Nurses working in border districts

The following information is to clarify for nurses working in both Queensland and another state which Union they should be a member of:

·       A nurse working either side of the border should take out full-time membership within the state where they are employed for the majority of the time (primary state).

·       The ANF Branch where the nurse has primary membership should forward a copy of the membership to the other state (secondary state), with a request to be recognised and provided with service as required.

Members should note:

·       Voting rights are retained in the primary state only

·       Industrial or professional services or advice provided by the secondary state would be done in consultation with the primary state or branch where relevant

·       Should any extraordinary costs occur (e.g. legal expenses), these would be shared between the relevant branches or as otherwise arranged between them

·       Members requiring assistance should, in the first instance, contact the ANF branch in the State or Territory where the issue or problem arises

»     Queensland: Queensland Nurses' Union

»     NSW: NSW Nurses Association

»     ACT: ANF ACT

»     Victoria: ANF Victoria

»     Tasmania: ANF Tasmania

»     South Australia: ANF South Australia

»     Northern Territory: ANF Northern Territory

»     Western Australia: ANF Western Australia

»     Click here for contact details

IMPORTANT: Professional indemnity insurance for border nurses

·       Nurses whose primary membership does not lie in Queensland (ie where Queensland is the secondary state) are not covered for professional indemnity insurance while working in Queensland.

·       If the nurse needs professional indemnity insurance while working in Queensland they can pay a reduced 'professional indemnity only' rate of membership to the QNU so they are recorded as a financial member. Please contact the membership section on 07 3840 1440 or 1800 177 273 if outside Brisbane or email member@qnu.org.au

Scenario

A nurse who works the majority of the time in NSW and is a member of NSWNA but ‘recognised’ by the QNU because of the Border Agreement means that he/she is not covered by professional indemnity insurance for any incident that occurs in Queensland. To be covered by professional indemnity insurance while working in Queensland the nurse is required to pay the QNU a reduced 'professional indemnity only' rate of membership so that they are recorded as a financial member.