In September we’ve been meeting with lots of members in your workplaces to discuss your claims for the next Public Mental Health EBA! 

You might have met recently with one of our Organisers to chat through your concerns and needs. If not, please get in touch! We might have a meeting scheduled soon – or we can coordinate a meeting time that suits you.

It’s integral that we hear from a variety of members, from different disciplines, jobs; from metro, rural and regional areas, to ensure that our claims work for YOU!

On September 11th, we launched our research into the state of the workforce in the sector at Parliament House. The response we received from the Victorian MPs who attended was one of genuine understanding and concern. These lobbying efforts provide HACSU members with a direct link to decision-makers and demonstrates your dedication to improving the sector for all.

We here at HACSU love a conference. So, we were excited to get along to this years’ Victorian Statewide Forum for Psychiatric Enrolled Nurses run by the Centre for Mental Health Learning. It was good to see so many HACSU members there and catch up with many of you.

Our new State Secretary, Paul Healey was a guest speaker, continuing our ongoing support and advocacy for Psychiatric Enrolled Nurses (PEN) in Mental Health and the great job that you all do. We know that often PENs are underutilised and your value to the industry isn’t full appreciated.

For some nurses, being an PEN is a steppingstone to becoming an RPN, which is great. However, for many of you who have chosen to make being an PEN you career. HACSU recognise and support that choice and we are committed to making it an even more rewarding and interesting career option. HACSU are putting forward several proposals toward that goal, including the provision for more PEN Educators.

We’re also working together with VMIAC and TANDEM to improve EBA provisions and career pathways for the Lived Experience Workforce. If you’re a Lived Experience or Peer worker and you want to chat to us about how you think we should improve your work through claims in the EBA, get in touch today! hacsu@hacsu.asn.au

PLUS!

From the first full pay period on or after October 1st, Administrative and Clerical workers employed under the Public Mental Health EBA will receive their final wage increase for this EBA. Click here to find out more about this wage increase and how it PAYS to be a HACSU member!