NEWS-HR

A s.217 (Enterprise agreement) application by Aged Care Services Australia Group Pty Ltd for its Aged Care Services Australia Group Pty Ltd – Nurses and Aged Care Employees Enterprise Agreement 2014 has been granted. The agreement covers Aged Care Services Australia Group Pty Ltd, Nurses and Aged Care employees employed by Aged Care Services Australia Group Pty Ltd as classified in Schedule 3 of the Agreement employed in Tasmania and is subject to the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch and the Health Service[s] Union, Tasmania No.1.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and Jewish Care Inc have a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Commissioner Cribb in Conference Room H – Level 6 in Melbourne.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has defended the release of a welfare recipient’s personal and protected information to a journalist, insisting it was proportionate and legal. The release has been criticised by the Federal Opposition and lawyers who believe it may have a chilling impact on welfare recipients who would otherwise criticise the Government. Blogger Andie Fox wrote an opinion piece early in February claiming Centrelink had “terrorised” her over a debt she claimed she did not owe. A few weeks later, her personal details were supplied to a journalist who wrote a comment piece from the Government’s perspective, raising the prospect that Centrelink had been “unfairly castigated”. Public servants have told a Senate Estimates hearing in Canberra the “protected” information was collated by DHS officials and approved for release by Human Services Minister Alan Tudge’s office.

Eighty-four years, eight months and fifteen days. That’s how old two-time killer Graham Anthony George Sloane will be when he is first eligible for release from jail. But that’s not good enough, according to the family of Windale aged-care worker and murder victim Renee Mitchell. They wanted “life”.

More than 20 residents and a significant number of staff at a nursing home have been struck down with gastro, with at least one person admitted to hospital. A source from Grovedale’s Homestyle Belmont Grange said chaos reigned at the nursing home with so many frail and elderly residents sick, and a large number of staff also taken ill. Homestyle chief executive Tim Humphries confirmed 21 residents currently had gastro. A Department of Health spokesman said one resident had been hospitalised.

Stif Sekirski has failed to convince the Fair Work Commission that he was unfairly dismissed by Scope (Vic) Ltd. Mr Sekirski worked as a Disability Support Worker. His employment was terminated on the grounds of serious misconduct.

A s.394 (Unfair dismissal) application by Lynne Sneesby against Farragher Support Services Pty Ltd has been tossed out by Deputy President Gooley because she failed to follow through on his information requests.

A pioneer in the aged care residential care sector has died. Betty Amsden, 90, died at home this week.