I would like to thank my organiser and the whole union team for providing me with an opportunity to attend the event in Canberra last week, which was one of my greatest lifetime experiences.

We were given a brief of information on what to expect throughout the event and what we are hoping to talk to the Minister. In the meantime, I was very nervous and anxious if my voice would really matter, especially being early in my nursing career.

But on the day of the event, we spoke with the respective Members of Parliament, and I was also able to share my experiences, challenges I have been facing as a newly graduated Registered Nurse and how the providers have manipulated the care minutes and avoided the obligations putting the residents’ quality of life at risk.

I got emotional in between the moments as I shared how unsafe I feel working as a nurse, working short staffed every single day because of providers failing to comply with the care minute reporting standards.

I felt more confident and heard when the MPs were engaging in the conversation, acknowledged our concerns and looked out for investigation, and further follow up discussion.

While no immediate policy change will occur right now, I believe we had a successful discussion and this will contribute to changes we are hoping for in the near future around improving care minute expectations, so we will be able to give residents the quality time and care they deserve.

Punam Subba, RN