
The process for making an industrial award is different to the process to certify an industrial agreement.  As such, you will not be required to vote for or against the proposed award. However, for information purposes, a copy of the proposed award is available for you to peruse at the link, which is set out below. 

In drafting the proposed award, Queensland Health has sought to ensure that all current terms and conditions have been accurately reflected. 
If you have any feedback in relation to the accuracy of the draft award, please email NursingIBB@health.qld.gov.au by no later than 7 December 2009.

Further Information
 
A full copy of the proposed award is available here:

• Proposed Queensland Health Nurses and Midwives Award - State 2009

A summary document with respect to the proposed new award has been developed to assist with any queries you may have. A full copy of the summary document is available here:

• Proposed Queensland Health Nurses and Midwives Award - State 2009 Summary Document

If this document do not answer your query, you may contact:

• People and Culture Corporate – 07 3234 0108
• Nursing email address NursingIBB@health.qld.gov.au
• Your local Human Resources Unit
• Your union
  

Nurses and Midwives (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement (EB7) 2009

The Nurses and Midwives (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement (EB7) 2009 was certified on 27 July 2009, with a nominal expiry date of 31 March 2012.

The agreement provides a number of key benefits to nurses and midwives:

• wage increase of 4.5% or $34 per week, whichever is the greater, payable from 1 April 2009, and 4% or $34 per week, whichever is the greater, payable from 1 April 2010 and 1 April 2011
• increases of 4% from 1 April 2009, 2010 and 2011 to the following allowances
  - dispensary  
  - relieving in charge and special duties
  - operating theatre 
  - hyperbaric chamber
  - mental health environment - x ray
  - targeted training - night supervisors
  - on call
• increase to midwives' annualised salary loading from 27.5% to 30%
• increase for Enrolled Nurse (Advanced Practice) top of scale wage rate from $47,932 to $50,091 (plus wage increases on top)

Members of the Nurses and Midwives EB7 Implementation Group will work together to implement the agreement, including project work in the four areas of:

• further refinement and development of the Business Planning Framework: a tool for workload management (4th edition)
• identifying, supporting and evaluating current innovative models of nursing and midwifery on the workforce that promote best practice
• build on existing strategies to enhance the working arrangements for nurses and midwives and to include a review of the best practice rostering guidelines
• a review of the classification and career structure focusing on the generic level statements and definitions to support contemporary models of nursing and midwifery

Should you require any further information please contact the nurses and midwives team via email NursingIBB@health.qld.gov.au

More Information

	Nurses and Midwives Home
	Bringing Nurses back into the workforce program
	Flexible Work Arrangements Guide
	Nurses and Midwives Agreement & other resources
	Implementation Group
	Professional Development Package
	Uniforms - Update
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Last Updated: 05 June 2009
Last Reviewed: 05 June 2009