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I'm a Vic nurse moving to NSW and I have some questions about the conditions in NSW.

First of all, I need to be casual due to study commitments. From what I read casuals are not treated well in NSW with just a 10% casual loading added to base rate which is not paid when a higher shift allowance (such as weekend or public holiday) is payable. Meaning that casuals get paid no more than permanents on the weekends or public holidays despite not accruing leave or having sick leave. Is this right? This seems so different from Vic where casuals get 25% of base hourly rate even on weekends or public holidays.I was thinking about going on a hospital nurse bank but if the will onlt pay me 10% more and that only on weekdays then I think agency might be the only way to go.

The other question I had was about public vs private. In Vic we have patient ratios in public which is a pretty big reason to work in the public system. What are the advantages or disadvantages of the two systems in NSW. Can anyone share experiences. The private I am looking at is a Healthscope private to their pay rates are just about equal to the public. So I'm more looking at conditions, what the two are like to work in.

Thanks for any info.

Author	Questions for NSW nurses
lokisare (offline) Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Posts: 37	Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:01 pm I'm a Vic nurse moving to NSW and I have some questions about the conditions in NSW. First of all, I need to be casual due to study commitments. From what I read casuals are not treated well in NSW with just a 10% casual loading added to base rate which is not paid when a higher shift allowance (such as weekend or public holiday) is payable. Meaning that casuals get paid no more than permanents on the weekends or public holidays despite not accruing leave or having sick leave. Is this right? This seems so different from Vic where casuals get 25% of base hourly rate even on weekends or public holidays.I was thinking about going on a hospital nurse bank but if the will onlt pay me 10% more and that only on weekdays then I think agency might be the only way to go. The other question I had was about public vs private. In Vic we have patient ratios in public which is a pretty big reason to work in the public system. What are the advantages or disadvantages of the two systems in NSW. Can anyone share experiences. The private I am looking at is a Healthscope private to their pay rates are just about equal to the public. So I'm more looking at conditions, what the two are like to work in. Thanks for any info.

Senior RN (offline) Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Posts: 24	Mar 13, 2009, 12:28 am I hate the Public system, for that way it's treated me, as a senior RN. I now work in the Private sector. I get 10 % more as a base rate, plus the usual 10% for being casual, plus the other shift penalties. I'm always in charge, so an 'in charge' allowance ontop. All up, for an afternoon shift, I'm on about $45. an hour. For nights ( weekday ), it's about $50. Lot more on weekends & P / holidays. The crim. record checks seem to come back quicker in the Private system as well. The workload is usually greater, as you always seem to be working 'one down', but at the end of the day, there is not the 'bitchyness', nor the over administration, and no 'back stabbing' to gain 'brownie points'. All the best with job hunting.... ( try applying for DoCS ( Child Protection officer - they really appreciate your nursing skills )

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