Hollie Purton
In the first pay from 1 April, Victorian public sector nurses and midwives can look forward to an historic boost in wages.
On the Record asked some public sector Job Reps, who campaigned for the wages and conditions within the agreement, what the pay rise would mean for them.
Sandra Alexander
Sandra Alexander
Clinical nurse specialist, operating theatre, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Sandra has been nursing at Royal Melbourne Hospital for 24 years and in the nursing profession for a whopping 38 years. She is also an ANMF Job Rep.
What does the 2019 pay rise mean for me?
I’ve been a single mum for a very long time – almost 21 years. My children come first and so I would never use any extra funds for myself, it would be for my kids. In order to make up extra funds – if I want to buy myself a pair of shoes or go for a show or do anything – I would have to do lots of overtime and on-call. With this significant pay rise it means that I can have somewhat more of a work/life balance and each fortnight I can do something for me.
Hollie Purton
Hollie Purton
Enrolled nurse (Level 3) at Tatura Hospital.
The 2016–20 EBA campaign was Hollie’s first since becoming a nurse in 2012. An ANMF Job Rep, Hollie attended every EBA mass meeting, travelling for hours to get to and from Melbourne from Shepparton.
What does the 2019 pay rise mean for me?
Between my husband and I we have six children and four grandchildren, so that’s where my money goes! No doubt the money will be spent on my kids. (During the EBA campaign) It was great to see all the nurses being so passionate and fighting for a better workforce for us and the patients we care for. When I started I had no idea what an EBA was or what the union was. Since becoming a Job Rep I’ve become very involved and very interested and being part of such a passionate union is awesome. I love it.
