18 Jul 2008

Samantha Gibson from St John of God Hospital, Subiaco WA was named Australian Nurse of the Year. Professor Claire Rickard from Griffith University in Queensland took out the Innovation in Nursing Award and Melbourne’s Kelly Leiper won Graduate Nurse of the Year.

Cancer nurse Samantha Gibson won for her outstanding care of a young mother from rural WA who was flown to Perth in an emergency.

Innovation in Nursing winner, Professor Claire Rickard won for her work to reduce patient blood loss linked to testing procedures.

Graduate Nurse of the Year, Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Kelly Leiper, won for her dedication to aged care. She has led procedural change to reduce patient infection and trauma related to catheter use.

For more information on the awards turn to page 8 and 9 of the June Employer Report enclosed with this copy of the HESTA News. Photos from the night can be viewed at www.hestanurisingawards.com

Using ordinary time earnings (OTE) to calculate super contributions

The Tax Office is reminding employers that from 1 July 2008, they must use ordinary time earnings to calculate super guarantee (SG) contributions.

Ordinary time earnings are generally what employees earn for their ordinary hours of work. This includes over-award payments, commissions, shift allowances and paid leave. It excludes such things as overtime.

Most employers already use ordinary time earnings to calculate SG contributions. However, some employers previously calculated SG contributions on earning bases contained in:

• an industrial award
• an existing employment agreement
• a fund’s trust deed, or
• a law of the Commonwealth, States or Territories

All employers should check their current super contribution arrangements now to make sure they use ordinary time earnings in their calculations from 1 July 2008.

Make sure your employees are not paying too much tax

Don’t forget to provide your employee TFNs to HESTA by 30 June 2008 to make sure your employees are not paying too much tax. Where an employee has provided you with their TFN for employment purposes, you are required to provide the TFN to their super fund. Please remember to provide TFNs when advising details of new members, if they have provided their TFN to you.
For more information about your TFN and privacy obligations, visit www.ato.gov.au/super

Contact Details