ANMF (Vic Branch) acknowledges the former Premier Jacinta Allan for her considerable commitment to Victoria's healthcare system, particularly women's healthcare. ANMF worked with the Allan Government on significant reforms including improvements to nurse and midwife ratios and the 2024 EBA outcome for public sector nurses and midwives that provided an historic 28.4 per cent compounded wage increase.
Allan's commitment to women's healthcare is evident in the establishment of 20 women's health clinics and virtual and mobile services and a dedicated First Nations women's health clinic; the women's pain inquiry, expanded access to contraception and abortion care, and the first-of-its-kind Victorian Maternity Taskforce resulting in the appointment of Victoria's first Chief Midwife.
'Under Jacinta Allan's leadership, we have seen a strong commitment to Victoria's nurse/midwife-to-patient ratios and strong and sustained investment in women's health including increased nurse/midwife led clinics and services, ongoing funding for the neonatal postnatal support nurse program and better access to sexual and reproductive health care including in regional Victoria,' said ANMF (Vic Branch) Secretary Maddy Harradence.
In one of the most significant uplifts to nurse/midwife-to-patient ratios in 25 years, the Victorian Government today tabled legislation that will improve ratios across 26 Victorian public hospitals including in emergency, ICU and medical and surgical wards. This important reform to the Safe Patient Care Act would be put at risk by a Liberal/One Nation Government. History tells us that Liberal governments target nurse/midwife patient ratios and they don't support or understand mandated minimum safe staffing.
ANMF (Vic Branch) will continue to work with the Victorian Government and the new Premier Ben Carroll to improve the working lives of Victoria's nurses, midwives and carers and the communities they care for, including protecting legislated nurse/midwife ratios in this state' Ms Harradence said.
About us:
The ANMF (Vic Branch) has over 111,000 members – nurses, midwives and aged care personal care workers – across the Victorian health and aged care sectors.
