The Minns Labor Government’s plans to water down workers’ compensation for psychological injuries, has prompted the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) to express serious concerns, as claims of stress, burnout, bullying, and harassment increase in the nursing and midwifery workforce.

NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said this was yet another attack on nurses and midwives who experienced extremely challenging and testing work conditions.

“Attempts by this government to alter workers’ compensation could be the tipping point for our already overstretched and exhausted workforce,” said Ms Candish.

“Undermining the workers compensation scheme without addressing the causes of workplace injuries is guaranteed to hurt nurses and midwives, a workforce of predominantly women. It’s another example of gender bias by the Minns Labor Government who refuses to look after its largest primarily female workforce.

“Research shows that the top three causes of psychological injury claims among nurses and midwives in NSW are work pressure, bullying or harassment, and occupational violence. There was a 150% increase in the number of psychological injury claims by nurses and midwives, with more than 3200 claims from 2013 to 2021 – the largest of any professions.

“Instead of making it harder for injured nurses and midwives to access support, the government must address the workplace conditions that are leading to these claims in the first place.”

NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary, Michael Whaites, said any move that restricted support for nurses and midwives rather than dealt with the root causes of these injuries would be unacceptable, citing concerns that the proposed changes would exclude nurses and midwives from accessing compensation for trauma caused whilst at work.

“We’ve been clear to government that the low wage settings in NSW are driving the workforce shortages. Those shortages are leading to the psychological trauma of nurses and midwives,” said Mr Whaites.

“If the proposed changes to workers’ compensation go ahead, then what the NSW Government is saying to nurses and midwives is that they won’t fix the wages problem, they won’t fix the staffing shortages that are damaging nurses and midwives, and now they want to make sure they can’t access workers’ compensation once they’re injured. This is a government that simply does not care about the largest female workforce in its employment.

“We are calling on the government to reconsider any proposed changes that would limit workers’ access to psychological injury claims and instead focus on meaningful solutions to make workplaces safer.”