Private hospital nurses begin industrial action
Hundreds of members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association working for Healthe Care, including on the Central Coast, say they will take part in a series of escalating industrial action.
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Labor pledges to cut emergency department wait times
Emergency department wait times at Werribee Mercy Hospital would be cut if the Victorian state government is re-elected next month. The government has promised to reduce wait times by up to 20 per cent across Victoria, which it says will help more than 210,000 patients each year. The plan includes a 25 per cent expansion to 12 hospital emergency departments, hiring 1500 health workers including 750 nurses, and adding 250 beds. Premier Ben Carroll said more nurses would mean patients are seen sooner.
Premier defiant despite bruising pre-election poll
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has played down a poll showing Labor trailing the coalition by 10 points on a two-party preferred basis. The Newspoll, published in The Australian, shows a 10 per cent swing against Labor since 2022. Health Minister Ingrid Stitt conceded the election will be tough, while Carroll said the only poll that matters is the vote on November 28. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said her team takes nothing for granted. Carroll also announced a pledge to hire 500 graduate nurses and midwives.
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Get the appLabor promises 45 more beds and 145 nurses to cut Werribee Mercy emergency waits
Victoria's Labor government has promised 45 extra beds and 145 nurses for Werribee Mercy Hospital as part of a $1.5 billion election commitment. The plan would expand emergency departments at 12 Victorian hospitals by an average of 25 per cent and reduce waiting times at those hospitals by up to 20 per cent. Labor says the expansion depends on winning re-election. The government has not yet released construction timetables or explained how the waiting time reduction was calculated.
Health, crime in frame as rivals sharpen election sells
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has launched Labor's campaign for a fourth straight term, pledging to cut emergency department wait times. He announced $1.5 billion to expand emergency departments at 12 hospitals, with 250 extra beds and 1500 more health workers. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, speaking at a vandalised Upwey South tennis club, focused on crime and pledged 3000 new police officers. Mr Carroll accused the coalition of seeking to Americanise the health system, a claim Ms Wilson rejected. The state election is on November 28.
Wagga Blue Day shines spotlight on prostate cancer as nurse cutback fears grow
A Wagga Wagga prostate cancer awareness event was held at Bunnings amid concern that a federal funding change could reduce specialist nursing support. Local specialist nurse Anne-Maree Bramich is among 131 prostate cancer nurses nationally facing uncertainty as funding moves to an all-cancer nursing model from July 2027. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia argues specialist knowledge and long-standing patient relationships could be lost. Support group members urged men to discuss testing with their doctors without waiting for symptoms.
‘$250k not enough’: Aussies eyeing exit amid affordability crisis
A 26-year-old nurse, Liv Halliwell, says she plans to move permanently to New York, where she believes nurses earn almost double Australian salaries. She said she is also drawn to the city's lifestyle after a three-day visit. Halliwell will need to have her Australian qualifications verified and pass a US nursing registration exam before she can work there. Perth marketing manager Jade Lennard and her partner have also decided to leave Australia with their baby daughter, moving to Wales despite a combined household income above $250,000.
Nurses stop work as part of escalating industrial action
Nurses and midwives at two Illawarra private health facilities have stopped work for several hours. The action is part of a dispute with operator Healthe Care over pay and enforceable staffing ratios. The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association says talks have stalled after six months. Further action, including stop works and overtime bans, could follow across Healthe Care's 13 private hospitals and day surgeries if no agreement is reached. The union says the company's final pay offer is below inflation and has refused to introduce shift-by-shift nurse-to-patient ratios.
NSW private hospital nurses launch industrial action over pay and staffing ratios
Nurses and midwives across NSW private hospitals have voted to take industrial action after six months of failed pay talks. The NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association says 96.5 per cent of members who voted backed the action, which begins in the Illawarra on Thursday. The union is demanding enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios and wages matching the public system, with Healthe Care's offer described as falling short. Further stoppages are expected across the operator's hospitals in the coming weeks, with no details yet on which sites or how long they will last.
Hospital halts heart surgeries for 10 days after nurse complaints
Heart and lung surgeries at Townsville Hospital were paused for 10 days in September because of staff shortages, and five urgent patients were flown to Brisbane. The Townsville Hospital and Health Services says it is engaging with the Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union over complaints that nurses were being called in inappropriately on-call, leading to fatigue. Union secretary Sarah Beaman said members reported unmanageable workloads and burnout. The hospital says robust processes are in place to manage fatigue.
First nurses at Sandcastles children’s hospice share how they will care for some of WA’s sickest kids
Nurses at Western Australia's first children's hospice have spoken about how they will care for children with life-limiting conditions. The $38.6 million Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) hospice in Swanbourne will welcome its first families in the coming weeks. Its 50 newly recruited staff are already familiarising themselves with the facility. Registered nurse Bree Cross said the team will support one another, while nurse Jodie Rayner said the work is a privilege. The seven-bed hospice will offer stays from one night to three weeks, alongside almost 100 trained volunteers.
Nurse says hospital parking fix needed after being chased to her car
A Hobart nurse was chased by a group of young men after finishing her shift at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Audrey McAllister was walking to her car in Queens Domain when the incident occurred. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Union wants dedicated parking and safety measures for health staff, citing multiple harassment reports. The Tasmanian government is reviewing hospital entrance security and negotiating improved conditions for nurses and midwives.
Trial delayed again for Sydney nurses Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh accused of antisemitism
The trial of two Sydney nurses accused of antisemitism has been delayed again. Ahmad Rashad Nadir, 28, and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 27, pleaded not guilty to making threats against Israeli patients and refusing to treat them. The trial was set to begin on Monday but was postponed due to a constitutional issue. The matter will be mentioned in Parramatta on November 19. The pair allegedly made the threats during an online video chat in February 2025 while working at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.
Trial against nurses accused of anti-Semitism delayed
The trial of two nurses accused of making anti-Semitic comments to an Israeli influencer has been delayed. Ahmad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, who deny the charges, were due to face court on Monday. The matter was relisted for a mention in Parramatta on November 19 after a constitutional issue was raised. The pair allegedly made threats on an online video chat platform in 2025 while working at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.