Support Our Local Midwife’s Return to Work!

Petition addressed to: Hunter New England Local Health District

We, the undersigned, call on Hunter New England Local Health District and Narrabri District Health Service to urgently address the ongoing treatment of a local Registered Nurse and Midwife who has been unable to return to work following a physical injury, subsequent psychological injury, and prolonged workplace bullying. This midwife is well known and highly regarded by local families, and has been caring for our community since 2011.

After her workers compensation claim was denied, she was forced onto leave without pay, placing enormous financial strain on her and her family during an already difficult economic period. Despite providing four weeks’ notice of her intention to return to work at the end of February (as required by NSW Health policy), repeated efforts to facilitate her return have been ignored.

At a time when regional healthcare services are facing critical staffing shortages, it is deeply concerning that a highly qualified nurse and midwife of 15 years experience, willing to return to care for local families, continues to be excluded from the workplace. No healthcare worker should be forced into financial hardship simply for asking for workplace bullying to stop.

We call on Hunter New England Local Health District to act with fairness, transparency, and compassion by engaging meaningfully to support a safe and timely return to work.

While acknowledging there may be matters not publicly known, the community is seeking transparency, fairness, and compassionate engagement to resolve this situation safely and respectfully for all involved in a timely manner.

We ask that:

1. That Hunter New England Local Health District engage immediately in a genuine return-to-work process with the affected midwife.
2. That Narrabri District Health Service ensure a workplace culture free from bullying, intimidation, discrimination and retaliation.
3. That regional maternity services prioritise retaining experienced healthcare staff to support safe care for local women and families