It’s around this time of year nurses and midwives check their CPD and ensure they meet requirements for their annual NMBA registration renewal.

But if you are going to make sure one part of your life is on track, why not take the opportunity to check others?

We’ve compiled the following checklist to help you stay healthy, wealthy and wise this year.

Healthy:

• Annual medical check-up: In addition to basic tests (i.e. blood pressure, ECG, weight) your doctor will usually ask about your general wellbeing, work and family stresses, you and your family’s medical history and your lifestyle choices. Depending on your age and indicators they may recommend other tests including:
  • Bone Density (Osteoporosis)
  • Colonoscopy
  • Diabetes
  • Bowel Screen (Although the National Bowel Cancer Screening Service usually sends free kits to over 50s.)
  • Prostate 
• Dentist: Dentists recommend regular six-month check-ups, but you should at least go annually.
• Eye check: If you wear glasses, an annual check-up will ensure your prescription is up-to-date, otherwise a test every two years is sufficient. 
• Hearing check: Unless you already have hearing problems, you should test every five years once you hit 40. You should test annually after 60.
• Breast exam: Annually from the age of 40 onwards, particularly if your family has a history of cancer. 
• Cervical Screening Test (cancer/human papillomavirus): People aged 25-74 should be screened every five years.
• Vaccinations: Make sure you’re up to date with your latest influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations. 

Wealthy (including important changes to superannuation):

• Check your payslip: If you are not doing this each payday, do it now. Does your pay rate reflect your pay point? Do the hours worked match your roster? Are extras like overtime, allowances and leave loading being paid? Are the salary sacrifice and super contributions correct? Visit your member profile to view your enterprise agreement/Award to check these details.
• Check your ‘net worth’ (how well you manage your money): Take the value of your assets (property, cash, investments) and subtract your liabilities (all debts such as mortgage, loans, credit cards). Track it annually and aim to grow by 5-10% each year by reducing liabilities and increasing assets or their value. 
• Check your debt-to-income ratio (how well you manage your debt): Take your total monthly debt payments and divide it by your monthly gross income. Your ratio should be 30% or lower. If not, make a plan to address the root problem and reduce your debt.
• Check your super (how are your retirement plans tracking):
  • Check your employer’s contributions are correct.
  • Check your balance: Are your current contributions sufficient to reach your retirement savings goal? Should you make additional contributions? 
  • Can you boost your balance? Options include co-contributions, personal contributions or salary sacrifice. Click here for details.
  • Be sure to read this important update about changes to superannuation in the public sector, which include improvements to employer contributions won by unions. 
• Check your investments: Is your investment option and level of risk still appropriate for you? Are your investments performing according to benchmarks?
• Check your fund’s insurance coverage: Is it right for your circumstances? Will it cover your bills/pay off your mortgage? Do you need additional insurance elsewhere?
• Audit your plans: Review items like car insurance, home insurance, electricity and telecommunications plans. Are better deals available? Is it worth switching?
• Check your emergency savings: Do you have enough to cover three months expenses (recommended)? If not, can you plan to save enough for two weeks’ cover and build on it?

Wise:

• Know your workplace entitlements: Read over the award and your workplace agreement to ensure you are across your entitlements and conditions. (Find your agreement on your QNMU member profile page under ‘wages and conditions’.) 
• Reflect on your career progression and identify some education and professional development opportunities to achieve your career aspirations. Be sure to incorporate these into your next PAD.
• Check your job readiness: Annually update your CV.
• Audit your digital footprint: Google yourself and where possible request removal of information about yourself you no longer want public.

And finally, making sure your QNMU membership details are up to date is essential to ensure you remain protected at work and you continue to receive information that’s relevant to your workplace.

As a QNMU member, you get access to great information and advice, not to mention you’re covered by one of the most comprehensive Professional Indemnity Insurance policies on the market. 

Keeping your details updated – including your workplace, role (ie: midwife, student, etc), classification, and your average work hours per week – will ensure you continue to receive all the benefits of QNMU membership.