Christine Scarlett
Haemodialysis nurse Christine Scarlett has been an ANMF member for more than 40 years. Over the past few years, she has taken her membership to the next level by steppinginto the dual roles of HSR and Job Rep.
‘I realised change demands being willing to be part of the change process myself,’ she says.
Both roles dovetail well with her professional responsibilities and her personal ethos of caring for her patients and for her colleagues. Her only regret? ‘Why wasn’t I doing this 15 years ago?’
She doesn’t waste too much time on such thoughts though, reminding herself that ‘First of all, I was learning, honing, reaffirming, confirming, studying and pushing myself. And with time and experience, I realised I had more skill and experience for the HSR or Job Rep role than I gave myself credit for, and that my voice has value, while my additional training, qualification and expertise defends and supports my voice.
‘So my goal now is to encourage and support nurses 15 to 20 years younger than me, nurses recently employed in Victoria or Australia, nurses who have transitioned from another industry. I want to encourage them not to waste the years that I’ve wasted thinking I was not ready to step into the roles.’
Complementary and beneficial
Christine started as an HSR first and became Job Rep a couple of years later. ‘I actually rang ANMF to ask whether it was a conflict of interest! I saw it as a benefit, but I wanted to make sure to always be able to represent my colleagues, workplace and ANMF appropriately.’
Her initial instinct about the roles complementing and benefitting each other was spot on but she notes that each on its own has unique worth and focus.
As an HSR, she has the legal reference of the OHS Act to challenge processes and systems of work that devalue or harm nurses and midwives. And as a Job Rep, she finds value in helping to increase her colleagues’ knowledge of the EBA and how it can support and protect them in view of their concerns.
‘Being an HSR and a Job Rep is really important,’ Christine says. These are roles that help deliver on, and drive understanding of ‘the negotiated and legally binding tools we have to enhance and affirm our collective voices; to help challenge or improve the systems of work and processes that we work within; to make them more just, fairer and safer.’
Christine gives a couple of examples. In her HSR capacity, she relied on the EBA and the OHS Act during the pandemic – when missed or delayed breaks became a significant issue – to challenge systems of work that were rapidly changing in a dynamic healthcare service.
As a Job Rep, she recalls coming across a personal leave pool clause while reading the EBA (‘what a geek!’).
‘There’s nothing in our organisational policies about personal leave pool. So I want to be part of encouraging the organisation to put in place a personal leave pool process that answers to the EBA.’
“Change demands being willing to be part of the change process.”
Finding the joy in encouraging others to also learn
Day to day, the roles vary. Primarily, she answers questions, raises awareness and shares information. ‘It can be as simple as highlighting to my in-charge that when someone’s picked up a double shift, there’s a meal allowance attached to that increased shift demand. Or even just reinforcing the fact that the EBA is a legally binding agreement and the importance for all levels of the nursing workforce to better understand it.
‘For me, the joy is in seeing my nurse and midwife colleagues take interest in or comment on EBA clauses and then prioritise their own health, wellbeing and safety while responding positively to increasing clinical demands. This is about maintaining clinical safety and the value of the nursing role in health care.’
Christine encourages anyone thinking about either role to give it a go. ‘Don’t hold back! If you see something that can change to make the workplace safer, fairer or more just, if you see safety issues – physical or psychological– speak up.
‘The best way to speak up is to embrace an HSR or a Job Rep role, because you’ll be supported by other HSRs and Job Reps – and our union – to learn; you’ll be supported to use your skills and abilities, or your observational concerns and safety improvement ideas, in those roles.’
