News

This week (15 October 2021) the Government announced the Hospital Surge Support Allowance for certain workers who work in ‘patient facing roles’. Workers in these roles will be eligible for up to $60 per shift and will be made available over the next four months.

Also left out are our private sector Patient Transport members who have transported an enormous amount of COVID positive patients during the pandemic. NEPT members have been absolutely integral to the COVID effort including mass evacuations of aged care facilities and housing commission buildings as well as regular transports of infected patients across the state. Many have transported over 60 COVID positive patients.

Members in each of the above roles are fundamentally essential to the service that needs to be provided to the community over the next four months. For these workers to be overlooked is divisive, insulting and does not represent the value of their important work.

The VAU was not consulted on this initiative. If we had, we would have ensured that the entire workforce was included. At a meeting with Government and DHS yesterday, the VAU, alongside a number of health unions, expressed our disgust at the lack of consultation and lack of respect shown to sections of our membership who are all integral to the health system.

The VAU has strongly advocated for a reconsideration of this initiative that includes all members. We have also advocated for other wellbeing initiatives such as opening up hospital cafeterias and providing free meals, food and drink and rest areas to all workers so that our members, including NEPT are able to rest and complete a meal break safely over the next four months.

Members will be kept informed.

In Solidarity,