Qld Fertility Group IVF nurses to strike in pay dispute

Queensland’s largest IVF provider will lose a third of its nurses on Wednesday afternoon when they take protected industrial action.

Queensland Fertility Group’s Wharf St clinic is one of those affected.

One-third of nurses employed by Queensland’s largest IVF provider will walk off the job to protest the company’s latest pay rise offer.

At least six clinics across the state will be impacted by the strike beginning at 2pm on Wednesday, following failed wage negotiations between specialist IVF nurses and employer Queensland Fertility Group, owned by Virtus Health.

The QFG’s latest pay rise offer of 4.25 per cent in 2025, 3.25 per cent in 2026 and 3 per cent in 2027 has been rejected by 90 per cent of QFG staff and is less than what QFG nurses in Melbourne and Tasmanian received.

Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union secretary Sarah Beaman said the stage-two protected industrial action was a result of failed negotiations that began nearly a year ago.

“While Virtus Health and Queensland Fertility Group continue to increase charges to clients, they are adamantly refusing to offer their highly skilled nurses the wage increase they deserve and need during an ongoing cost-of-living crisis,” Ms Beaman said.

“Most of the highly specialised IVF nurses who work for QFG are paid less than their Queensland Health counterparts, and less than other reproductive service providers.”

At least 20 of the state’s 65 specialist nurses will walk out of clinics for four hours.

Wharf Street Clinic, Spring Hill Specialist Day Hospital, Watkins Centre, Mackay Specialist Day Hospital and Mackay Clinic will be affected.

The protected strike action allows for additional job walk-offs in the future.

A QFG specialist nurse said IVF nurses suffered significant burnout rates and were fighting for a fair wage rise.

“As QFG specialist nurses, we ride the journey and burden of infertility with our patients,” she said.

“Management should be supporting their nurses – not telling them that they are disappointed in them for asking for fair pay.”

Originally published as Qld Fertility Group IVF nurses to strike in pay dispute