NZNO appoints new professional staff.

Two new professional staff began working for NZNO this month. Policy analyst Angela Wallace has joined from the Ministry of Health's Maori Health Directorate.

She has wide experience as a senior adviser, project manager and policy analyst with a number of government departments including the Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Women's Affairs. Professional nursing adviser Anne Brinkman comes to NZNO from her position as lecturer at the School of Health Science, Massey University, Wellington, where she has co-ordinated the first-year nursing programme and taught primary health care to year-two students for the past five years. She has considerable nursing experience in surgical and intensive care, burns, cardiothoracic and mental health.

A part-time individual case organiser has been appointed to NZNO's Hamilton office. Paula Fitzgerald has worked for the last four years in a taw firm representing clients on employment and general human resource issues.

CHANGES TO OVERSEAS MEMBERSHIP

NZNO members whose primary place of work and study is outside New Zealand will no longer receive membership benefits, including indemnity insurance. This follows a decision of the board of directors last August in an attempt to minimise NZNO's exposure to the risk of potential indemnity insurance claims. NZNO currently has around 260 overseas members.

REDUCED FEE ENTITLEMENT

Members earning less than $17,500 per annum are entitled to a reduced fee of $144. This is also available to members whose circumstances change, eg when they go on parental leave, are non-practising, in full-time postgraduate study or belong to another union affiliated to the Council of Trade Unions. Members may apply in writing for the reduced fee or should contact NZNO by phone if their circumstances change.

SURVEY OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE MEMBERS

Results of a major NZNO survey to gather information on critical workforce issues for primary health care (PHC) members will be released tater this month.

The survey results will inform NZNO's PHC pay parity campaign and negotiations for the mega PHC multi-employer collective agreement (see story on p8).

Survey forms were sent to PHC members last month, with responses requested by late last month. Questions centred on recruitment and retention issues, working conditions, support for staff, and whether pay parity with DHB nurses would encourage members to remain in the PHC sector.

When Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand went to press, NZNO had received 640 responses. Responses were to be collated by the middle of this month.