The Rules of the Queensland Nurses' Union of Employees and Professional Indemnity Insurance

8  How and when a person may become a member

(a) An applicant for membership of the Union shall forward to the Secretary an application for membership on a form provided for such purpose which shall include their Queensland Nursing Council Practising Certificate Number where applicable.

(b) A new member of the Union will become immediately liable to pay membership fees and must–

(i) pay the membership fee for the period of twelve months from the date of becoming a member; or

(ii) pay the membership fee for such a period of time and by such a method as may be prescribed
by Council.

If the new member pays by a method prescribed by Council that involves authorising their employer or their bank, credit union or other like institution to deduct their membership fee from their salary or account, the member must furnish a copy of the member’s authority to the Secretary.

(c) All applications for membership shall be considered by the Council at its next ordinary meeting, and shall be accepted or rejected. If accepted, the applicant shall conditionally be a member of the Union as from the date of the receipt by the Secretary of:–

(i) the application form;

(ii) a sum of money equivalent to the membership fee for at least three months of membership; or

(iii) a copy of an authority to deduct membership fees in accordance with a resolution of Council,

whichever date is the earliest. The membership shall be conditional upon the member complying with the requirements contained in the preceding sub-paragraph within a period of 28 days after the acceptance of the member’s application by Council. For the purposes of this Rule, if the new member pays a membership fee by way of credit card, debit card or online banking facility, payment will be deemed to be received by the Secretary on the date the member gives to the Union details sufficient to process such payment and authorisation to process such payment.

(d) Upon being accepted as a member of the Union, the Council shall allocate the member to an appropriate Branch where they exist. In the event of the Council rejecting an application for membership, the membership fee shall be forthwith refunded to the applicant.

(e) Where the Council declines to accept the application, the applicant shall be notified in writing, and shall have the right to appeal against such decision to the next meeting of the Council.

(f) Subject to Section 532 of the Industrial Relations Act 1999, the Council shall have absolute discretion in the matter of the acceptance of persons into membership of the Union.

(g) All applicants, upon acceptance to membership, shall be entitled to a copy of these Rules.

(h) Applicants for membership must be informed in writing of:

(i) a member’s financial obligations; and

(ii) how and when a member may resign from membership.

9  Change of Address

Any member changing their place of residence shall advise the Secretary of their new address within fourteen (14) days.