ANMF (Vic Branch) Secretary Maddy Harradence speaks to Healthscope members rallying outside Melbourne Private, 20 November 2025. Photo: Christopher Hopkins
On 20 November, Healthscope members escalated their protected industrial action by walking off the job for stop-work rallies held outside the Melbourne Private and Geelong Clinic.
Nearly 500 members and supporters from Victorian Trades Hall, HACSU and other unions gathered outside Melbourne Private, where the atmosphere was electric – in defiance of Healthscope’s proposed EBA and salary packaging deal, which members oppose. A smaller contingent of equally defiant members stopped work in Geelong.
In their own words
‘Do you want this EBA?’ Job Rep Owen asked the crowd in Melbourne, which responded with a roaring and unanimous NO.
Owen likened private healthcare in Australia to a new gold rush. ‘Or more like a grey rush,’ he said, with ‘international private equity and capital fund managers pouring into the sector [like] the new prospectors in a rush to make profits from ageing Australians. They have a track record of cutting staff, driving up the cost of private healthcare and overseeing falls in the quality of care.
‘But as private sector nurses’ and midwives’ stand up, we’re part of the pushback,’ he added. ‘And that pushback is part of a bigger struggle for patient safety and our wages.’
Job Rep Claudia added: ‘We are understaffed. We are carrying a system that’s cracking under pressure. We are exhausted. And when we are exhausted, patients are at risk. Our patients deserve better, and so do we.
‘We are not asking for anything excessive,’ she added. ‘Just the fundamentals that any responsible employer should provide. But what have we received? Nothing. Delays. Silence. No real movement on pay, and no progress on our basic claims.
‘And if that wasn’t enough, Healthscope brings us that salary packaging proposal where the company plans to keep 90 per cent of a benefit that is meant for us.’
In Geelong, Job Rep Jameson said: ‘We’ve tolerated a lot from Healthscope because we care about our patients and the work we do, but at some point you have to stand up for yourself and say enough is enough.’
Members say no
Members did just that a week later when the ballot for Healthscope’s proposed EBA was rejected, sending a strong message that Healthscope must address members’ concerns around wages, staffing, salary packaging arrangements and the nominal expiry date of the agreement.
ANMF has requested that Healthscope provide the declaration of the ballot result, which would include details such as how many employees voted and the split of YES/NO votes, however Healthscope has thus far refused to provide this.
It is unusual for an employer to not inform their staff, and ANMF, of these matters.
ANMF seeks to recommence bargaining
ANMF has sought to resume negotiations with Healthscope within the coming weeks to reach an agreement that values, recognises and rewards nurses’ and midwives’ important work. As at publication, Healthscope have not agreed to return to the negotiating table until 2026.
Good faith bargaining requirements continue to apply to all bargaining representatives.
Members’ protected industrial action continues. As Claudia told her colleagues: ‘We are tired but we’re not weak. We are frustrated but we’re not powerless. And we are definitely not backing down.’
