CDU slammed over changes to its College of Nursing and Midwifery

THE union representing Territory nurses has criticised Charles Darwin University for controversial changes to its College of Nursing and Midwifery

The union representing Territory nurses has criticised Charles Darwin University for controversial changes to its College of Nursing and Midwifery

THE union representing Territory nurses has criticised Charles Darwin University for controversial changes to its College of Nursing and Midwifery.

ANMF NT Branch acting branch secretary Cath Hatcher said staff members at CDU were “not given straight answers”.

“Every day I am hearing conflicting numbers that have been stood down,” she said.

“NT based teaching staff are being reduced and positions increased in Sydney.”

Ms Hatcher said she knew of about four people who had been released from their roles at CDU regarding the clinical liaison support staff for nursing midwifery students.

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“At the moment students in their placements have no support,” she said.

Ms Hatcher said her members were complaining about a lack of communication, no consultation and low morale.

“Feedback from members of NTEU and ANMF (is) that lecturers are being replaced by ‘junior teachers’ to teach theory and practical ‘simulation blocks’,” she said.

“Two to be located in Sydney and two in Darwin. Also (there) does not appear to be enough teaching staff in nursing in Casuarina to sustain face to face delivery of all under graduate theory units.”

On Wednesday, CDU provided fresh figures about how many people were expected to lose their jobs in the College of Nursing and Midwifery.

Speaking to ABC Darwin CDU acting Vice Chancellor professor Sue Carthew said only about two people were expected to lose their jobs.

Ms Hatcher said this figure wasn’t the same she’d be given.

In June, internal documents revealed the College of Nursing and Midwifery was expected to lose at least 23 jobs in the NT through the axing of vacant and held positions and the reshuffling of jobs to Sydney.

Ms Carthew said the only “cuts” in the program was in relation to repositing their staffing.

“As part of our look across the university at our operations, our costs and so on, we have been going through various change proposals,” she said.

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“It did cause quite a lot of angst across staff and the community. We listened to that feedback and modified the proposal.

“The staffing losses are very minimal … I think it’s a total of two.”