Fair Work Taskforce - Gosford (2)

Nurses Michelle and Rhianna discussed levels of training and staff numbers. There needs to be appropriate staff of differing levels of training available around the clock. This is vital, but is under threat or non existent.

They say that penalty rates are important because of the anti family and anti social nature of unusual working hours. To strip penalties is just unfair.

Rhianna is an AIN, casualisation of the workforce is a problem. Casual employees are constantly  waiting for a call to come in to do a shift. Without job security your worklife is unpredictable and difficult. People will work a back to back double shift if offered just because they feel there might not be another shift offered in the fortnight. Age care is growing but there are not enough of staff to get around where needed.  Without strict nurse to patients ratios service levels and lives are at risk.

Michelle & Rhianna recommended that proper safe ratios should apply in all cases and that Registered Nurses should be on hand in all nursing homes 24-7