Assistant Secretary | Des Elder
Des has been a member of our union since 1977 joining not long after he commenced training as a registered nurse at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. After graduation he worked in the renal transplant unit and oncology and completed a certificate in psychiatric nursing at Wolston Park Hospital (now the Park).
After completing his training, Des worked as a registered nurse at Greenslopes Hospital until being appointed as a QNU Organiser in 1991.
Since then Des has assisted QNU members as Regional Organiser in Cairns, Relief Organiser in Toowoomba, Senior Organiser and Industrial Officer.
Des comes from a strong union background, and has been involved in unions from an early age.
He says it has been a privilege to be involved in the QNU and to watch its membership and influence continue to grow. He looks forward to building on the strong leadership shown by Gay and Beth over the years, along with successive state Councils and Executives.
Des believes the QNU is a union which can be proud of campaigning strongly on issues that are fundamental to the nursing and midwifery professions.
As Assistant Secretary, Des has committed to developing a stronger and more resilient private sector membership, developing stronger links with other unions while maintaining our independence, and developing our ability to adapt to the many new challenges in health in the coming years.
