In the past week ANMF has received news that three major Melbourne hospitals had unilaterally decided to cut the working hours of graduate and grade 2 year 2 nurses and midwives. Disappointingly, this decision was made without warning to, or consultation with, ANMF.
Alfred Health was the first to announce its plan to reduce its 2025 graduate contracts from 0.8 to 0.6 EFT (or from four days to three days per week). It was followed two days later by the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) deciding to alter individual ongoing contracts of current 2024 graduate nurses, likewise reducing their EFT from 0.8 to 0.6.
In addition, current graduate members at Royal Women’s informed us of their employer’s intention to offer ongoing contracts in maternity services at an adjusted EFT at the completion of the members’ graduate year. Like Alfred and RMH, this adjusted EFT equals 0.6, down from the current 0.8 in the contract.
These decisions are a slap in the face – not only to early career nurses and midwives but to all public sector members, who spent months earlier this year campaigning to rebuild our workforces. Our incredible grads and grade 2 year 1 nurses and midwives have already endured training during COVID and years of placement poverty. To now be facing fewer hours with which to consolidate skills and gain experience, not to mention earn a living, could well be the final straw for some.
We cannot let that happen.
Graduate nurses and midwives are a critical pipeline for the future nursing and midwifery workforce, and the quality of the workplace support and treatment they receive in the early years of their career is an indicator for the likelihood they will stay in nursing or midwifery throughout their career.
The Branch has had urgent meetings with all services, as well as with government. I am pleased to confirm that RMH management has now agreed to maintain continuing contracts for graduate nurses transitioning into their second year of service. These nurses will now continue to work 0.8 EFT in 2025.
Discussions with Alfred Health and Royal Women’s are ongoing, and the Branch has sought legal advice. In the meantime, future grads at either Alfred Health, or current graduates at the Royal Women’s should contact the ANMF for future advice and support via the Member Assistance form.
If this has made you anxious and stressed and you need mental health support, you can also contact Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria. It’s free, confidential and independent, and staffed by specialist nurses and midwives.
