On Tuesday 7 October the Fair Work Commission granted ANMF’s application for a protected industrial action ballot order.
In our members’ meeting on 2 October, Healthscope nurses and midwives unanimously resolved to direct ANMF to apply for a protected industrial action ballot order from the Fair Work Commission to send a strong message to your employer to improve its offer as part of the ongoing enterprise agreement negotiations, in particular to ensure Healthscope members achieve market comparable wages and conditions.
Voting YES to take protected industrial action sends a strong message to your employer that you will not be taken for granted and that your important concerns must be addressed. It is important to remember that you will not be voting to take industrial action; you will be voting for your legal right to take protected industrial action at a future time.
This important ballot of members will commence at 9am on Wednesday 15 October and close at 5pm on Tuesday 21 October.
UPDATE YOUR DETAILS REMINDER
To be eligible to vote in a protected industrial action ballot, ANMF members’ details must be up to date and match with their details on the employer-provided list.
It is critical members check their surname, first name, middle name, date of birth, work and private email, mobile and postal address are correct.
Members whose workplace and contact details don’t match won’t be eligible to vote, which may limit everyone’s ability to participate in a campaign.
Please ensure your details are correct by 9.00pm Sunday 12 October 2025.
To update your details, visit the member portal.
BALLOT DETAILS
The ANMF member ballot will be conducted by the Fair Work Commission approved independent ballot agent VERO Voting.
Read our VOTE Yes flier, including FAQs and list of proposed actions.
Members will be asked one question to authorise the 24 items of protected industrial action.
A successful YES vote will send a strong message to Healthscope’s management. It is important every member votes.
A successful ballot requires:
- Fifty percent or more of eligible members on the ballot roll must vote; and
- A majority of those members who vote, must vote YES.
If you do not receive a ballot link from Vero Voting, contact ANMF via records@anmfvic.asn.au attention ANMF Industrial Professional Assistant.
What does ‘protected’ mean when taking industrial action?
It means you can alter the way you do your work or refuse to do certain work without any fear of disciplinary action or dismissal – provided the action is authorised by the protected industrial action ballot and the appropriate notice has been given. To read more, visit ANMF’s Healthscope EBA campaign page.
Will taking protected industrial action put patient safety at risk?
Public sector, Bolton Clarke and St Vincent’s Private Hospitals’ are just some of the members who have taken legal protected industrial action recently to achieve improved wages and working conditions. ANMF members’ protected industrial action does not put patient health, safety or welfare at risk.
Our action is designed to disrupt and inconvenience employers who are not listening to their nurses’ and midwives’ concerns.
Will I lose pay?
You could as it is unlawful for an employer to pay an employee for protected industrial action. However, this rarely happens for partial bans or wearing campaign t-shirts. Pay docking will probably happen if we close beds, stop elective surgery or stop work for two or four hours at a time. Healthscope can only dock for the actual time taken in protected industrial action or (for partial bans) using a complicated formula and by giving notice to you of any proposed reduction in pay.
Can the ANMF help if I experience financial hardship as a result of pay docking?
Yes. The ANMF operates a member Hardship Fund for those involved in protected industrial action. Importantly, this is not an income replacement fund, it may provide some support to members who face significant hardship as a result of the protected industrial action where eligible.
Campaign page
For more information and resources visit ANMF’s Healthscope EBA campaign page.
Got a campaign inquiry?
If you need to get in touch with your ANMF Organiser please contact them via records@anmfvic.asn.au.
- Dorset Rehabilitation Centre – Bill Foord-Engelsman
- Geelong Clinic – Christian Sanderson
- Healthscope Ltd. Head Office – Simon Olden
- Holmesglen Private Hospital – Stephanie Bligh
- John Fawkner Hospital – Lachlan Schacht
- Knox Private Hospital – Linda Elliott
- La Trobe Private Hospital – Julie Wearing-Smith
- Melbourne Private Hospital – Lyndal Alston
- Northpark Private Hospital – Julie Wearing-Smith
- Ringwood Private Hospital – Linda Elliott
- The Melbourne Clinic Private Hospital – Linda Elliott
- Victoria Clinic Private Hospital – Narelle Hayes
- Victorian Rehabilitation Centre – Jenna Bell
