Our Vision

A better workplace, a better profession

Nurses and midwives can only work to the full extent of their scope of practice and provide the holistic care they are trained to provide if there is sufficient staffing in their workplaces. Paid education and the resources and support to carry out nursing and midwifery research are also critical for professional development.

So that nurses and midwives can reach their full potential as professionals we will:

•  fight for shift-by-shift safe staffing and ratios across the healthcare system

• defend existing and create new career pathways

• ensure staffing levels are enforced on a day-to-day basis

• fight for real pay rises that recognise your qualifications and value your work, and provide economic security while working and when retired.

Closing the gender pay gap benefits everyone, and it will benefit the economy.  As an Association representing a predominantly female workforce we will take on the systemic issues that drive the gender pay gap including:

•  the way superannuation is structured and paid

• the inadequate access to parental leave and domestic violence leave and 

• the barriers nurses and midwives face in order to return to their management positions after maternity leave. 

We want our members to have a role in shaping our professions - ensuring that they are future-fit by expanding or highlighting scope of practice opportunities and by removing barriers that are holding our professions back. 

A more active membership makes for a more democratic NSWNMA

The key to our future success is the ongoing growth of our union; investment in our member leaders and an active membership with strong networks that are supported and resourced. 

 This will allow us to:

•  fight to win more rights at work for all of our members

• articulate and win a shared vision for the nursing and midwifery professions

• strengthen our work on social justice issues

• argue for meaningful action on issues that impact on our communities’ health.

Recognition for your contribution to society

Every day, nurses and midwives make a real and lasting contribution to society. 

We keep the healthcare system running and either directly or indirectly our clinical care keeps individuals, families, communities and even the economy functioning. 

That is why nursing and midwifery are the most trusted professions and its why there has to be stronger investment in the nursing and midwifery workforces. 

We want to ensure that our professions have a strong and influential future, that we’re truly recognised for the contribution we make. 

Under our leadership the Association will give nurses and midwives a strong voice at the table where decisions are made – in forums, industrial tribunals and in state and national politics - so that we can progress our professional and industrial claims.

Building the nursing and midwifery workforces

There has to be more done to ensure we have the nursing and midwifery workforce that is needed today, and into the future. 

 This requires coordinated workforce planning between state and federal governments and incentives that attract more people to nursing and midwifery, and the work satisfaction that will help them stay. 

 We will advocate for fee-free courses and financial support for students on clinical placement. 

 We will work with student groups and members to lobby the Federal Government to improve clinical placements and ensure universities and hospitals support them so that the experience better prepares students for their future.

We will confront the threats to our professions

COVID-19 and the likelihood of future pandemics highlight the vulnerability of our professions. COVID has led to high levels of PTSD and stress related injuries.

Burnout and moral injury resulting from chronic over work existed before COVID but has been exacerbated by the pandemic.  We know that better care is possible.

There are many other threats that our professions face and that we must and will challenge together:

• reductions in career pathways and opportunities as nursing and midwifery structures are depleted, research and education positions eroded and the roles of CNCs and NPs are under utilised

• the risk of dilution of skill mix within the workforce as a panacea to address unprecedented vacancies – the introduction of health care assistants when what is really needed is more nurses and midwives are examples of the downward pressure on our roles and our pay.

• the normalisation of violence and aggression in the workplace.  Too many of us are injured at work, too many are dying.

• We believe in inclusive and respectful workplaces.  We commit to working with members to tackle the structural barriers that divide and injure us.  Everyone has the right to be safe and included, and have equity in access to career opportunities.

• the impacts of ‘mass resignations’ within the aged care and public health sectors as wages and professional recognition fall behind.

• growing risks of privatisation to public health that threatens universal access to services.

• the growing popularity of sole trader, agency/ labour hire workforces with reduced policy regulation, lower quality clinical standards, and leadership and higher personal responsibility for our membership.

An economy and a health system that works for our families and communities

The economy-first approach of our governments is leading to an overwhelmed healthcare system. We believe that we should, and can, have an economy that works for communities and that we can build and fund a healthcare system that our communities need.

COVID has shown that this is an imperative: social and economic consequences that occur as a result of health emergencies are made worse in the absence of a strong, robust, well-resourced public health care system that has nurses and midwives at its core.

Accessing a healthcare care provider is getting harder and the cost of medicines and treatment are becoming increasingly unaffordable for many.  At a societal level, this is driving the demand on acute care services and diminishes the resources for primary care. 

We will be an active voice in the reform of the Australian healthcare system. 

There are many things that need to be done and which we will fight for so that our communities get the health and social services they deserve:

• closing the gap in indigenous healthcare. We have to play our part in this.  We will commit to working with indigenous members to find the best way to ensure they have a voice within our union. We will advocate for greater action in closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in consultation with members and other organisations.

• free healthcare at the point of access so that Medicare delivers the promise of universal access to quality health care and dental care for all

• closing the gender pay gap. One simple way to do this is to increase the pay for the largest female-dominated industries in the world - nursing and midwifery

• addressing violence against women by building on the wins already gained by the union movement such as paid domestic leave and by advocating for wider societal action including increased access to refuges that can appropriately support women and their families

• We need to lobby for greater funding for healthcare.  One way we can achieve this is by taking action on tax justice.  It is unconscionable that large global corporations avoid paying their fair share of tax.  When a nurse pays more tax than a corporate giant doe on their profits you know the system is broken.  Our Association has a proud history of being at the front of this fight - we commit to continuing this work.