Thanks to the QNMU’s negotiations in EB11, the Mental Health Environmental Allowance has been extended to many more units across Queensland Health (QH) hospitals. The new sites are listed at Schedule 3 to EB11.

QH payroll has finally confirmed that it will pay the allowance to eligible nurses who work in the units on a full-time basis in the pay run of 7 July 2023, including backpay to 7 December 2022.  

If you work in one of the units on a part-time basis (ie: you work in an eligible unit sometimes but work in other units at other times), you must submit AVAC forms to claim the allowance for when you were working in one of the eligible units. You can submit this form from now.

Click here  to view the agreed guideline, which outlines how to apply.

Health Practitioner pay rise

QNMU members who are paid on the Health Practitioner and Dental Officer (HPDO) Enterprise Agreement rates of pay will have received a 4% pay increase from 7 June 2023.  

Members who receive the higher rate of pay of a health practitioner (because they are in a role that could be occupied by either a health practitioner or a nurse) are paid on the health practitioner rates of pay contained in the HPDO agreement. However, they retain all other conditions applicable to nurses and midwives under the Nursing and Midwifery EB11.  

The HPDO agreement was certified on 15 May 2023 and the pay increase will be backdated to 17 October 2022. We have been advised this backpay will be in the pay run of 2 August 2023.  

Another 4% increase will be paid in October 2023.