Workforce incentive axing sparks demands from the QNMU

The nurses and midwives union demand to know how the LNP government plans to tackle the critical workforce shortage following the axing of incentives scheme.

Nurses could be impacted with the latest changes.

Nurses demand to know how healthcare services will be retained and critical workforce shortages managed following the LNP government’s axing of the Workforce Attraction Incentive Scheme (WAIS) which lured 800 nurses and midwives to the regions.

The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union is calling on the government to make public details around what will replace the axed incentives to bring healthcare workers to regional Queensland hospitals.

QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman said news the Workforce Attraction Incentive Scheme (WAIS) would be cut in January 2025 was a major blow for regional communities.

“In the absence of any clear details about what is going to replace the scheme, we are asking the government to give regional Queenslander’s clarity around how their services will be retained, and critical workforce shortages will be managed,” Ms Beaman said.

Sarah Beaman says the news is a fresh blow fo regions. Picture: Patrick Woods

“We know the scheme was successful in bringing more than 800 nurses and midwives into regions where workforce shortages have impacted services and regional and remote communities that were struggling to recruit and retain staff.”

Ms Beaman said the scheme should be reworked to ensure it was properly targeted, fit for purpose and designed to retain existing staff, as well as attract new staff.

“To scrap it entirely without any alternative risks exacerbating already serious staffing issues in our regions,” Ms Beaman said.

“The Crisafulli government committed to recruiting an additional 18,781 full-time nurses and midwives by 2032 to meet the needs of Queenslanders, axing a workforce incentive scheme with no clear alternative puts us further away from that target.”

Nurse shortages continues to be an issue.

“We need this government to uphold their commitment, invest more in nurses and midwives in rural and remote areas, and honour the existing workforce plan that provides an industry-agreed upon pathway to recruit and retain our nurses and midwives.”

Ms Beaman said a strong enterprise agreement for Queensland Health was the next step in addressing our nursing and midwifery workforce challenges.

“We need to build on the existing conditions to ensure Queensland remains one of the most attractive workplaces for nurses and midwives both locally, nationally and internationally,” she said.

“The current enterprise agreement for public sector nurses and midwives expires in March and formal bargaining for the next agreement is about to commence and we are optimistic the negotiations, will in good-faith, honour promises made by the new government.”

She said the QNMU looked forward to an opportunity to work with Queensland Health to ensure the gaps, which were being met by the WAIS, would continue to be covered and that Queensland maintained its status as a destination for nurses and midwives in a globally competitive market.