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Federal secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Lee Thomas has announced she will be stepping down from the position to take up a new role in law.
Thomas made the announcement to members at the union's Biennial Conference in Hobart.
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to lead the ANMF, working on behalf of members,” she said.
“During my time as Federal Secretary, our membership has grown over 12 per cent and we continue to attract new members from a range of settings from across Australia, including private and public hospitals, aged care facilities, medical practices and community medical centres, with a growing number of nursing and midwifery students also joining our ANMF family.
“I’ve been really proud of the campaigns I’ve led nationally and in conjunction with our state and territory branches – fighting the good fight on behalf nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing.”
Standing ovation for @ANMFLeeThomas as she announces she is leaving ANMF after 20 yrs and 270,000members #anmfbnc pic.twitter.com/k7EWB73QDp
— ANMF (@anmfbetterhands) October 11, 2017
For nearly eight years, Thomas has led the union in its local and international efforts to advance the industrial, political and professional status of Australia’s nurses and midwives and push for high quality, affordable and accessible health and aged care.
“With our record 270,000 membership, I am thrilled that the ANMF is ranked as Australia’s largest union. We are a force to be reckoned with in health, aged care and the industrial and professional arenas,” Thomas said.
She took the announcement of her departure as an opportunity to highlight the union’s concerns surrounding workers in the aged care sector, saying: “Our members working in aged care continue to be at risk by employers putting profits before people – and under a new federal and assistant federal secretary, and our branches, we will be working hard to protect them.”
Thomas will leave her position on December 8. ANMF confirmed it will make decisions regarding new leadership at its federal executive meeting in November.
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