Member Stories
Ramsay nurses stand up, fight back
When I chose to become a registered nurse, I was certain my path would involve making positive changes
and impacting the lives of the most vulnerable. What I didn’t anticipate was the biggest fight for change I’d face would be for my colleagues and the nursing profession.
For the past ten years, I’ve worked at Ramsay, a private healthcare provider that prides itself on ‘People Caring for People’ and ‘State of the Art Healthcare.’ However, after 18 months of negotiating for an enterprise agreement, it’s clear Ramsay doesn’t prioritise the wellbeing of its nurses and midwives. Now it’s our time to unite, stand up, and fight back.
Participating in an industrial action campaign against Ramsay Healthcare—the first of its kind—has been both empowering and daunting. Standing alongside my fellow nurses and midwives during a four-hour stop work rally was a powerful experience.
Together, we demonstrated our collective strength and highlighted the crucial role we play in healthcare. The realisation of our power to the extent of shutting down 17 operating theatres, made it clear just how essential we are to the daily operations of the hospital and the broader healthcare system.
Initially, the idea of speaking to the media was terrifying. I feared professional repercussions, saying something inaccurate, or being misunderstood. But seeing my colleagues rally alongside me in this protected industrial action gave me the courage to speak up on behalf of a resilient group of healthcare workers and be their voice.
I am incredibly proud to have been part of this ground- breaking industrial action campaign against Ramsay.
Carlie Morgan, CNS, Wollongong Private Hospital Branch