Mental Health Claim Launched In Victoria

The Victorian branch of the HSU which covers 5,000 psychiatric nurses and mental health professionals has launched its claim for an 8% pay increase, minimum training standards, minimum staffing levels and capped workloads.

Members of the Victorian No2 branch (Health and Community Services Union) have endorsed a log of claims for their next Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, due to be negotiated now.

HACSU State Secretary, Lloyd Williams said: "For too long governments have ignored the needs of mental health and health services and redirected what precious funds there are to prop up the acute general health sector".

"The claim focuses on the four key themes: specialist training, safe staffing levels, improved wages and conditions and the mental health recruitment crisis."

In the early nineties the Kennett government abolished specialist training of psychiatric nurses.

Mr Williams said: "The Bracks government has done little to repair that reckless act. Many of today's service problems and skill shortages result from that decision."

The union's campaign theme is "Mental Health First - rebuilding a skilled and responsive mental health workforce". Government figures show an average growth rate of 8% in demand for mental health services. In 2001/02 the demand increased by 14.6%.

Mr Williams said: "The claim reflects growing concern amongst professionals working in mental health that the system is failing to cope with the increase in demand. That 8% (in demand) has not been matched by an 8% increase in staffing, let alone by 14.6%.

"Workloads of nurses and health professionals have significantly increased to absorb the growing demand.

"We want to see safer staffing levels and, commitments to properly train nurses. Above all there needs to be recognition that mental health should be the top priority for government spending in health."

Mr Williams called on the Victorian Government to "put mental health first by using some of the ever increasing Victorian budget surplus to give relief to psychiatric nurses and health professionals who are being crushed by unsafe workloads"

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