19 May 2025
ANMF SA representatives, including three enrolled nurses based on the Yorke Peninsula, have provided firsthand insights and expertise to a committee heading an inquiry into health service delivery in the region.
The Parliamentary of South Australia’s Economic and Finance Committee requested ANMF SA attend the hearing to provide key information to help form recommendations to be presented back to the government.
ANMF SA CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM told the committee a multifaceted approach prioritising retention, recruitment and local workforce development was needed to solve complex issues surrounding healthcare delivery in rural areas.
Potential solutions presented by ANMF SA include increasing graduate placements, strengthening mentorship, offering subsidised accommodation, and investing in workforce planning.
Incentives schemes such as those being offered in the country’s eastern states were important to not only attract health professionals to the area but to retain the workforce.
Leadership and upskilling initiatives were needed to strengthen the future nursing and midwifery leadership capacity and enable nurses and midwives to work to the full scope of practice.
Ms Dabars raised workplace safety as an ongoing critical concern, following a recent meeting between ANMF SA and Local Health Network Chairpersons regarding the implementation of the state government-endorsed 10-Point-Plan to end violence and aggression in healthcare settings.
“The principles are still there but what we are seeing is (LHNs) saying that they are implementing elements of the Plan, however these are getting obstructed at a local level,” she said.
Many regional and rural sites still needed urgent upgrades to mitigate risks from violent or aggressive patients, with Burra Hospital EN Louise telling the inquiry nurses had “no safe place to retreat to”.
The hospital, which has aged care and acute beds, rosters on one registered nurse (RN) and one EN per night shift. Louise recalled recent incidents where staff had felt unsafe or overrun, including one shift where the two nurses were required to manage four ambulances which arrived while caring for patients and cleaning patient areas including stripping beds.
During another shift, a member of the public known to staff was trying to enter the hospital, placing patients at risk.
“There is no safe place to retreat to. The nurses’ station is the logical place, but it’s surrounded by glass,” she said.
Fellow EN Megan told the inquiry about her harrowing experience of being chased by a patient wielding two knives while at work in November, during which she was forced to use a chair to protect herself.
Megan said despite “multiple incidents since” security upgrades were still not complete.
ANMF SA is continuing to advocate for strengthened security measures which support the 10-Point Plan, which will in turn help to foster a safe and supportive work environment to allow staff to adequately provide quality care to patients.
This includes through ongoing communication with Health Minister Chris Picton and LHNs.
“We will eagerly await the recommendations that come out of this Inquiry, which we hope reflects the need for urgent investment to overcome the significant challenges facing the delivery of healthcare services in our country areas,” Ms Dabars said.
You can read the ANMF SA submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry HERE .