Branches of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) in Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) have been successful in overturning a policy that introduced above-award conditions for Clinical Nurse/Midwife Specialists (CNS/CMS). 

The branches, assisted by officers from the NSWNMA, fought the unfair policy changes, which represented a breach of the Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award 2022.

The policy positioned CNS/CMS as an allowance and required staff to revalidate their CNS/CMS status every year in addition to the annual performance appraisal process. It had been introduced by the District without consultation. 

The policy constituted a barrier to nurses and midwives’ career progression, and the NSWNMA argued that it was an award breach. 

Following the implementation of the policy, the NSWNMA wrote to WSLHD requesting they withdraw the policy. After WSLHD failed to respond, the NSWNMA delivered the local health district with a dispute notification. 

As a result of the branch’s efforts, WSLHD withdrew the policy and re-instated the CNS/CMS status for any members who may have been affected by it prior to the dispute meeting. 

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