Invite your fellow students to join ANMF (Vic Branch)
ANMF (Vic Branch) encourages all nursing and midwifery students to invite the students in their course to join the union.
Undergraduate nursing and midwifery students and enrolled nursing students can be an ANMF (Vic Branch) member. We have thousands of student members.
Please direct your friends and fellow nursing and midwifery students to anmfvic.asn.au/join
There is a special membership category for students who are working
ANMF has hundreds of members in the ‘student working’ category which includes:
- an enrolled nurse studying to be a registered nurse or midwife
- a registered undergraduate student of nursing (RUSON) working in an employment model
- an enrolled nursing student or undergraduate nursing or midwifery student working as a personal care worker in private aged care (we have many members in this category).
This membership* category provides professional indemnity insurance, Good Samaritan insurance and employment, professional, workplace health and safety (including WorkCover) and legal advice, support and representation.
*Conditions apply, you must be fully financial and your membership category must reflect your hours (this means if you are working 25 hours or more, you must be paying full-time membership).
ANMF is supporting RUSONs and RUSOMs
Bachelor of nursing students have the opportunity to participate in the surge workforce and consolidate their practical nursing skills and knowledge during the COVID-19 pandemic through the expansion of the Registered Undergraduate Students of Nursing (RUSON) employment model.
The RUSON model employs second-year and third-year students above the required nurse: patient ratio to undertake general nursing activities under the delegation and supervision of registered nurses.
Several Victorian health services have piloted the program in previous years, and due to the increased workforce demand the model is being rolled out to additional Victorian health services.
To ensure all student are supported, ANMF (Vic Branch) worked with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to produce a kit of templates to support health services to implement the RUSON model consistently.
The RUSON employment model is to be implemented in accordance with clause 106 of the Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Health Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2016. This is the document that sets out the pay, working conditions and entitlements such as personal leave for all public sector nurses and midwives.
RUSONs should be aware of these documents and the EBA clause to ensure they are receiving the appropriate support and working conditions.
ANMF also worked with the Victorian health department to ensure that all RUSONs are employed on short-term contracts and not as casuals, to ensure they have access to leave and other conditions.
New RUSONs should contact ANMF if they are being offered casual work or expected to perform tasks outside the core activities list [PDF] that is included in our template documents via anmfvic.asn.au/memberassistance
ANMF is advocating and working on the implementation of a similar program for registered undergraduate students of midwifery (RUSOMs). Documentation (position descriptions and employment contracts) are being finalised.
Testing positive and making a WorkCover claim
ANMF encourages any RUSON or student working in a health service who tests positive to COVID-19 to make a WorkCover claim.
ANMF is advocating for uncontested WorkCover claims for all healthcare workers regardless of where or how they contract the virus. ANMF has written to Attorney-General Jill Hennessey seeking presumptive cover for all nurses, midwives and carers.
ANMF is not aware of WorkCover rejecting any healthcare worker’s claim. ANMF will support members who need assistance to make a WorkCover claim.
Do you have a concern about placement or registration?
ANMF is working with the Department of Health and Human Services and the education providers to ensure that final year students are prioritised for outstanding clinical placements required in order to register in time for the early 2021 graduate programs.
ANMF student members with an issue or concern about their student placement or registration are encouraged to seek advice and support as quickly as possible via anmfvic.asn.au/COVID19student
Do you have a workplace concern as a student working?
All ANMF members, including ANMF student members, can seek ANMF advice and support for an issue via www.anmfvicasn.au/memberassistance
Issues may include your contract or pay or entitlements, personal protective equipment, rostering or working for more than one employer.
ANMF communications
ANMF sends members workplace-specific newsflashes and meeting notices. If you are working you need to update your membership details to include your workplace, including if you are participating in a RUSON program, to ensure you receive workplace newsflashes.
Please update your details to ensure you receive these emails via anmfvic.asn.au/memberportal
ANMF also sends all members a weekly COVID-19 newsflash update so you are aware of the latest information in relation to personal protective equipment, ANMF advocacy and how to seek ANMF assistance.
If we have your correct details and you are not receiving the newsflashes you may have previously unsubscribed. Please resubscribe via anmfvic.asn.au/resubscribe
Virtual student study days
Each year ANMF organises student study days to assist final year student nurses and midwives prepare for their transition to practice. ANMF held virtual study days for undergraduate nursing and midwifery students and enrolled nurses this year. More than 250 students attended our Undergraduate Study Day in June and almost 150 students attended our Enrolled Nursing Student Study Day in August.
Students can access tailored, free counselling, support and referral
If you feel like you are not coping, need to talk or need a little extra support you can access the Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria.
The NMHPV is a free, confidential and independent counselling and support service run by nurses and midwives. Services are available in regional and metropolitan Victoria.
NMHPV encourages students to call sooner rather than later.
Watch NMHPV Chief Executive Officer Glenn Taylor talk about how they can support.
To contact NMHPV call 9415 7551 or email admin@nmhp.org.au
Find out more www.nmhp.org.au
