A union has criticised an aged care home on Hobart’s eastern shore for removing paid parental leave entitlements, saying it will not do any favours to a sector dealing with a skills shortage. The Fair Work Commission has approved a protected industrial action ballot for workers at the Queen Victoria Homes (QVH) in Lindisfarne. The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) said it reached an in-principle agreement with the home’s management that workers would be entitled to 14 weeks of paid parental leave. The union said management had now taken that off the table, telling employees to access parental leave through the Federal Government. “Access to paid parental leave is one of the big issues for aged care workers, a predominantly female workforce,” state secretary Tim Jacobson said.
November 13, 2015
Thousands of health professionals are being actively monitored by authorities because they have a criminal history, drug problem, health impairment, or because they are not suitably qualified for their job. New data shows 5702 health professionals, including doctors, nurses and dentists, were being watched by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency last financial year because of concerns about their conduct. Doctors, nurses and Chinese medicine practitioners made up the bulk of those being monitored and the most common reason was their “suitability and eligibility” for the job. This could mean they do not hold an approved or substantially equivalent qualification in their profession, lack English language skills, or do not fully meet the requirements of any other approved registration standard.
November 10, 2015
The Fair Work Commission has given its consent to the Estia Investments Pty Ltd (trading as Estia Health) – Estia Health Grovesdale, Estia Health Wodonga, Estia Health Plenty Valley – ANMF and HSU Enterprise Agreement 2015.
November 10, 2015
Fair Work Commissioner Simpson in Brisbane has signed off the approval of the NoosaCare Inc Enterprise Agreement 2015.
November 10, 2015
The St John of God Health Care (Vic Hospitals) Medical Scientists, Dietitians and Psychologists Enterprise Agreement 2015 has gained Fair Work Commission consent in Melbourne.
November 10, 2015
The Mercy Public Hospitals Health Service (Biomedical Engineers) Enterprise Agreement 2014-2017 now has FWC approval.
November 10, 2015
Queensland Nurses’ Union of Employees and Queensland Health are in the middle of a s.576(2)(aa) (promoting cooperative and productive workplace relations and preventing disputes) lovefest.
November 10, 2015
Eastern Health has to deal with a s.394 (application for unfair dismissal remedy) lodged by a disaffected ex-employee (Sirdesai) in the Fair Work Commission in Melbourne.
