IEU supports state school nurses taking industrial action
The IEU expresses its strong support for Victorian public school nurses, represented by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), who have commenced protected industrial action to secure fair pay and safe workloads.
IEU Deputy General Secretary Kylie Busk says, “There are 350 Victorian Government school nurses in Victoria who perform a critical role in promoting the health, wellbeing and development of state school students, yet they remain significantly underpaid compared to their public hospital counterparts”.
“We need to properly value the contribution of school-based health professionals within the education system.”
The actions
Victorian public school nurses began industrial action on 29 April in pursuit of pay increases to match their public sector colleagues. The ANMF (Victorian branch) has been negotiating a new EBA since June last year.
Victorian public school nurses are currently paid up to 20% less and under the government’s wages policy, the pay difference could be up to 30% between comparable roles by the end of 2027. They are seeking pay increases to match the Public Sector Nurses and Midwives Agreement 2024-28.
The Branch is also seeking a commitment from the Victorian Government to ensure the workloads of school nurses are safe and that the primary school nursing program is universally accessible to all Victorian families with children in their first year of school.
The IEU fully supports the claims and actions taken by these dedicated healthcare professionals to reach a fair outcome on their wages.
Actions taken
Actions include wearing ANMF t-shirts, handing out letters about their campaign to parents, a ban on redeployment and stopping work for up to 10 minutes to talk to parents and visitors to schools about their campaign.
“School nurses are joining their teaching and education support staff colleagues in taking protected industrial action as a last resort because the Victorian Government must improve its pay offer. They are not worth less than hospital nurses,” said ANMF (Vic Branch) Secretary Maddy Harradence.
Key roles in state schools
In the Primary School Nursing Program, school nurses support families of prep students to identify health, wellbeing and developmental concerns. In the Secondary School Nursing Program, they play a key preventative role through health promotion and planning, health education, and individual counselling.
They are an essential resource and referral point for students, teachers and families in state schools. School nurses are employed directly by government schools, deliver care in special schools, provide acute primary health care, and support the management of chronic conditions. In all settings, they assist children and families experiencing vulnerability or risk.
The ANMF says, “Optimal health, wellbeing and development is the foundation for academic outcomes, and it is critical that school nurses are supported to help every student achieve their potential”.