Advocacy & Support for Nurses
For many expecting mothers navigating the workforce, securing maternity leave isn't just a matter of convenience—it's a necessity.
For Jess, a member of the NPAA South Australia branch, the road to securing her maternity leave entitlements proved unexpectedly challenging.
Jess had been working as a regular casual employee for six months before transitioning to a fixed-term contract in April 2024. With the intent to commence maternity leave in September of the same year, she assumed her entitlement to paid leave was secure.
Unfortunately, her optimism was met with a harsh reality when employee relations informed her that they would not recognize her continuous regular casual employment as continuous service due to the fact that Jess’s employer had given her a new employee number upon signing her new contract. Jess was advised her previous work would not count, removing her eligibility for paid maternity leave.
With the prospect of paid maternity leave seeming uncertain for Jess she reached out to NPAA for assistance.
Jess conveyed her concerns to her assigned case manager, highlighting the unfairness of not recognizing her previous casual service as part of her continuous employment history due to circumstances outside of her control such as her new assigned employee number.
Jess’s valid concerns were taken onboard and, as a result of NPAA’s proactive advocacy and support along with their understanding of employment regulations Jess was successful in ensuring that her casual work counted towards continuous service, thus guaranteeing her entitlement to paid maternity leave
How is the NPAA so effective in defending members during workplace issues and disputes? Our experienced and professional case managers use our unique RED™ case resolution system.
Why is the NPAA different? We believe that real change in healthcare STARTS with empowering frontline nurses, not bureaucrats.
If you are a member of NPAA and need assistance, please submit an Member Support Form on your dashboard, or contact us at hotline@npaa.asn.au
To find out more about NPAA and become protected today visit: npaa.redunion.com.au/join
The name of the member in this article has been changed for confidentiality reasons.
