VAHPA Unity
Stability
Experience
Integrity
VAHPA Unity
Knowledge
Experience
Expertise
No. Firstly, there is no guarantee that the incoming Pulse Secretary and her Branch Committee would want to keep them in this role. We would not presume to speak for them. Secondly, this is a political election. It is normal practice for the losing political team to concede and leave. Imagine if Pauline Hanson won the federal election, Anthony Albanese wouldn’t be staying on to navigate the AUKUS deal. It is politically naïve to think that Andrew and Bernarda would stay on. To claim that Andrew and Bernarda are not in it “for the union” or are “letting down the members” by leaving, demonstrates a complete lack of appreciation of the work that this pair have contributed to your union over many years. If the members vote against Andrew and Bernarda, then they would both respect that decision by the members’ and simply leave.
Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
Knowledge
Experience
Expertise
If VAHPA Unity loses the union election, will Andrew and Bernarda continue on the Public Sector bargaining team?
If VAHPA Unity loses the union election, will Andrew and Bernarda continue on the Public Sector bargaining team?
No. Firstly, there is no guarantee that the incoming Pulse Secretary and her Branch Committee would want to keep them in this role. We would not presume to speak for them. Secondly, this is a political election. It is normal practice for the losing political team to concede and leave. Imagine if Pauline Hanson won the federal election, Anthony Albanese wouldn’t be staying on to navigate the AUKUS deal. It is politically naïve to think that Andrew and Bernarda would stay on. To claim that Andrew and Bernarda are not in it “for the union” or are “letting down the members” by leaving, demonstrates a complete lack of appreciation of the work that this pair have contributed to your union over many years. If the members vote against Andrew and Bernarda, then they would both respect that decision by the members’ and simply leave.
What about mergers? Does VAHPA Unity plan to merge the branch with another branch?
What about mergers? Does VAHPA Unity plan to merge the branch with another branch?
No. There are no plans for VAHPA Unity to pursue a merger with any branch. Historically, there have been discussions with other Victorian branches of the HSU (HSU No.4 (MSAV) and HSU No.2 (HACSU)) about the possibility of a merger for many years. In 2025 when VAHPA was working with HACSU to merge the two branches, members voted against the planned merger, and it was abandoned. VAHPA Unity respects this decision and has absolutely no plans to revisit it and makes a commitment on that.
The Public Sector Organising Team (PSOT) always seems to be under-resourced?
The Public Sector Organising Team (PSOT) always seems to be under-resourced?
VAHPA has always been fiscally responsible and recruited new staff only once the membership has grown sufficiently that the income can sustain the increase in staff wages. It is important to remember that VAHPA covers multiple sectors and bargains for dozens of enterprise agreements outside the public sector. The union also provides individual support for members who need it, for all manner of issues, from a reclassification case to supporting them through disciplinary action (Member Response Team). The union is also a not-for-profit registered organisation with over 20 staff, with significant administrative and compliance obligations. All of this work requires appropriately trained staff. As the branch continues to grow the Branch Committee reviews the financial situation, the budget projections and looks to recruit accordingly.
Is VAHPA Unity associated with any political party?
Is VAHPA Unity associated with any political party?
No. And if VAHPA Unity wins the election, there is no intention for the branch to affiliate with any political party.
What role does the BCOM take in running the union?
The Branch Committee of Management (BCOM) is the governance body for the branch. They decide the strategic direction of the union and provide management oversight and fiscal governance. The simplest analogy is that the Committee is the equivalent to a Board of Directors for a company, just as the Secretary is analogous to the CEO. The roles must be kept completely separate to ensure good governance is observed.
What role do National Councillors take in running VAHPA?
What role do National Councillors take in running VAHPA?
National Councillors don’t have any direct role in the running of the state branch (VAHPA), rather they represent the branch at National Council (made up of representatives from HSU branches across the country) which meets annually. The National Councillors each carry one vote but their vote is pre-determined by the Branch Committee. For this reason, it makes more sense for Ordinary Members of the Branch Committee to also be the National Councillors for the branch.
Why did VAHPA only accept 2% x 4 years in the last round of bargaining for the 2021-2026 EA?
Why did VAHPA only accept 2% x 4 years in the last round of bargaining for the 2021-2026 EA?
Firstly, VAHPA only accepts what the members accept. The offer from the government was put to a vote of the members to accept or reject. The members voted to accept the offer. This was at a time when healthcare workers had been smashed by peak Covid pressures for over 2 years, still with the uncertainty of the ongoing pandemic, and the threat and predictions of a financial recession because of the pandemic. VAHPA members voted to accept the offer including but not limited to 2% per annum over 4 years. Besides this important but often conveniently ignored historical context, the package also included an extra week of annual leave (with no trade-offs to achieve it), auto-progression from Grade 1 to Grade 2, ensuring a significant ongoing benefit to all Grade 1 (AHP1) members. Further items contributing to a monetary benefit that meant the government could still claim that they only agreed to their policy of 2% while building more into your overall pay: - Top of band payments - Backpay (when there was no backpay under govt policy) - Skills and Incentive Payment $3,000 (in instalments) - Overtime payment by default (no unpaid overtime) - Right to disconnect (before it was common) - Extra 4 weeks primary and an extra 1 week for non-primary parental leave - Long service leave, pro-rata after 7 years There were other upgrades in clauses that significantly improved the agreement. A further important historical context that contributed to the government’s wages policy of 2% per annum at the time, was that the annual FWC (Fair Work Commission) minimum award rises were significantly lower than they have averaged over the last few years. Also worth noting is that MSAV also received 2% x 4 years for their 2021-2025 EA. Outside of the enterprise Agreement, but designed to benefit the AH workforce as part of the overall package, a Memorandum of Understanding included the following: - 100 new Clinical Educator roles created (20 x Grade 4 and 80 x Grade 3) that members could apply for in their workplaces. - 38 new Director and Deputy Director of Allied Health positions created to enhance the career pathways for AHPs. - 300 x Grade 2 backfill positions to be created (unfortunately only 50 of these have so far been created in a trial process).