Throughout 2025, the HSUWA Committee of Management have been actively considering how best to deliver key outcomes for members.
Public healthcare is best delivered by securely employed and fairly paid state government employees. But this is not what is occurring in Western Australia right now, with private commercial interests involved at every level of our public healthcare system. For example, Serco are still engaged at Fiona Stanley Hospital, St John of God operate the Midland Public Hospital and Ramsay Health Care have had their contract extended to operate Joondalup Public Hospital. Patients and communities deserve better.
Critical workforce reforms are needed across public healthcare, to attract and retain highly trained staff. For example, modernised career pathways, improved staff health and safety, and more secure employment conditions.
Improved planning and investment in smart, evidenced based initiatives that prevent or shorten hospital stays is also urgently needed.
We consider these issues to be serious and to have a direct bearing on patient care and outcomes.
HSUWA Members have fought for these priorities in WA hospitals and health services, through bargaining campaigns and consistent advocacy, sometimes loudly outside hospitals and in the streets.
To add weight to our advocacy efforts, HSUWA has decided to affiliate with ALP in WA. Affiliation with the ALP will mean members can now take the fight for these important priorities to Parliament House and Dumas House as well.
Everyone providing a health service needs to put the voices of their experienced, dedicated workforce at the heart of decision making and HSUWA looks forward to working with the ALP to realise this goal.
