❓ Mr Britza inquires about the progress of the community service leave provision for health professionals. The Minister for Health provides a positive update, highlighting the program's impact and sharing testimonials from participants.
AnsweredQoN 903Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS — COMMUNITY SERVICE LEAVE
903. Mr I.M. BRITZA to the
Minister for Health:
I recall that the minister launched a new community service
leave provision for health professionals in the public sector during our first
term of government. I understand that this means that health professionals have
access to paid leave positions to undertake charity work internationally or in
rural or remote areas. Can the minister please update the house on how this
wonderful provision has progressed?
PROFESSIONALS — COMMUNITY SERVICE LEAVE
903. Mr I.M. BRITZA to the
Minister for Health:
I recall that the minister launched a new community service
leave provision for health professionals in the public sector during our first
term of government. I understand that this means that health professionals have
access to paid leave positions to undertake charity work internationally or in
rural or remote areas. Can the minister please update the house on how this
wonderful provision has progressed?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Indeed, I spoke about this a few months ago, but I have been so impressed with
further briefing notes that I have received on it that I thought I would talk
about it again. As I have said before, this provision allows staff to take
leave and still be paid their normal wage for up to two weeks each year. We
have now had 101 applications from various health professionals. They are doing
voluntary work with 38 aid organisations in 18 countries around the world. Of
those staff, 21 come from the Global Health Alliance and are doing work in
Tanzania to support midwives. Tanzania has the second-highest infant mortality
rate in the world. There are 12 staff with Open Heart International, which is
an initiative of Sydney Adventist Hospital. The types of staff going are
largely nurses and midwives, who make up 68 per cent of the group; allied
health and doctors make 14 per cent each; and four per cent come from
non-clinical areas. We have had some frequent letters from those who have gone
on community service leave. I will read to the house some of the comments made
by staff who have gone overseas to give an impression of what they think of the
program. There are four of these. I have not been allocated any time limit, so
I have plenty of time!
The
SPEAKER : You think you have plenty of time, minister!
Dr K.D. HAMES :
This is from a medical scientist from Fremantle Hospital —
''The reason why I applied
for CSL was to help out at a lab in the developing world, and hopefully pass on
some of the knowledge and skills I have learned over the years working as a
scientist.
A midwife from King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women said —
''CSL supported me to work
in a developing country with minimal financial hardship. It enabled me to
impact the lives of health care workers in underprivileged communities by
improving their practice and skills.
A senior physiotherapist from Royal Perth Hospital said —
''CSL allowed me to go
Mwanza, without CSL I did not have any leave available and couldn't
afford to go on Leave Without Pay. It provided me with the chance of a lifetime
and a chance to make a real difference to a lot of people!
The last one I will read out is from a data manager from
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children —
''CSL made this trip
possible! Where it would not have been otherwise—with two children and
a working wife, I don't have any extra annual leave to put towards this
sort of trip.
I really believe in the two-way
benefits gained from this sort of initiative and that the investment by the
Health Department in the CSL initiative is money well spent. The support of CSL
is truly appreciated, both by us as the recipients and especially by the
patients, family and staff of the hospital in which we work.''
Indeed, I spoke about this a few months ago, but I have been so impressed with
further briefing notes that I have received on it that I thought I would talk
about it again. As I have said before, this provision allows staff to take
leave and still be paid their normal wage for up to two weeks each year. We
have now had 101 applications from various health professionals. They are doing
voluntary work with 38 aid organisations in 18 countries around the world. Of
those staff, 21 come from the Global Health Alliance and are doing work in
Tanzania to support midwives. Tanzania has the second-highest infant mortality
rate in the world. There are 12 staff with Open Heart International, which is
an initiative of Sydney Adventist Hospital. The types of staff going are
largely nurses and midwives, who make up 68 per cent of the group; allied
health and doctors make 14 per cent each; and four per cent come from
non-clinical areas. We have had some frequent letters from those who have gone
on community service leave. I will read to the house some of the comments made
by staff who have gone overseas to give an impression of what they think of the
program. There are four of these. I have not been allocated any time limit, so
I have plenty of time!
The
SPEAKER : You think you have plenty of time, minister!
Dr K.D. HAMES :
This is from a medical scientist from Fremantle Hospital —
''The reason why I applied
for CSL was to help out at a lab in the developing world, and hopefully pass on
some of the knowledge and skills I have learned over the years working as a
scientist.
A midwife from King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women said —
''CSL supported me to work
in a developing country with minimal financial hardship. It enabled me to
impact the lives of health care workers in underprivileged communities by
improving their practice and skills.
A senior physiotherapist from Royal Perth Hospital said —
''CSL allowed me to go
Mwanza, without CSL I did not have any leave available and couldn't
afford to go on Leave Without Pay. It provided me with the chance of a lifetime
and a chance to make a real difference to a lot of people!
The last one I will read out is from a data manager from
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children —
''CSL made this trip
possible! Where it would not have been otherwise—with two children and
a working wife, I don't have any extra annual leave to put towards this
sort of trip.
I really believe in the two-way
benefits gained from this sort of initiative and that the investment by the
Health Department in the CSL initiative is money well spent. The support of CSL
is truly appreciated, both by us as the recipients and especially by the
patients, family and staff of the hospital in which we work.''
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