Ask Shaye
Continuing Education Allowance in public hospitals
For some time I have been trying to get paid the continuing education allowance for my postgraduate qualifications, without success. I work in a public hospital as an RN.
Clause 13 of the Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award sets out the circumstances and criteria of eligibility for the payment of this allowance. If a dispute arises regarding the eligibility for the allowance and it is not resolved locally with the assistance of the Association (on the basis that we form a view that the allowance should be payable), Clause 13(xiii) requires the matter to be the subject of discussions between the Ministry of Health and the Association in an attempt to resolve the matter (and prior to any possible escalation to the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW).