NEWS-HR

A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by Anglicare SA Limited T/A AnglicareSA for its AnglicareSA Ltd/ Australian Services Union Social, Community, Disability, Clerical, Allied Health and Miscellaneous Employees Agreement 2016 has been granted by Commissioner Saunders in Newcastle on the 23 February 2017.

A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by St Vincent De Paul Society Queensland for its St Vincent De Pail Society Employee Agreement 2017 has been approved by Commissioner Saunders in Newcastle on the 24 February 2017.

ENTERPRISE AGREEMENTS – dispute about matter arising under agreement – s.739 Fair Work Act 2009 – application to deal with a dispute under Anglicare SA/ANMF Nursing Employees Aged Care Agreement No.5 of 2015 – respondent became aware that number of its enrolled nurses were not entitled to administer medicines – this due to experience or previous training not completed – the nurses required medication administration courses to permit them to administer medicines – required its enrolled nurses to undertake training in their own time at own cost – unable to direct employees to perform work until the training had been completed – some nurses took annual leave to attend training, others took unpaid leave – applicant contended that respondent was not entitled to ‘stand down’ nurses and nurses were entitled to be repaid the cost of training and payment at ordinary time rates for period of attendance at training or for those who took annual leave – leave records to be adjusted on basis that they worked – claimed clause 14.4 of Agreement required employer to be responsible for the ‘provision of mandatory training and skills updates’ – respondent claimed that qualification was necessary for employee to perform job as opposed to a mandatory training update – Commission considered registration standards set by the National Boards – once registered, health practitioners must continue to meet the standards and renew their registration yearly with National Board – respondent required entire nursing staff to administer medication, therefore it was an inherent requirement of the role – Commission found the training obligation is encompassed in the term ‘training and skills updates as required by state and federal legislation’ in clause 14.4 of the Agreement – found respondent was responsible for the provision of such training and the time spent completing this is to be regarded as time worked and paid at ordinary time rates – held that nurses who complete such training in the organisation must be paid or have their annual leave records adjusted – payments and/or annual leave record adjustments shall be made by respondent within 14 days of this decision. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation v Anglicare SA Limited t/a Anglicare SA

A man has pleaded guilty to murdering and raping remote outback nurse Gayle Woodford in South Australia’s Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands last year. Dudley Davey, 35, has pleaded guilty in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court to murdering and raping Ms Woodford and stealing her ambulance.

An unprecedented pool of 500 potential jurors could be called in the trial of Newcastle Dr Jeremy Coleman. The 63-year-old is at the centre of one of the state’s largest cases of medical malpractice, with more than 100 former patients alleging he sexually and/or indecently assaulted them during the course of their treatment.

The public sector union is warning the impacts could “possibly be huge” as the federal health department goes ahead with plans to slash jobs. The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) said the Department of Health had confirmed to them 250 jobs will go.

The carer of a Mooroobool disability pensioner found dead in his home has been urged to come forward with police believing he could be a “significant witness” in the case.

A Sunshine Coast mum is being chased by a debt collector on behalf of Queensland Health for $6000 they say she was overpaid as a result of the payroll debacle seven years ago. Krysten Harvey is fuming as she has been trying to get an explanation from Queensland Health for more than a year showing how they have worked out the debt.