SA nurses call for new allowances, housing and childcare

South Australian nurses have issued a dire warning about the state’s struggling health care system, and revealed what they say needs to be done urgently.

NURSES have launched a new campaign urging action from the state government for a recruiting drive with the grim warning that “SA’s health system is on the brink of collapse.”

They want new allowances similar to the $3000 bonus being offered interstate to attract and retain nurses, special allowances for rural nurses including housing and childcare payments, and an immediate guarantee all 1200 students due to graduate in November will be employed.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state branch has launched an online letter encouraging members to write to Health Minister Chris Picton and Attorney-General Kyam Maher — this weekend, more than 2400 letters had been sent.

Federation state secretary Elizabeth Dabars said urgent action was needed to deal with capacity.

Noting authorities interstate are running advertising campaigns seeking nurses with lucrative offers, she warned young graduates may look across the border for jobs.

The previous Liberal government took on all 1200 graduates last year as a one-off program, rather than the usual intake of 600.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Executive Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars. Picture: David Mariuz

SA Health Minister Chris Picton. Picture: 7 NEWS

“The system is under siege and set to worsen with the impact of Covid and flu in the winter period ahead,” Ms Dabars said. “SA’s health system is on the brink of collapse.

“We need urgent action to better assure capacity. Nurses and midwives have been working fatigued and under resourced for a long time with no respite in sight.”

The campaign calls for action in country areas where staff shortages are seeing service closures.

“This includes housing, relocation expenses, zoning allowances and childcare,” Ms Dabars said. “We know all other states and territories are suffering shortages and advertising for nurses and midwives.

“We are deeply concerned the failure to act now will result in those nurses and midwives taking up offers elsewhere and the SA community will suffer for that loss.”

The state government has pledged to employ an extra 300 nurses over the next four years.

However, a looming wave of retirements due to the profession’s demographic means the federation forecasts a shortfall of up to 15,000 by 2025, in a profession with around 33,000 workers at present.

A federal report warns of a national shortage of 85,000 nurses by 2025, and 123,000 nurses by 2030, in a profession now with 450,000 registered practitioners across the nation.

Health Minister Chris Picton said negotiations are underway with the ANMF in regards to the expiring enterprise bargaining agreement.

“We are also finalising our recruitment processes for next year and recognise the clear need to increase the number of nurses – including boosting the intake of graduate nurses – while undertaking proper workforce planning,” he said.

“We want this done quicker than the former government which failed to finalise recruitment numbers until October last year.”