Louise Ridley
Louise Ridley is a sexual and reproductive health nurse and casual midwife. Recently, she became an ANMF (Vic Branch) Job Rep, and despite some initial worries she is loving the role.
‘I was definitely hesitant at first,’ Louise tells ANMF. She thought she might not be the right ‘fit’ or well suited to the role due to what she calls her ‘textbook people pleaser’ tendencies, and being ‘scared of confrontation’.
She quickly learned, however, that her pre-conceived ideas about a Job Rep’s required qualities were unfounded.
‘The only quality you need to be a great Job Rep is to care,’ she says. ‘I have not yet met any nurses or midwives who lack that quality, so I truly believe everyone is suited to be an ANMF Job Rep.’
Louise wanted to become an ANMF Job Rep to be more involved in her workplace’s enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) negotiation process – even though the idea of being involved in negotiations made her nervous.
‘But it has turned out to be one of the best things about being a Job Rep,’ Louise says. ‘Having a seat at the table and having direct input in the negotiations has allowed me to challenge myself and gain confidence in participating in frank discussions with often vastly opposing perspectives.’
Additionally, Louise says that observing their ANMF industrial relations organiser and industrial officer ‘negotiate, advocate and champion on behalf of the members has been fantastic to experience, and I have learnt so much from them. Seeing how the ANMF staff handle themselves in these (many) meetings has opened my eyes to how productive negotiations can be when approached with grace, patience and respect.’
‘The only quality you need to be a great Job Rep is to care. I have not yet met any nurses or midwives who lack that quality, so I truly believe everyone is suited to be an ANMF Job Rep.’
Likewise, Louise values ‘the knowledge, support and confidence attained from the ANMF training courses,’ which she says have equipped her ‘with the tools to ensure all the nurses in my department are aware of their entitlements and rights, and to make sure we’re all getting the most out of our jobs and our union memberships.’
Day to day, Louise’s work as a Job Rep has so far ‘mainly consisted of everything EBA-related’ but ‘outside of EBA-related tasks, the main thing I do is check in regularly with the members, make sure things are going well and offer support, advice and resources when there are any issues.’
She’s lucky enough to have ‘a brilliant fellow Job Rep’ at her workplace, she says. ‘We bounce ideas, challenges and situations off each other all the time. If anything comes up that feels a bit over my head, I reach out to our ANMF organiser – who has always been so approachable and supportive – for assistance.’
Louise says one unexpected highlight she’s had since become a Job Rep has involved meeting with MP Ged Kearney to speak about the ‘It’s for Everybody Campaign’ run by the Victorian Trades Hall Council’s Women’s Committee. This campaign is lobbying for paid reproductive leave to be included in the National Employment Standards so that it’s available to every worker across Australia.
It’s something Louise is passionate about.
‘Reproductive leave was one of our asks during my workplace’s EBA negotiations, and because I’m passionate about it our ANMF organiser invited me to accompany them to meet with Ged and discuss the importance of this entitlement [for every Australian]. Being involved in important conversations and campaigns that I feel so strongly about has been an unexpected benefit of being a Job Rep.’
Asked what she would say to other ANMF members thinking about becoming a Job Rep, Louise is clear: ‘I would say 100% go for it. The education you are provided by the ANMF sets you up so well to understand your role and how you are able to achieve it. You are also incredibly well supported by the ANMF officers and organisers, so you never feel alone.
‘Being able to look back on my time in the workforce and know that I did everything I could to improve the conditions and entitlements for myself and my colleagues, and for those who come after us, will forever make me proud of being a Job Rep.’
Interested in becoming an ANMF Job Rep? Find out more at anmfvic.asn.au/jobrep
