Royal Australian Nursing Federation campaign badge

B012.tiff

B012.tiff

From the Collection of Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation Level 1 535 Elizabeth St Melbourne Victoria

Description

Round white and red plastic button. Button printed with 'Irene Bolger's Nurses Liberation Front'.

Links

A 'blueprint' for union organising: Irene Bolger An overview of Irene Bolger's role in the Victorian Branch of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation, focused on activities around the historic 1986 50-day Victorian nurses strike.

Object Registration

B012

Keywords

nurse, nursing, nurses, industrial action, irene bolger, strike action, unionism, badges, buttons, pins, campaigns, campaigning, trade unions, labour history, 1986 victorian nurses strike, royal australian nursing federation

Historical information

Distributed to nurses during campaigning for improved wages and working conditions in the 1980s, probably during the historic 1986 Victorian 50-day nurses strike. Irene Bolger was elected Secretary of the Victorian Branch of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation from May 1986 to 1989. Renowned for her leadership during the historic 1986 Victorian 50-day nurses strike, she later became a barrister, primarily representing underprivileged clients. This badge was likely worn by members supporting Bolger's militant and divisive position on the strike.

When Made

[1986?]

Last updated

22 Jan 2019 at 4:53PM

Untitled

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round blue, green and white plastic badge. Badge printed with 'Quality Aged Care needs Qualified Nurses' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo. 'needs' is italicised and 'Qualified Nurses' is underlined.

Historical information

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members. The ANF has been campaigning for more funding and qualified nurses to improve the quality of aged care for the past several decades, and continues to do so. Aged care campaigning became particularly prominent in the late 1990s and 2000s, with large campaigns by both the national and state/territory branches of the ANF. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.

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Australian Nursing Federation campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round red, white and blue plastic button. Button printed with 'FUND NURSING PROPERLY FOR A BETTER STATE OF HEALTH', 'EBA 07' [enterprise bargaining agreement 2007] and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] website address of the time (www.anfvic.asn.au).

Historical information

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members during the bargaining process for Victorian nurses' wages and conditions in 2007. Enterprise bargaining is the process of negotiation generally between the employer and employees (often represented by a trade union, professional association or other bargaining representative) with the goal of making an enterprise agreement stipulating the wages and conditions of work. The 2007 public sector campaign entitled 'Fund nursing properly for a better state of health' involved the ANF bargaining for members employed in the public acute and aged care sector, public psychiatric services, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service and the Royal District Nursing Service. The 2007 campaign focused on improved workloads and skill mix and a minimum 18 per cent wage increase to address the wage disparity between Victorian nurses and nurses working in other Australian states.

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Australian Nursing Federation Victorian Branch campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round red, black and white plastic button. Button printed with 'Save Our School Nurse' and ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo. The first letters of 'Save Our School' is italicised to highlight the acronym 'SOS'.

Historical information

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members working as school nurses, and possibly distributed to members of the public. The ANF Victorian Branch bargains on behalf of nurses working in primary and secondary schools, particularly those employed by the Victorian Department of Education and Training, as well as those working in Catholic and independent schools. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.

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Australian Nursing Federation campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round green and purple badge. Button printed with 'A.N.F. [Australian Nursing Federation] securing a future for Enrolled Nurses'.

Historical information

Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) badge promoting Enrolled Nurses (also known as Division 2 Nurses, ENs). ENs are registered health practitioners who have completed, at a minimum, a diploma qualification in order to practice. ENs typically work under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse to provide support and care for patients in a range of healthcare settings. This badge was possibly distributed to ANF EN members attending the 1999 Annual ANF Division 2 Conference that focused on pathways to the future for this group of nurses. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, further suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.

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Australian Nursing Federation OH&S campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round red, black and white plastic button. Button printed with 'I am a No Lifting Nurse', 'Caring for you' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo.

Historical information

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members to promote safe movement of patients to reduce workplace injury. The Australian Nursing Federation Victorian Branch implemented the 'No Lifting' (now 'safe patient handling') policy in March 1998. The aim of the policy was to introduce in Victorian healthcare settings an approach to patient handling whereby the manual lifting of patients would be eliminated or minimised wherever possible. This Branch policy and strategies to implement it were a response to high incidence of back pain and workplace injury amongst nurses. The 'No Lifting' policy was accompanied by various conferences and expos to discuss harm minimisation strategies throughout 1998-2009, suggesting this badge is from this period.

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Australian Nursing Federation Victorian Branch campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round green and red plastic button. Button printed with 'EMERGENCY NURSES', 'Fighting For Your Life' and 'Australian Nursing Federation Victorian Branch'.

Historical information

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members working in emergency departments. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.

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Australian Nursing Federation aged care campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round orange and dark blue plastic button. Button printed with 'Aged Care. Who Cares? I care.' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo. 'I Care.' is underlined.

Historical information

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members. The ANF has been campaigning for more funding and qualified nurses to improve the quality of aged care for the past several decades, and continues to do so. This particular badge is from a 2001 campaign in the lead up to a November 2001 Australian federal election. The campaign called on the government and opposition to make commitments to around aged care staffing and funding. Branch newsletters from late 2001 focused on aged care staff shortages & under-funding, with placards from rallies featuring slogans such as 'Aged care nurses. We care. Do you?' and 'Aged care. Who care? We care'. Therefore, it is believed that this badge was manufactured and distributed from August to December 2001.

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Australian Nursing Federation ratios campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Yellow, blue and white button. Button printed with a blue and white ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo, the text 'Nurses Nursing the system back to health' and the (then) website of the ANF (Victorian Branch), 'www.vicnet.net.au/~anfvb/'.

Historical information

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members and staff as part of a campaign to secure minimum nurse staffing in the public healthcare sector. This badge was accompanied by a booklet 'Nursing the system back to health : Nurse patient ratios 2001', published in April 2002. The booklet describes some of the rationale for minimum staffing ratios and developments in 2000-2001 regarding campaigning for ratios, particular the landmark decision of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in 2000 that saw the ANF securing the world's first mandated minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. After decades of campaigning from the ANF/ANMF, ratios were legislated for the public sector in Victoria with the passing of the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient) Bill in 2015. The web address on the badge was active from 1999 to 2004, and the shortcut 'anfvic.asn.au' was active from April 2001, suggesting this badge dates from 2001.

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Royal Australian Nursing Federation student nurse pin

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Oval-shaped green, red and gold pin. pin printed with 'R.A.N.F.' [Royal Australian Nursing Federation], 'STUDENT NURSE UNIT', and the acronym 'SNU' in the shape of Australia.

Historical information

Pin given to, and worn by, student nurse members of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation (R.A.N.F.). This badge is likely from a period when nursing education was moving from hospital-based training to tertiary settings. A 2013 report from the Federal Department of Health provides this following overview of nursing education: "during the mid-1980s, nursing education commenced a period of change from being hospital-based to being conducted in tertiary settings, with practical clinical experience components. By 1993, all registered nursing students in Australia were entering the profession via the university education pathway". The Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF) became the Australian Nursing Federation in 1989, suggesting that this button is from the 1980s.

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Australian Nursing Federation 'Proud to be a nurse' badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round blue, green and white plastic badge. Badge printed with 'Proud to be a NURSE' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo.

Historical information

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members. The ANF has been campaigning for greater professional recognition of nurses since its inception as the Victorian Trained Nurses’ Association in 1901. The front cover of the July 2006 issue of the Victorian Branch newsletter 'On the Record' features a nurse wearing a sticker with a similar design as this badge, suggesting it was manufactured and distributed around this time.

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Australian Nursing Federation commemoration badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round blue, white and yellow plastic button. Button printed with 'Congratulations and thank you', '47,000 members 31.03.2009', 'Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch)' and logo, and [Victorian Branch Secretary] Lisa [Fitzpatrick, 2001-current] and [Federal Assistant Secretary] Yvonne [Chaperon, 2007-2014]'.

Historical information

Button to commemorate a membership of 47,000 nurses in the Victorian Branch of the Australian Nursing Federation. In the May 2009 issue of the Branch newsletter, On the Record, the milestone was noted in Lisa Fitzpatrick's 'Secretary's report' (p. 3). In a short paragraph, Fitzpatrick notes that "whilst it is wonderful to celebrate [reaching 47,000 members], ANF will continue to encourage those nurses who are not members to join their union and professional body to ensure that we continue to protect and enhance nursing and midwifery in Victoria". As of 2019, the Branch now has a membership of over 81,000.

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Royal Australian Nursing Federation campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round white and red plastic button. Button printed with 'Nurses DO dare to Struggle' and 'R.A.N.F. [Royal Australian Nursing Federation] Vic. [Victorian] Branch'.

Historical information

Distributed to nurses during campaigning for improved wages and working conditions in the 1980s, possibly during the historic 1986 Victorian 50-day nurses strike. In October 1986, Victorian nurses began their longest strike after the failure of repeated talks with the health minister David White who was committed to reducing the classification and pay of almost half of Victoria’s nurses. Skeleton staff were left in the wards while picket lines, tents and caravans were set up outside hospitals in both metropolitan and regional Victoria. After 50 days of industrial action, Victorian nurses voted to return to work on 20 December 1986. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF) became the Australian Nursing Federation in 1989, suggesting that this button is from the late 1980s. Similar to the badges worn in this photo [https://stories.anmfvic.asn.au/86strike/media/2560-1440-landscape-sec2-contentb-hr_logwf7a.jpg] from 1986 (see individual on the far right).

Significance

This badge is of historic significance as it represents nurses' struggle for industrial and professional status. This struggle was made particularly visible through the 1986 Victorian nurses' strike, which had great impact on the way Australian society viewed nurses and working women (Bessant, 1992).

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Royal Australian Nursing Federation strike remembrance badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round red and white plastic button. Button printed with 'I FOUGHT NURSES STRIKE 1986' and 'R.A.N.F. [Royal Australian Nursing Federation] Vic. [Victorian] Branch'.

Historical information

Distributed to nurses who took part in campaigning for improved wages and working conditions in the 1980s, particularly those involved in the historic 1986 Victorian 50-day nurses strike. In October 1986, Victorian nurses began their longest strike after the failure of repeated talks with the health minister David White who was committed to reducing the classification and pay of almost half of Victoria’s nurses. Skeleton staff were left in the wards while picket lines, tents and caravans were set up outside hospitals in both metropolitan and regional Victoria. After 50 days of industrial action, Victorian nurses voted to return to work on 20 December 1986. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF) became the Australian Nursing Federation in 1989, and the strike concluded in December 1986, suggesting this badge was produced sometime between 1987 and 1989.

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Royal Australian Nursing Federation campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round white and blue plastic button. Button printed with 'I used to be a Charge Nurse' and 'R.A.N.F. [Royal Australian Nursing Federation] Vic. [Victorian] Branch'.

Historical information

Distributed to nurses during campaigning for improved wages and working conditions in the 1980s, possibly during the historic 1986 Victorian 50-day nurses strike. 'Charge Nurse' refers to a Nurse Manager, and is less commonly used in Australia presently (it is still widely used in North America). The badge's message aims to inform the public that highly experienced and skilled nurses are leaving the profession due to inadequate wages and poor working conditions. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF) became the Australian Nursing Federation in 1989, suggesting that this button is from the late 1980s. Similar to the badges worn in this photo [https://stories.anmfvic.asn.au/86strike/media/2560-1440-landscape-sec2-contentb-hr_logwf7a.jpg] from 1986 (see individual on the far right).

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Australian Nursing Federation ratios campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round yellow, blue and red button. Button printed with '5-4-20' and a blue and red triangle design.

Historical information

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members and staff as part of a 2003-2004 campaign to secure minimum nurse staffing in the public healthcare sector. The '5-4-20' denotes a minimum of five nurses for twenty patients in a general medical or surgical ward. During this period, staffing ratios were secured as part of bargaining negotiations between unions and employer groups. After decades of campaigning from the ANF/ANMF, ratios were legislated for the public sector in Victoria with the passing of the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient) Bill in 2015. This campaign was featured in ANF Victorian Branch newsletters from late 2003 to early 2004. Entitled the '5-4-20 campaign', it was officially launched on 19 November 2003. Advertisements and shirts from the time featured the slogan, '5 nurses for 20 patients. Nothing less!' along with the ANF logo and illustrations by The Age cartoonist Ron Tandberg. The campaign was to promote the role of minimum nurse to patient ratios in ensuring patient safety and encouraging nurse recruitment and retention.

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Australian Nursing Federation aged care campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round red, white and blue plastic button. Button printed with 'VALUE AGED CARE NURSING PROPERLY FOR BETTER RESIDENT CARE' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] website address of the time (www.anfvic.asn.au).

Historical information

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members. The ANF has been campaigning for more funding and qualified nurses to improve the quality of aged care for the past several decades, and continues to do so. Aged care funding and commitment to workforce improvements were a particular focus of enterprise bargaining for the Victorian Branch around 2006-2011, and similar issues formed the basis of a large federal ANF campaign conducted around the same time entitled 'Because we care'. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013. This historical background suggests the badge is from around 2006 to 2011.

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Australian Nursing Federation aged care campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round blue, green and white plastic badge. Badge printed with 'Proud to be an Aged Care nurse' and the ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo.

Historical information

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members. The ANF has been campaigning for more funding and qualified nurses to improve the quality of aged care for the past several decades, and continues to do so. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.

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Australian Nursing Federation campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round red, white and blue plastic button. Button printed with 'PROTECT NATION RATES' and 'NURSES WORTH EVERY CENT OF 8%'.

Historical information

Badge used during Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) campaigning in 1994-1995. The September 1994 ANF Victorian Branch newsletter, On The Record (OTR), includes an article reporting on the Branch's pursuit of a 8% wage increase for members. In this article, Belinda Morieson, Vic. Branch Secretary stated “this claim is fair and responsible. We are not asking for any more than to have our national professional pay rates respected”. The campaign continued into 1995. The April 1995 issue of OTR had an article titled, “[then Victorian Premier Jeff] Kennett Must Act on Nurses 8% Pay Claim”. It states, “the claim for an eight per cent wage increase is moving forward following the success of the industrial action taken by ANF members across the state”. A picture of this badge is included in the article. The ‘Nurses: Worth Every Cent of 8%’ campaign appeared to draw to a close between July 1995 and the end of 1995. An article from the August 1995 OTR entitled “Your 8%: Slow, But Moving” details the proceedings of the ANF’s claim. This historical information places the date of the badge's production and circulation as 1995.

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Royal Australian Nursing Federation campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round white and blue plastic button. Button printed with 'R.A.N.F. [Royal Australian Nursing Federation]' and 'Vic. [Victorian] Branch', as well as the text 'Overworked Nurses = Undercared Patients'.

Historical information

Distributed to nurses during campaigning for improved workloads and wages in the 1980s, possibly during the historic 1986 Victorian 50-day nurses strike. During the 1970s and 1980s, the state of Victoria had an acute nursing shortage, and patient workloads were unsafe. Throughout the 1980s, Victorian nurses took drastic industrial action to improve wages and conditions, culminating in the historic 50-day strike in 1986. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF) became the Australian Nursing Federation in 1989, suggesting that this button is from the late 1980s.

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Royal Australian Nursing Federation campaign badge

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Melbourne

Round blue and white plastic button. Button printed with 'WHITE LIES = WAGE CASUALTIES' and 'R.A.N.F. [Royal Australian Nursing Federation] Vic. [Victoria]'.

Historical information

Distributed to nurses during campaigning for improved wages and working conditions in the 1980s, probably during the historic 1986 Victorian 50-day nurses strike. The 'White' in 'WHITE LIES' refers to David Ronald White, who was a state M.P. and the Victorian Minister for Health from 1985-1989. David White regularly featured in Branch newsletters around the time of the strike, and was regularly portrayed as a magician, skilled in 'white magic' that made 'nurses wages disappear'. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF) became the Australian Nursing Federation in 1989, suggesting that this button is from the late 1980s.

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