Recently, a video about the hourly wages of two young nurses in Brisbane has attracted widespread attention online, with many netizens shocked and dissatisfied with their wages. These nurses not only work hard and provide care services to dying children, but their salaries are far below public expectations. This incident once again pushed the topic of underpaid nurses in Australia to the forefront of public opinion.
According to Australian media reports on October 11, the video was filmed on the streets of Brisbane, and two women who claimed to be pediatric nurses disclosed the nature of their work and salary in an interview with self-media staff.
They said that as pediatric nurses, their main responsibility is to provide care services to children at the end of life, including providing psychological comfort to their families after the death of children.
One of the nurses revealed that they were paid between A$34 and A$75 ($161 to $356) an hour, but that higher pay only applies to overtime hours on Sunday night shifts.
"If we don't work overtime or weekends, we only get 34 AUD ($161) an hour," she explains. ”
According to this data, it is assumed that a nurse works 38 hours a week and earns less than A$65,000 ($309,000) a year. This salary level is in stark contrast to the highly emotionally stressful jobs they do.
The nurse also described their work in detail, mentioning that the hospital has temperature-controlled rooms for dying children, and that after the death of children, families can continue to visit and accompany them to relieve their psychological trauma. She admits that caring for such patients is often "emotional work", but they derive strength from the support of their communities and families.
Netizens called for nurses' salaries to be raised
The video has garnered more than 4 million views since its release, with netizens commenting on their admiration for the nurses and their dissatisfaction with their low pay.
One netizen commented: "Providing hospice care for children is a mission, and this job is so difficult that they deserve a higher salary. ”
Another netizen mentioned: "The nurse's hourly salary is only $34, which is incredible, and it is the same as what I earn as a dental receptionist." Thank you for your efforts, the beautiful nurses will always be in the hearts of these families. ”
In fact, the issue of low pay not only stresses out nurses, but also forces some to find additional sources of income. Hayli Hooper, a 38-year-old Perth nurse, is one such example.
Not only is she a registered nurse, but she also increases her income through other avenues, including working in the adult entertainment industry and opening an OnlyFans account to cope with the high tax burden and cost of living.
Hayli's story is partly a reflection of the plight of nurses in Australia. Not only do they have to cope with the stress of a heavy job, but they also have to find additional sources of income to maintain their standard of living, and even have to work in professions that have nothing to do with nursing work.
According to the latest data from the Australia Bureau of Statistics, there is a large gap in nurse salaries between states.
The average annual salary for registered nurses in Queensland is between A$79,058 and A$106144 ($370,000 to $500,000), while the average annual salary for registered nurses in New South Wales is between A$69,810 and A$98,014 ($330,000 to $460,000), slightly lower than in Queensland and Victoria.
It is worth noting that the salary ceiling for registered nurses in Victoria is close to A$130,000 ($610,000), which is the highest in Australia.
However, nurses in NSW are unhappy with the disparity. In September, members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association staged a mass strike to demand a 15 per cent pay rise for nurses. Trade unions have long fought for higher wages for nurses, arguing they are one of the lowest-paid occupational groups in Australia.
Currently, nurse starting salaries in Queensland are significantly higher than in NSW. In NSW, the starting salary for a registered nurse is around $70,000, while in Queensland the figure is over $80,000. In addition, the maximum salary for registered nurses in NSW is just under $100,000, while in Queensland it can reach $106144. This gap is unfair to many NSW nurses, who are fighting for pay parity with Queensland and Victoria.
Victoria will see the Northern Lights tonight and tomorrow
At the same time that the issue of nurses' salaries was widely discussed, Victorian residents were greeted with another remarkable event – the Aurora Spectacle. According to the Herald Sun on October 11, early Victorian residents witnessed the stunning Southern Lights that morning, and the sky across the state was lit up with brilliant light.
Michael Brown, associate professor of astronomy at Monash University, said the aurora phenomenon could recur in the next few days, especially this evening and this weekend.
However, he also pointed out that the appearance of the aurora is very unpredictable and unpredictable. "I find social media to be a useful tool for observing the aurora, especially as some platforms can provide real-time updates."
Brown advises viewers who wish to see the aurora as far away from light pollution as possible and make sure they have a clear view of the south. He also explained why auroras are formed: "Auroras are formed by the interaction of particles released by the sun with the Earth's magnetic field. When these particles reach the Earth's upper atmosphere, they react with components in the atmosphere to produce the beautiful colors we see. ”
At different altitudes, the aurora will take on different colors, he said. For example, at lower altitudes, the aurora is usually green, while at higher altitudes it appears pink and red. Brown also pointed out that Tasmanian residents usually see more green aurora lights, while in Melbourne, the aurora is predominantly red this morning.
Brown also explained why the auroras are more frequent this year. He said the sun is in an extremely active phase of its 11-year cycle, which makes the aurora more frequent than usual.
"The sun's activity follows an 11-year cycle in which solar activity reaches a peak and then gradually descends into a trough. The current cycle is more active than the past, so we were able to see one of the most spectacular aurora borealis in recent years. ”