PUBLIC HOSPITAL NURSES' (STATE) AWARD

 

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES

 

Application by New South Wales Nurses' Association, industrial organisation of employees.

 

(No. IRC 6802 of 2001)

 

 

VARIATION

 

1.          Insert after clause 10, Special Allowances, of clause 1, Arrangement, of the award published 29 November 2002 (337 I.G. 180) the following new clause:

 

10A.  Continuing Education Allowance

 

2.          Insert after clause 10, Special Allowances, the following new clause:

 

10A.  Continuing Education Allowance

 

(i)         An employee employed in the classification of Registered Nurse (years 1 to 8), Nursing Unit Manager or Nurse Manager Grade 1 and Nurse Manager Grade 2, who holds a continuing education qualification in a clinical field, in addition to the qualification leading to registration, shall be paid a continuing education allowance subject to the following conditions set out below:

 

(a)        the allowance is only payable where the qualification is accepted by the employer to be directly relevant to the competency and skills used by the nurse in the duties of the position;

 

(b)        an employee holding more than one relevant qualification is only entitled to one allowance, being the allowance of the highest monetary value;

 

(c)        the employee claiming entitlement to a qualification allowance must provide evidence to the employer that they hold that qualification.

 

(ii)        An employee who is employed in the classification of Nurse Manager Grade 3 and above who satisfies the employer that she/he is engaged in clinical work for more than 50% of her/his time shall be paid a continuing education allowance subject to the conditions set out in subclause (i) of this clause.

 

(iii)       Subject to the preceding provisions in subclauses (i) and (ii) of this clause, an employee who holds a post-graduate certificate (not including a hospital certificate) shall be paid an allowance of an amount set out in Item 20 of Table 2 - Other Rates and Allowances, of Part B, Monetary Rates.

 

(iv)       Subject to the preceding provisions in the said subclauses (i) and (ii), an employee who holds a post-graduate diploma or degree (other than an undergraduate nursing degree) shall be paid an allowance of an amount set out in Item 21 of the said Table 2.

 

(v)        Subject to the preceding provisions in the said subclauses (i) and (ii), an employee who holds a masters degree or doctorate shall be paid an allowance of an amount set out in Item 22 of the said Table 2.

 

(vi)       An enrolled nurse, who holds a relevant Certificate 4 continuing education qualification in a clinical field, in addition to the qualification leading to enrolment, shall be paid a continuing education allowance subject to the following conditions set out below:

 

(a)        the allowance is only payable where the qualification is accepted by the employer to be directly relevant to the competency and skills used by the enrolled nurse in the duties of the position;

 

(b)        an employee holding more than one relevant qualification is only entitled to one allowance, being the allowance of the highest monetary value;

 

(c)        the employee claiming entitlement to a qualification allowance must provide evidence to the employer that they hold that qualification.

 

(vii)      Subject to the preceding provisions in subclause (vi) of this clause, an enrolled nurse who holds a Certificate 4 qualification shall be paid an allowance of an amount set out in Item 23 of the said Table 2.

 

(viii)     The above allowances are not to be included in the employee’s ordinary rate of pay.

 

(ix)       Where a dispute arises concerning the eligibility for payment of a Continuing Education Allowance that is not resolved by the process contained in subclauses (i) to (iv) of clause 44, Disputes, of this Award, negotiations between the NSW Health Department and the Association must occur prior to referral to the Industrial Relations Commission for determination.

 

3.          Delete Table 2 - Other Rates and Allowances, of Part B, Monetary Rates, and insert in lieu thereof the following table:

 

Table 2 - Other Rates and Allowances

 

 

4.          This variation shall take effect from the beginning of the first pay period to commence on or after 1 December 2004.

 

 

 

F. L. WRIGHT  J, President.

R. P. BOLAND  J.

R. J. PATTERSON, Commissioner.

 

 

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Printed by the authority of the Industrial Registrar.