Latest news with #SarahBeaman
The Age
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Age
IVF nurses walk off the job at Queensland clinics
Specialist IVF nurses walked off the job at clinics in Brisbane and Mackay on Wednesday afternoon over failed pay negotiations with one of Australia's largest fertility treatment providers. Clinics operated by Queensland Fertility Group, including the Spring Hill Specialist Day Hospital, were among those affected by the planned four-hour strike, which was due to begin at 2pm. QFG managing director Melanie Sibson assured patients and their families 'that the proposed industrial action will not impact patient care and outcomes in any way'. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union criticised Queensland Fertility Group owner Virtus Health for offering what they said amounted to a pay decrease for nurses at the company's eight IVF clinics and two day hospitals across the state. 'We believe Virtus Health and Queensland Fertility Group can afford to pay their skilled nurses a fair wage,' QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said. Loading 'While Virtus Health and Queensland Fertility Group continue to increase charges to clients, they are adamantly refusing to offer their highly skilled nurses the wage increase they deserve and need during an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.' The QFG website lists the cost of an initial round of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), before Medicare rebates, at $11,090. An initial round of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), a procedure used to assist the fertilisation process in cases attributed to male fertility issues, costs $12,420. Sibson said 'we believe the offer is fair and reasonable', adding the group 'remain committed to continuing negotiations in an open and constructive manner'.
Sydney Morning Herald
16-07-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
IVF nurses walk off the job at Queensland clinics
Specialist IVF nurses walked off the job at clinics in Brisbane and Mackay on Wednesday afternoon over failed pay negotiations with one of Australia's largest fertility treatment providers. Clinics operated by Queensland Fertility Group, including the Spring Hill Specialist Day Hospital, were among those affected by the planned four-hour strike, which was due to begin at 2pm. QFG managing director Melanie Sibson assured patients and their families 'that the proposed industrial action will not impact patient care and outcomes in any way'. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union criticised Queensland Fertility Group owner Virtus Health for offering what they said amounted to a pay decrease for nurses at the company's eight IVF clinics and two day hospitals across the state. 'We believe Virtus Health and Queensland Fertility Group can afford to pay their skilled nurses a fair wage,' QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said. Loading 'While Virtus Health and Queensland Fertility Group continue to increase charges to clients, they are adamantly refusing to offer their highly skilled nurses the wage increase they deserve and need during an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.' The QFG website lists the cost of an initial round of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), before Medicare rebates, at $11,090. An initial round of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), a procedure used to assist the fertilisation process in cases attributed to male fertility issues, costs $12,420. Sibson said 'we believe the offer is fair and reasonable', adding the group 'remain committed to continuing negotiations in an open and constructive manner'.
ABC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Queensland nurses take'targeted and safe' industrial action
Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union secretary Sarah Beaman says the industrial action its members are taking is "targeted and safe" as pay negotiations continue.
ABC News
08-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Queensland's nurses and midwives ramp up industrial action as pay negotiations break down
Tens of thousands of nurses and midwives across Queensland have ramped up strike action today, accusing the government of "gaslighting" them amid stalled pay negotiations. Stage two of the Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) industrial action involves up to 45,000 workers refusing to do tasks not related to clinical care at public hospitals and healthcare facilities around the state. As part of the action nurses are not working overtime without four hours' notice, making and cleaning beds or transferring stable patients. They have also pledged to take breaks in full. Enterprise bargaining negotiations began in January, with the union seeking a 13 per cent pay rise over three years, while the government offered 11. QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said the government was breaking its pre-election promise to deliver nation-leading pay and conditions. "Nurses and midwives are holding the system together through sheer will, determination and skill, but they are over the government's gaslighting and they are over their stalling tactics," she said. "They are telling the government that they need to listen. They are at breaking point and they've had enough. Deputy Premier and Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie refused to comment specifically on the strike action. "That protected action is a matter for the nurses. As I said, we continue to negotiate in good faith," he said. He added he didn't think it would affect other upcoming public sector wage agreement negotiations. "I think there's over 27 in the next three years. So, in all of those situations we'll negotiate, as always, in good faith." Ms Beaman said she remained optimistic a deal could be struck. "There is the option to go to further actions and stage three. However, I am hopeful that the government will listen," she said. Speaking outside the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, patient Colin Hackwaad said the negotiations were about more than just money. "I think everyone's struggling, and [nurses] do some really awful shifts, 24-hour rotations, and through time, they've taken away a lot of the benefits," he said. "They've been given a solid pay rate but taken benefits away, so as time goes on, you start to say 'hang on, you're not getting a good deal anymore'." Richard Harrison, who was visiting his father-in-law at the hospital, said practitioners at the facility did a "fantastic job" and he supported the strike action. "The care in that hospital is awesome," he said. "Without them, where would we be? The government has claimed an offer made by the union last week was the first formal one it had received, although the union rejected that suggestion. "This is an example of the government actually misleading [the public]," Ms Beaman said. "The QNMU has been negotiating with the Department of Health since January, and there have been numerous items put forward as part of that negotiation." She said under the government's latest offer, up to 66 per cent of nurses and midwives would not have the nation-leading pay and conditions that had been promised. "The premier was very clear that he says he respects nurses and midwives, but now he needs to walk the talk. Respect is more than words, it is actions," Ms Beaman said. Deputy Opposition leader Cameron Dick said Premier David Crisafulli needed to follow through on a "clear and unambiguous promise". "Our hard-working frontline heroes in health just expect the premier to deliver on his promise which was nation-leading wages and conditions," he said. "That's all nurses and midwives have asked of the government."
Perth Now
08-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
‘Breaking point': Nurses escalate action
Thousands of nurses and midwives across Queensland have escalated their campaign for fair wages and conditions, with stage 2 of protected industrial action officially under way. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) has confirmed members across all Queensland Health facilities will participate in targeted action, stepping back from a range of non-clinical duties while continuing to prioritise direct patient care. QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said members were sending a clear message to Health Minister Tim Nicholls that it was now time for a new, nation-leading offer. 'Today marks a historic step in our push for a deal that recruits, respects and retains this state's frontline nursing and midwifery workforce,' Ms Beaman said. 'Nurses and midwives are holding our health system together through sheer heart, skill and determination. 'We're at breaking point and we're done being disrespected.' QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said members were sending a clear message to Health Minister Tim Nicholls. Richard Walker Credit: News Corp Australia The latest action follows the union's rejection of the government's proposed 11 per cent pay rise over three years, with the QNMU instead pushing for a 13 per cent increase over the same period. The government's offer includes staged increases of 3 per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in both April 2026 and April 2027, and a final 3 per cent in December 2027. Mr Nicholls has described the proposal as a 'nation-leading' package that includes an 'Australian-first double-time-for-overtime care package'. However, Ms Beaman said the deal would strip Queensland's nurses and midwives of their long-held position as the highest paid in the country, a status they've maintained for 15 years. She said the workforce was now escalating action to 'keep Queenslanders safe.' 'We are over the state government's stalling tactics and gaslighting,' she said. Nurses are pushing for a 13 per cent increase over three years. NewsWire / Dan Peled Credit: News Corp Australia Actions under stage 2 include not performing administrative and support duties such as filing, answering phones, cleaning equipment, moving beds or entering non-clinical data into hospital systems. The QNMU has also issued specific notices for additional actions in various wards and units across the state. The union confirmed it had provided Queensland Health with the required three full working days' notice to allow for contingency planning. The industrial action has been approved by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC). Members will continue to document all clinical observations to ensure safe, continuous care. The QNMU said the latest action was in response to what it described as a failure by the government to uphold its written commitment to maintain nation-leading wages and conditions. It said that under the current offer, more than 36,000 of Queensland Health's 55,000 nurses and midwives would miss out on those wage standards. 'We have not taken this decision lightly, but the government has left us no choice,' Ms Beaman said. She said the protected industrial action is about making sure there were enough nurses and midwives to care for Queenslanders. 'Fair pay, safe conditions, respect. That's all we're asking,' Ms Beaman said. Nurses are not on strike. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia The first stage of industrial action began on June 5 with low-level visibility activities such as staff wearing pink or promotional shirts and email signature updates. Ms Beaman said the stage 2 action would be 'legal, safe, and targeted,' in response to what she described as ongoing disrespect and gaslighting from the LNP state government. She emphasised that while the action may cause some inconvenience for Queensland Health officials, patient safety would not be compromised. 'We dedicate our working lives to the provision of safe, quality health care. As such, patient safety remains our priority at all times,' she said. Ms Beaman said the stage 2 action would be 'legal, safe, and targeted'. Richard Walker Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Beaman clarified the action was not a strike and assured the public that nurses and midwives would remain on the job, continuing to deliver frontline care. 'Nurses and midwives will be focusing on direct patient care, rather than some of the many other additional duties which have been added to their workload over the years,' she said. 'Nurses and midwives will not suddenly abandon their professional obligations or their longstanding and demonstrated commitment to patients and their care. 'But we are standing strong and calling on this government to bring an end to the disrespect and dishonouring of its election commitment. 'The Premier promised frontline nurses and midwives he would respect them. It's time to make good that promise.' Mr Nicholls' office has been contacted for comment.
