A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application from Healthe Care Australia Pty Limited T/A Belmont Private Hospital, Currumbin Private Hospital, Townsville Private Hospital, Robina Private Hospital for its Healthe Care (Queensland Private Hospitals) and QNMU/ANMF – Nursing Enterprise Agreement 2018-2022 has been approved by Fair Work Commissioner Bissett in Melbourne on 21 December 2018.
January 7, 2019
Bupa Griffith residents are “very afraid” their aged care home could be shut down over health problems, according to former Victoria Health Services report.
January 7, 2019
Queensland’s proposed “right to health services” could force nurses to put themselves at risk to treat dangerous ice-affected patients, according to the state’s nursing union, which is pushing for an independent review of the government’s human rights bill. The move by the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union comes amid a broader union push to enshrine the “right to strike” and “fair” minimum wage in the new law, which business has said would drag industrial disputes into the courts. Labor’s bill would have Queenslanders complain to a new human rights commission if a state agency violates any of 23 proposed human rights, and appeal to the courts if they have a lawsuit on foot. Judges could advise parliament about rights breaches, but they would not be allowed to strike down laws. The union says in a submission to parliament: “Given the haste with which the government has introduced the bill, QNMU council is still formalising its position. In our view, the government should consider referring the matter to the Queensland Law Reform Commission for further deliberation.’’ The union warned an unqualified right to health services could endanger nurses and midwives. “Drugs such as crystal methamphetamine (ice) can produce psychotic, life-threatening episodes where the individual is unaware of the extent of their own injuries/condition,” its submission reads. “In our view, the bill must not include an unqualified right that may compromise the health and safety of another person … Nurses and midwives have a right to a safe workplace.” The Queensland Council of Unions lamented the reluctance of parliament to “redress the decline in union membership by positively framing the advantages of union membership”. “Enforcement of positive right to join a union is rare if not non-existent. The dismantling of legislative protections for unions has allowed anti-union activity to flourish with impunity,” QCU told parliament. The QCU would enshrine rights to take protected industrial action, a fair minimum wage, equal opportunity, collective bargaining, reasonable limits on hours, and safe and healthy working conditions. Business groups rejected the QCU’s plan. Shane Rodgers, the Queensland head of Ai Group, said combining industrial relations and human rights laws “would be a recipe for confusion and uncertainty”. “The courts are already busy enough without diverting to the courts matters that belong in the Fair Work Commission and the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission,” he said. Mr Rodgers said state and federal industrial law “deals comprehensively with these issues in a way that provides a balance between the interests of employees and employers”. Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland’s head of industry Dan Petrie said the Fair Work Commission was “one of the most well-resourced workplace inspectorates globally”. “The core thrust of the QCU submission seems to focus on redressing declining membership rates over the last two decades, which are primarily due to the changing nature of the global economy and subsequent technological advances over the same time period,” he said.
January 7, 2019
A Warrigal Care staff member has been stood down amid allegations she used “excessive force” against a dementia patient at the aged care provider’s Warilla nursing home. Two staff members reported the allegation to managers on December 24, prompting Warrigal to immediately suspend the woman and report the matter to police. Warrigal acting executive officer Craig Smith said on Friday that the incident, alleged to have occurred sometime in December, involved the staff member “using more force than necessary with the resident”. He said the exact details of what took place were still being determined.
January 7, 2019
Professor Kerse has been appointed the inaugural Joyce Cook Chair in Ageing Well, a role made possible by a $5 million gift to the University’s For All Our Futures fundraising campaign from Metlifecare founder Cliff Cook.
January 7, 2019
A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application from the Continence Foundation of Australia Ltd T/A Continence Foundation of Australia for the Nurses (National Continence Helpline) Enterprise Agreement 2016-2020 has been granted by Fair Work Commissioner Cribb in Melbourne on 21 December 2018.
January 7, 2019
An emotionally charged courtroom has heard harrowing details of a Geelong man’s final moments after he was struck down and left for dead by an alleged hit-run driver just days before Christmas. The alleged driver, 27-year-old Lovely Banks cleaner Jamie Neskovski, appeared before a packed Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday flanked by three security officers. The court heard that after initially fleeing the scene Mr Neskovski allegedly returned two minutes later, even shining his headlights onto the dying man, before leaving again without rendering help. The court heard Mr Neskovski worked as full time cleaner at his father’s business that holds major corporate contracts with the likes of the Geelong Football Club and aged care homes.
January 7, 2019
A s.185 (Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement) from Sigma Company Limited T/A Sigma Healthcare Limited for the Sigma (SA/NT) Enterprise Agreement 2018 has been granted by Fair Work Commissioner Platt in Adelaide on 21 December 2018.
