Our work, our voice

We recently spoke with Clinical Support Officer and Intensive Care Paramedic Nat about the ongoing industrial action by Ambulance Tasmania staff as the government refusesto address fair pay, safer rosters and conditions.Nat’s message to the government is simple but powerful: come and experience the conditions workers are dealing with for yourself.“I would love to see any of the government (ministers) come and work with us and see what we face day to day … come andspend a night shift, come and spend half a night shift with us and see what happens and the conditions we work in.”

As the government continues to drag its feet on fair pay, rosters and working conditions for Ambulance Tasmania staff,Simone Haigh – Paramedic, HACSU Junior VP, and President of the Ambulance Employee Sub-branch, talks us through the psychological damage current working conditions are causing, and the long-term harm that will continue unless thegovernment steps in and fixes a system that is broken. “It's been a breaking point for a while, but now it's really starting to hurt … We had one week where at one point during the day there was only one intern on for a whole night shift in the north at Launceston.”

HACSU members at Ambulance Tasmania are taking industrialaction after long-stalled negotiations. In this podcast, Paramedic Jan Pur speaks of the anger andfrustration members are feeling, the reality of the conditions they are working under every day, the risks this is creating for the public, and the psychological and moral injuries many are carrying as a result."On a daily basis, the community has a single officerrock up to their house if called for an ambulance, they see an ambulance with a stretcher, and it's a single officer." "Patients are being really poorly looked after. We aregiving them the best that we can, but the best that we can isn't really the best that we should be doing."

Mental health services in Tasmania are already hard to access, but we’re about to lose another 27 mental health beds as the Hobart Clinic is set to close its doors at the end of October. 2025.This is a devasting blow to both patients and staff, and it will place lives at risk.In this podcast, we hear from Mick, a former patient, and HACSU State Secretary Robbie Moore on the life-saving services the Clinic provides and why the Health Minister Bridget Archer should step up and keep the Hobart Clinic open.

Reproductive health impacts everyone. That’s why we're campaigning for 12 days paid Reproductive Health Leave for ALL workers under the National Employment Standards.In a podcast recorded at last year’s HACSU Delegates Conference, we spoke with Kate Marshall, the Senior National Assistant Secretary of the HSU, who has been leading the charge to make RHL a reality.

HACSU public sector organiser Desmond talks us through a huge win members in our public hospitals achieved recently with the Health Services Officer (HSO) review. The changes represent major progress in recognising their qualifications, years of service, and the essential work they do every day.

Our State Secretary Robbie Moore is back with our monthly member update – and there’s quite a bit to talk about! In this podcast, we get an update on: - HACSU’s expectations of Tasmania’s new Health Minister - recent industrial action by RHH cleaners and workers at TasIVF and Hobart Specialist Day Hospital - a huge win for medical imaging workers - upcoming industrial action by nurses at the North West Private Hospital - the Allied Health and PSUWA surveys ahead of bargaining

Ahead of bargaining for a new Allied Health Industrial Agreement getting underway in November, we sit down with Sophie Mummery - President of the HACSU Allied Health Professional sub-branch - to talk about what’s involved and why it is so important for members and non-members to have their say in our survey.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks and our State Secretary Robbie Moore is here to talk us through some of what’s been happening, including: - a wrap-up of our Thank You for Working in Aged Care week - fallout from last week’s Tasmanian state budget - an update on where we are at following industrial action by Child Safety and Youth Justice workers - details on our campaign for Reproductive Health Leave and how you can show your support

Congratulations to Judy Richmond, who this month marks 30 years as President of HACSU Tasmania. In this podcast, Judy recalls one of her most memorable moments from her 50+ years in nursing and the time she and other hospital staff organised a blockage against then Tasmanian Premier Ray Groom.

We all know career pathways are limited in aged care and disability. This is because care and support work has been historically undervalued and isn’t treated as the skilled, professional work it is. Brendan is an aged care worker who was part of a HACSU delegation that recently travelled to Canberra to meet with politicians about a national positive registration scheme for the aged care and disability sectors. In this podcast, Brendan talks us through some of those discussions he was a part of, and why the implementation of such a scheme is needed to recognise the skills of workers and guarantee adequate training and worker support.

HACSU radiographers, sonographers and nuclear medicine technologists will walk off the job on Wednesday 19 June 2024 to protest the Tasmanian government’s inaction on implementing a market allowance to address chronic retention and attraction issues.

It’s time for a Portable Long Service Leave Scheme (PLSLS) for workers in Tasmania's disability and community services, aged care, contract cleaning and security sectors. HACSU State Secretary Robbie Moore talks us through why the scheme is needed, where we're at with the campaign and what's next.