Membership responsibilties
You have certain responsibilities as a member of the QNU, and your adherence enables our organisation to operate effectively.
Are you moving?
Please notify the QNU membership section if you are changing your address or workplace. If the QNU doesn’t have your correct details you could miss out on important information, resources and materials, such as workplace-specific newsletters. You can update your details by clicking here.
Changing your hours?
Are you changing from full-time work to part-time? If so, you may be entitled to pay part-time fees. Part-time fees apply to members working up to and including 24 hours a week. Full-time fees apply to members working more than 24 hours a week. If you are unsure what fees you should be paying, contact the QNU membership section. Payment of the incorrect fee may affect your professional indemnity insurance coverage.
Moving to another state?
Don’t take risks with your union membership – transfer to the appropriate nursing union state branch for total union cover.
If you are a financial member of the QNU or any other state branch of the Australian Nursing Federation you can transfer your membership simply by phoning your union and we’ll take care of the rest! After your membership is transferred, you will be contacted by the relevant state branch when your fees next become due – it’s as simple as that!
Full time to part time
If you were paying full time fees before going on leave, such as unpaid extended leave, and return to work on a part-time basis (ie up to 24 hours a week) you should be paying the part time rate of fees.
If you’re on payroll deduction then your employer has an authority to deduct full time fees, so you will almost certainly be deducted at the full time rate when you return to work. Contact the QNU membership section for a revised payroll deduction authority.
If you pay your fees directly to the QNU or by direct debit from your bank account, you will also need to contact the QNU membership section so that we can change your subscription rate to part time.
Taking a break or going on maternity leave?
Maintain your QNU membership and keep up-to-date with nursing and midwifery issues by taking out passive membership for any unpaid leave. Passive membership currently costs only $82.90 per year. Under passive membership, you will continue to receive your copy of our journal, tqn, have access to the QNU library, as well as our legal clinic for discounted non-work related legal services and free will-making service, Union Shopper for discount buying, and Members’ Equity Bank.
If you are taking leave at half-pay, please contact the QNU membership section as you are only required to pay a full-time equivalent fee (e.g. six months on half pay = three months on full pay equivalent).
Please note that if you return to nursing or midwifery and do not upgrade your membership fee then, you may not be adequately covered by our professional indemnity insurance policy.
On workers’ compensation?
Your fees are still payable while on workers’ compensation. If you pay your fees by payroll deduction you should contact the QNU membership section to arrange an alternative method of payment. If you are on extended workers’ compensation and your payments are reduced you should contact the QNU membership section to discuss a reduction in fees.
Thinking of resigning?
Contact the QNU for advice first to ensure that you don’t jeopardise your pursuit of any claim you may have against your employer.
If you are resigning from the QNU please note that it is a government requirement that all resignations are in writing and that you are liable for all fees due in accordance with the relevant legislation. Your membership does not lapse because fees are not paid.
Our journal - tqn
If there is more than one QNU member living at the same address, we can now stop sending multiple copies of the journal to you. Simply contact the QNU membership section if you’d like this to occur.
Nursing students
QNU student membership costs around $1 a week. Student members receive our union journal, tqn, as well as access to our comprehensive library and members only section of the website.
If you’re a student and currently employed as an assistant in nursing (however titled) it is important to be a QNU member for legal, professional and industrial protection. Students working 16 or less hours a week in nursing can access a reduced fee.
The fulltime student fee (for university and TAFE students) does not apply to enrolled nurses or registered nurses doing further study or lapsed enrolled nurses or registered nurses doing supervised practice or refresher courses.
