Published on 26 November 2021

​This news update is to inform you that the proposed Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2020-2024 (Proposed Agreement) has now been finalised.

Background information: 

The Proposed Agreement represents the settlement negotiated between Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA) on behalf of Employers and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) and Health Workers Union (HWU) on behalf of Employees with the assistance of the Department of Health.

Western Health employees covered by the Proposed Agreement are those who are employed as Registered Nurses, Registered Midwives or Enrolled Nurses in a role or classification specified in the current Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2016-2020 (“Eligible Employees”).

Registered Nurses or Enrolled Nurses employed solely or predominately in the provision of public mental health services are not covered by the Proposed Agreement.

Provision of Relevant Materials and Explanation to Eligible Employees:  

As per the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), Western Health must now provide Eligible Employees with a copy of the Proposed Agreement .

There is also a Summary of Changes that explains the terms of the Proposed Agreement changes and their effect. The summary of changes should be read in conjunction with the Proposed Agreement.

The Ballot process:

The Employers to be covered by the Proposed Agreement must also conduct a ballot of Eligible Employees. The ballot involves providing Eligible Employees with the opportunity to vote to approve or not approve the Proposed Agreement.

Method of Ballot and Place:

The ballot will be conducted by Elections Australia and will be conducted electronically at https://myvote.com.au/nmvps

Date and Time of Ballot:

The ballot will:

  • be open from 00:01am on Friday, 10 December 2021
  • close at midnight (24:00 hours) on Thursday, 16 December 2021.

You will be able to vote at any time during this period.

Instructions to access the vote:

Detailed instructions on how you will be able to vote when the ballot opens can be accessed here. Please familiarise yourself with the instructions.

We also strongly urge you to vote as early as possible within the ballot timeframe to ensure that the information provided to Elections Australia is correct and to correct this if it is not.

More than 50% of all Eligible Employees (at all the Employers covered by the Proposed Agreement) that vote must vote for the approval of the Proposed Agreement for it to be submitted to the Fair Work Commission on your Employer’s behalf.

Further information:

If you have any queries in relation to the Proposed Agreement or ballot process or you believe you have a particular circumstance that requires Western Health to provide additional support in explaining the terms of the Proposed Agreement changes you may contact Maurizio Bilotta (Employee Relations) via email maurizio.bilotta@wh.org.au.  Alternatively, if you are a member of ANMF or HWU, you may also contact your respective Union for information and advice.