Liam McNally
There is a critical shortage of maternal and child health (MCH) nurses in Melton and council is hoping to work with the state government and tertiary education sector to help address the issue.
At a council meeting on Monday, May 29, councillor Ashleigh Vandenberg moved two motions. The first was to work with the tertiary education sector to promote free nursing and midwifery study initiatives, which are both prerequisites for MCH nursing.
The second was for council to advocate to the state government to provide extended and diverse funding opportunities to support residents to study in a health field including maternal and child health qualifications.
“Currently the City of Melton has a shortage of maternal and child health nurses and the purpose of this motion is to alleviate that need by raising awareness of the current free nursing qualifications that may allow residents to secure their dream career and help us in closing the health gap that Melton is facing,” she said.
Melton council employs 17.4 equivalent full time maternal and child health nurses. On average 58 babies are born in the municipality each week.
Council aims to have 27.9 equivalent full time nurses to meet demand.
Due to the staffing shortage, council has prioritised support for birth to eight weeks old and vulnerable families, as well as providing breastfeeding support, immunisations services, sleep and settling services as well as a number of toddler developmental education programs.
MCH nurses in Melton that are members of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) have been engaged in industrial action since March to secure a wage rise and improved working conditions.
Councillor Kathy Mjdlik said that the issue is sector-wide for Victorian local governments, “but none more so than ours”.
“Being a growth council and having so many babies being born, and obviously it taking a lot longer to become a midwife because of the qualifications that are required, it is really imperative that we encourage our residents to take up this free service,” she said.
“I hope that there’s some movement in this sector Victoria-wide because we are struggling in every council and every hospital as well.”
ANMF Victoria secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick told Star Weekly in March a “fair wage rise and improved working conditions are the only way to retain experienced maternal and child health and immunisation nurses and attract additional nurses to meet the growing needs of 50 new babies and their families in the area“.
