Nadia Cirakovic

Candidate for National Council

I am a Radiographer and Sonographer at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. 

I have over 10 years experience as a Radiographer and still work actively across X-ray, theatre, CT and Cath lab. I understand the challenges across both pediatric and adult hospitals having previously worked at Peninsula Health, Monash Health, Goulburn Valley Health and overseas in the NHS. 

I have 5 years experience as a Sonographer specialised in pediatric ultrasound and is passionate about patient centred care, collaboration and good communication. 

With many friends and colleagues working at adult centres, I understand the workforce challenges plaguing the public system and would like to improve conditions to keep more sonographers (and Allied Health professionals in general) within the public system. 

I firmly believe that the best healthcare should be available to everyone, not just those who can afford it. To do this, the public sector needs to become competitive with the private sector in both pay and conditions, so we can stop the brain drain. 

The public system shouldn't be a training ground for new graduates, it should provide continuing education and career progression to retain experience throughout Allied Health. 

As a union we need to become stronger to be taken seriously by the Government in the way that the nurses and Paramedics are. This can be achieved by engaging and activating our members and delegates to increase density, encourage utilising the full provisions of our EBA and to push for improvements. This will put pressure on Government to do the right thing by our patients and us as Allied Health professionals. I would like a see a union led by it's members.