ANMF members from Monash Medical Centre Theatre team. Photo: supplied
Did you know that wards, units or small workplaces which achieve 100 per cent ANMF membership receive a bonus reward – on top of strong representation and all the benefits of membership?!
Now $20 per member, the reward is the result of a Delegates Conference resolution approved by members in 1996. The 23 nurses at Kaniva Hospital were the first to achieve 100 per cent membership. At the time, they collectively received $230 to spend in any way they chose – today, it would be $460.
Once your ward, unit or small workplace (defined as a workplace with 10 or more nurses, midwives or carers) achieves 100 per cent ANMF membership among staff, all you need to do is contact the Branch with a copy of your roster. You can do this by filling out a member assistance form, or by emailing our membership team.
When we’ve confirmed that all your colleagues are members, you’ll be provided a survey to vote collectively what you’d all like to do with the reward money. Some teams choose to have the money credited onto their membership fees. Others have used it to purchase a coffee machine or hold a celebratory lunch or drinks. It’s entirely up to you!
Who has 100% ANMF membership?
Bendigo Health LEAD team
Michelle is a Job Rep from the Bendigo Health Learning Education and Development (LEAD) team, which recently achieved 100 per cent ANMF membership.
‘Team nursing members realised during the EBA negotiations we had 100 ANMF membership and went through a very quick and easy process with the Branch to recognise that achievement,’ Michelle says.
‘With more than 40 registered nurses and midwives employed by the LEAD department, the biggest challenge was getting a roster of all nursing members of the team for the ANMF to cross reference,’ she adds, noting that the education team works across many different clinical areas. ‘All permanent members of the team received an option to vote [on what to do with the money] and the majority opted to receive a credit to their ANMF account.’
Monash Medical Centre Theatre
Monash Medical Centre Theatre also recently reached 100% membership and with around 140 nurses, it’s one of the largest sites to achieve this milestone. One of nine Job Reps and seven HSRs in the unit, Natalie says they already had strong membership in the unit but ‘the last couple of months of EBA negotiations have been fundamental in establishing ANMF solidarity in the workforce.
‘Aside from the essential indemnity insurance, the requirement to be covered for participating in protected industrial action and to unite for professional recognition helped Theatre Job Reps encourage the few remaining non-member colleagues to become ANMF members.’
Natalie notes that the 100% membership incentive reward was also good motivation. ‘We loved that with the assistance from ANMF we could acknowledge our awesome nursing team and reward our colleagues for all the amazing work they do on a daily basis.’
Natalie and her colleagues have not yet decided how to spend their funds but among the suggestions is a ‘massage chair for the tea room’.
I-MED Radiology, Warragul
Of course, 100 per cent membership also means all staff are in a better position to achieve the best industrial and professional outcomes, with members also enjoying all the benefits of ANMF (Vic Branch) membership.
At I-MED Radiology in Warragul, Job Rep Mindy says this made getting to 100 per cent membership easy. ‘We just asked, and they all obliged because we have so many reasons to be union members!’
Mindy and her colleagues chose to spend their reward money on a celebratory afternoon tea.
Diabetes Victoria
At Diabetes Victoria, Renae says that having 100 per cent ANMF membership is very important for their small team. ‘Being a small group, we are reliant on the union to steer us through the negotiations between ourselves and our employer to achieve a good outcome. By having 100% membership, we each have an individual voice during this process.
‘The union fully supported all members during our EBA negotiations with our employer last year,’ Renae elaborates, ‘with 100 per cent union membership demonstrating to our employer that we were a united group, even during our protected industrial action. As a result, we feel much closer and stronger as a group of nurses – and were able to achieve a successful EBA outcome.’
Renae and her fellow diabetes nurse educators enjoyed a lunch and team-building afternoon.
In addition to the above workplaces, another four have currently achieved this milestone:
- Frankston Haemodialysis Unit
- Moorabool MCHN
- Bendigo Cardiac Cath Lab
- Western Health Cardio Cath Lab
ANMF congratulates every member at these workplaces.
Are you making the most of your membership?
All fully financial ANMF (Vic Branch) members receive professional indemnity and public liability insurance up to $10 million*†, as well as 24/7 Good Samaritan insurance†, legal services†# from the history-making lawyers Gordon Legal, and advice and representation if you need to access WorkCover*, or to dispute a WorkCover insurance decision.
You also have 24/7 access to Member Assistance for industrial, professional and OHS advice, and other work-related matters.
But there’s so much more to membership. Check the membership benefits page to see if you’re taking advantage of all your benefits.
Eligible members may also apply for a range of grants to assist with further education and study in clinical areas of need. Applications for the 2024 grants (inclusive of study conducted in semester 2, 2023) are being accepted until Friday 30 August. Visit anmfvic.asn.au/feegrant for more.
*Unavailable for nurses working as midwives in independent practice
†Unavailable to non-working members
#Conditions apply
