
Issue No 66		11 August 2000

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News

Scrap HECS Say Nurses

The New South Wales Nurses Association is calling on HECS charges to be abolished on nursing courses in order to fill 1300 nursing vacancies in NSW.

They've been backed up by NSW Health Minister Craig Knowles who agrees HECS is impacting on nurse recruitment.

It is estimated there are currently 5000 nursing vacancies across Australia.

HECS for undergraduate nursing courses stands at around $3463 per year up from $2600 in 1997. Charges for post-graduate courses have also increased.

Following the Howard Government's assault on tertiary education in 1996-97 take up in post-basic nursing courses, which provide the health system with its specialist nurses, crashed from 5256 in1997 to 4267 in1999. Graduations from post-basic courses dropped from 5133 in 1996 to 4026 in 1998.

NSWNA Acting General Secretary, Brett Holmes, says the whole issue of fees and nursing courses needs to be reassessed or we could face serious problems in our health system before long.

'More hospitals around NSW are reporting difficulties in finding nurses, to fill vacancies. Aged care industry stakeholders acknowledge that the sector already has a serious nursing shortage,' he says.

'The NSW Government has taken positive steps to address the issue, but in the end it is up to the Federal Government to remove disincentives to nurse education.'

Holmes says it is society that benefits from a large and well educated workforce.

'University funding policies and course-fee arrangements should have the flexibility to respond to the nation's workforce needs. At the moment Australia needs nurses more than it needs a few dollars in course fees.'

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Issue 66 contents

Interview: Shifting Sands
Michael Crosby Joint Director of the ACTU Organising Centre talks to Workers Online about the changing nature of union power, 'use it or lose it' coverage and how the ALP will have to deal with a transformed union movement.

Unions: Mission Possible
From Cambodia to Kyrghyzstan, from Malawi to Mozambique, this is one nurse who accepts certain missions where life is on the edge, and she loves it.

Economics: A Progressive Alternative
Andrew Scott outlines a policy approach for an ALP Government that aims to deliver social as well as economic progress.

International: Unions Back International Seafarer Deal
Shipping union representatives from 56 countries have decided to back a pioneering international collective bargaining agreement with ship employers.

Politics: Apolitical Myth
Over the last ten years one story about public interest in politics has found resonance, especially in the US. It suggests that people are no longer interested in political issues. Researchers from the Demos Foundation put this claim under the microscope.

Satire: Elaine Nile retires citing victory in "War on Masturbation"
There were emotional displays and many tributes paid today as Elaine Nile, Christian Democrat MP of 12 years standing, announced her retirement from the Parliament.

Review: Pure Shit
The 1970s Aussie drug classic, Pure Shit - a 70s Australian style Trainspotting - is being dusted off for a one-off showing at the Chauvel.

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» ACOSS Slams Job Network

» Scrap HECS Say Nurses

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» Shopping Centre Silent Over Greedy Grab

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» Taxi Incentive Needed to Avert Olympic Shortage

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» Seaforth Picket Marks a Year With Picnic

» Road Rage! Air Rage! WORK RAGE!