Bayside Health is not the only public health service which still has not implemented the outcome of the public sector Heads of Agreement. We have received Emails from members at a number of other hospitals and health services advising us that payments have not been received in full (including St Vincent’s Health, Bendigo Health, Royal Children’s Health re dietitians, Austin Health re backpay and sign on bonus, VIDRL, Central Bayside Community Health, Northern Health …...).

There are five (5) elements to the settlement which need to be implemented immediately:

1. Increases in base salary
2. Increases in allowances including Higher Qualifications Allowances and shift allowances
3. Back pay re increases in salary and allowances, back to 1 January 2008. This includes adjustment of any annual leave loading which has been paid during the period
4. Payment of the sign on bonus to staff employed in the service as at 1 January 2008 being $1250 for full time staff and pro-rata for part-time staff according to hours worked per fortnight as a percentage of 76 hours
5. Adjustment of paid maternity leave for staff who commenced maternity leave on or after 1 October 2007 – an additional week’s pay is payable (9 weeks in total)

Bayside Health is correct in advising that the funding has not been released by DHS. We have contacted DHS and have been told that the money will be released to health services this week – 8 weeks after the Heads of Agreement was signed off.