Queensland Health Nursing and Midwifery Classification Structure

Title: Queensland Health Nursing and Midwifery Classification Structure

Author: Queensland Health

About

The “Queensland Health Nursing and Midwifery Classification Structure” document provides an overview of how nursing and midwifery roles are classified within Queensland Health. Classification is determined under the Nurses and Midwives (Queensland Health) Award – State 2015, which applies Generic Level Statements to assess roles based on scope of practice, responsibility, and service impact, rather than job title alone.

The classification structure spans roles from entry-level positions, such as Assistant in Nursing, through to senior executive nursing and midwifery leadership roles. Pay points and employment conditions are applied through the relevant Certified Agreement once a role is classified under the Award.

Each classification outlines the typical level of responsibility associated with different nursing and midwifery grades. The structure serves as a guide to understanding career progression, role responsibilities, and classification principles within the Queensland Health system.

Author

Queensland Health, the author of this document, is a department of the Queensland Government. It delivers a range of health services across Queensland and oversees the public health system, including developing and managing nursing and midwifery staff.

Key Takeaways

Detailed Role Classifications Outlines typical duties and scope of practice associated with nursing and midwifery roles.
Career Progression Pathways Explains how roles progress across Nurse Grades within Queensland Health.
Pay Point Levels Identifies how pay points apply once a role is classified under the Award.
Role Scope and Responsibility Summarises responsibilities associated with different nursing classifications.
Resource for Staff Development Acts as a reference for nurses and midwives to understand classification and career pathways within Queensland Health.

Clinical Nurse Role

In Queensland, the “Clinical Nurse” role is commonly classified at Nurse Grade 6. This role broadly aligns with what is often described as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in other Australian jurisdictions, although classification in Queensland is determined by scope and responsibilities rather than title equivalence.

This grade requires nurses to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of professional nursing issues and in-depth knowledge within their specific area of practice.

Positioned above general registered nurse levels, Nurse Grade 6 represents an advanced stage of clinical practice, with accountability for maintaining high standards of care.

Clinical Nurse Consultant Roles

In Queensland, roles commonly described as Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) positions are typically assessed within Nurse Grade 7. These roles involve coordinating and influencing clinical practice within a specialty area, integrating service objectives into care delivery, and contributing to education, research, and service improvement activities.

CNC-type roles may include direct clinical practice as well as leadership, advisory, and project-based responsibilities. Classification is determined by applying the Award’s Generic Level Statements to the scope and impact of the role, rather than by title alone.

Nurse Grade 7 includes multiple pay points, with progression determined in accordance with the Award and the applicable Certified Agreement.

Nurse Educator Roles

The document outlines the classification of Nurse Educator and Associate Nurse Educator roles within Queensland Health.

Nurse Educator: A Registered Nurse or Midwife responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating education programs and providing expert educational leadership. These roles are commonly assessed at Nurse Grade 7, depending on scope and responsibility.
Associate Nurse Educator: Supports education delivery and resource development, typically assessed at Nurse Grade 6 where the scope of responsibility is more limited.

Nurse Unit Manager

“A Nurse Unit Manager is a Registered Nurse/Midwife who co-ordinates clinical practice and provides human and material resources in a specific area.”

In Queensland, Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) roles are commonly classified at Nurse Grade 7. While they share a similar classification level with roles such as Clinical Nurse Consultant and Nurse Educator, the NUM role is distinct in its focus on operational management, including staff supervision, resource allocation, and maintaining standards of patient care.