To: Victorian Government
Value, recognise and reward Victorian nurses & midwives
This campaign has ended.
Victorian nurses and midwives deliver the same high level of care as their interstate colleagues. They meet the same national professional standards set by the Australian Healthcare Practitioner Regulation Authority.
For the past 17 years Victorian nurses and midwives have fought for nurse/midwife: patient ratios to make sure our state’s patients have the best standards of care. While we’ve been focused on patient safety, our pay rates have fallen behind the wage levels of nurses and midwives in other states.
We now call upon the Victorian government and health employers to address the wage gap.
If this government wishes to retain Victoria’s most experienced and highly trained nurses and midwives so they can continue to deliver superb patient care, action is required now.
For the past 17 years Victorian nurses and midwives have fought for nurse/midwife: patient ratios to make sure our state’s patients have the best standards of care. While we’ve been focused on patient safety, our pay rates have fallen behind the wage levels of nurses and midwives in other states.
We now call upon the Victorian government and health employers to address the wage gap.
If this government wishes to retain Victoria’s most experienced and highly trained nurses and midwives so they can continue to deliver superb patient care, action is required now.
Why is this important?
Following current pay arrangements, a Victorian bedside nurse is an estimated $13,500 worse off per year than a similarly qualified nurse working in New South Wales.
Many highly trained specialist nurses can expect approximately $200 less per week working in Victoria compared to New South Wales.
Sadly, pay research suggests if a nurse or midwife undertakes further post-graduate education and gains greater qualifications, the pay gap becomes even more severe - nearly $300 per week.
This situation has arisen as nurses and midwives in Victoria have historically campaigned for patient safety — not for their own wages.
The current situation isn’t fair for nurses and midwives, and it isn’t conducive for good patient care.
We need a health system that recognises and rewards gaining experience, qualifications and bolsters staff retention in Victorian hospitals. We need a health system that doesn’t take nurses and midwives for granted.
Please stand with us and tell our state government it’s time to value, recognise and reward the contribution delivered by Victorian public sector nurses and midwives by taking swift action on the wage gap.
Many highly trained specialist nurses can expect approximately $200 less per week working in Victoria compared to New South Wales.
Sadly, pay research suggests if a nurse or midwife undertakes further post-graduate education and gains greater qualifications, the pay gap becomes even more severe - nearly $300 per week.
This situation has arisen as nurses and midwives in Victoria have historically campaigned for patient safety — not for their own wages.
The current situation isn’t fair for nurses and midwives, and it isn’t conducive for good patient care.
We need a health system that recognises and rewards gaining experience, qualifications and bolsters staff retention in Victorian hospitals. We need a health system that doesn’t take nurses and midwives for granted.
Please stand with us and tell our state government it’s time to value, recognise and reward the contribution delivered by Victorian public sector nurses and midwives by taking swift action on the wage gap.