Financial resources2022-10-13T16:08:40+10:00
  1. Staff Wellbeing
  2. Financial Resources

Financial Resources

Healthcare worker discounts

    • Frontliners: providing digital vouchers & discounts for healthcare staff
    • Nandos
    • Check with your union for possible discounts

Financial tools and tips

Short Term Financial Options

Financial stress can affect employees at various stages throughout their life. Whilst employees are encouraged to discuss their concerns through the Employee Assistance Program and/or their own support network, detailed below are a number of short-term options that you may be able to access dependent upon your individual circumstances.

Please note that you may wish to consider obtaining legal and or financial advice, before seeking to access these options.

The below options are for your information and consideration only. Please note that your employer is unable to provide any financial advice to you in relation to your individual financial circumstances.

Cashing out annual leave

  • If certain conditions are met, an employee may apply to “cash out” a portion of their accumulated Annual Leave balance.
  • For additional information please click on the following link to Queensland Health’s Cashing out of annual leave policy (HR Policy C74)

Payment instead of taking Long Service Leave

You can also contact the QIRC directly on 1300 592 987 should you require any information regarding the application process.

Early access to Superannuation

ATO Held Superannuation

  • Early access to your super | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au)
  • Access on compassionate grounds: You may be allowed to withdraw some of your super on compassionate grounds. Compassionate grounds include needing money to pay for:
    • medical treatment and medical transport for you or your dependant
    • palliative care for you or your dependant
    • making a payment on a home loan or council rates so you don’t lose your home
    • accommodating a disability for you or your dependant
    • expenses associated with the death, funeral or burial of your dependant.
  • Access due to severe financial hardship: Severe financial hardship is not administered by the ATO. You need to contact your super provider to request access to your super due to severe financial hardship. You may be able to withdraw some of your super if you meet both these conditions:
    • You have received eligible government income support payments continuously for 26 weeks.
    • You are not able to meet reasonable and immediate family living expenses.

QSuper Superannuation: Severe Financial Hardship Access

  • Financial hardship | QSuper
  • You must:
    • Have received eligible income support payments from Centrelink for 26 weeks in a row and are still receiving these payments when you apply
    • Show you are unable to pay reasonable and immediate family living costs, such as utility bills, groceries, or rent
    • You own less than $50,000 in assets (not including your home).
    • You can only apply to access your super after 12 months has passed since your last financial hardship payment.

QSuper Superannuation: Compassionate Access

  • Compassionate grounds | QSuper
  • Compassionate grounds include situations where you need to pay for:
    • Medical treatment or medical transport for you or a dependant
    • Palliative care for you or a dependant
    • A payment on a loan or council rates so you don’t lose your home
    • Modifications to your home or vehicle, or buying disability aids for you or a dependant because of a severe disability
    • Expenses associated with a death, funeral, or burial for a dependant.

As detailed above it is recommended that you seek your own independent legal and/or financial advice in the event that you are seeking early access to access your superannuation.

Centrelink / Services Australia

  • General Phone: 1800 132 468 (you may experience variable waiting times)
  • Phone Self Service: 136240
  • myGov account with voiceprint required
  • You can:
    • check payment information, such as past and future payments
    • complete your Rent Assistance review
    • apply for an advance payment
    • hear your Working Credit or Income Bank balance
    • ask for documents to be mailed to you.
  • Centrelink support

Financial Resources

Food Discounts

NameDiscountHow?Timeframe
Nandos20% off for valid Health & Emergency Services workershttps://www.nandos.com.au/health-emergency-services-discount

Other Services

NameDiscountHow?Timeframe
Front LinersRegister to be provided a frontline kit. Register on the Front Liners website Ongoing
The SebelBook your next leisure stay at any participating Accor property across Australia & enjoy access to discounted rates*.Special offer for emergency healthcare workersOffer available until 30 June 2022.

Fitness & mental health

NameDiscountHow?Timeframe
This Way UpAccess free online tools and learn practical ways to protect your mental health. COVID-19 Online Support and Resources THIS WAY UP18/05/2020 – 18/08/2020

Online learning

NameDiscountHow?Timeframe
Food Discounts
Name Discount How? Timeframe
McDonald’s Free small McCafé hot drink or medium soft drink Show your healthcare identification card or you are in uniform when you order. 23/03/2020 – 17/05/2020
Hungry Jacks A free take away medium coffee; Mount Franklin Water; or medium soft drink. Show identification in store or at Drive Thru 25/03/2020 – 31/05/2020
Nando’s Healthcare and Emergency Service workers can receive 50% off the total order. Show your healthcare identification card at the counter Until Friday 17/04/2020
David Jones food outlets Free coffee at David Jones Food locations to all our healthcare workers
San Churro A free takeaway coffee. Offer applies to healthcare personnel working in hospitals, medical centres and front-line services. Limit to one coffee per person. Show your healthcare identification card at the counter 25/03/2020 – 12/04/2020
BP Wild Bean Café Free small coffee, tea, hot chocolate (at participating Wild Bean Café stores only), or 600ml Cool Ridge Water A valid Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) card or  relevant workplace ID or come in wearing your work uniform Now – 30/04/2020
Ribs and Burgers Enjoy 50% off any takeaway order. Wear your uniform or show your health care ID Now – 05/04/2020
Coffee Club Free Regular Coffee with Any Meal Purchase for Healthcare Workers Show your healthcare identification card at the counter
Other Services
Name Discount How? Timeframe
Coles Tuesdays and Thursdays (7-8am) will be available only to emergency services and healthcare workers A valid Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) card or relevant workplace ID or come in wearing your work uniform
Woolworths Tuesdays and Thursdays (7-8am) will be available only to emergency services and healthcare workers A valid Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) card or  relevant workplace ID or come in wearing your work uniform
McDonalds Will offer all customers another way to access milk and bread, through its contactless drive-thrus and takeaway service, across the country
Optus Waiving their Postpaid mobile access fees for 3 months. Eligible new and existing Optus customers will be able to apply through an online form available next week until To apply, customers will need to provide their current AHPRA registration number, which matches the name on their monthly bill. Now – 30/04/2020
Enterprise Rent-A-Car Australia & New Zealand 50% off car hire Contact one of the team members to find out more customer.service@ehiglobal.com.au or 1300 035 807. T&C Apply
Europcar Discounts of up to 55 per cent on vehicles hired by healthcare and essential industry workers in Australia Employee work ID will be required upon pick-up at the rental station* Valid for bookings and rental pick ups to 01/05/2020
Fitness & mental health
Name Discount How? Timeframe
Nike Training Club Download app through the apple app store
Down Dog Down Dog makes a handful of popular fitness services for iPhone and iPad, including apps for Yoga, HIIT, and more. To help people stay active and engaged during the coronavirus outbreak, Down Dog is making all of its apps — Yoga, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout — free. Download app through the apple app store Free use until 01/07/20
Fitness Blender Free exercise website http://fitnessblender.com/
SWEAT – Kayla Itsines 1 month free https://www.kaylaitsines.com/
Dark Noise Dark Noise is a simple yet powerful way to play ambient noise to help you sleep, focus, or relax. Each of the 30+ high quality sounds features a delightfully animated icon that brings the sound to life. Deep integrations with iOS make it easier than ever to start an ambient noise with a tap or even your voice! Download app through the apple app store
Online learning
Name Discount How? Timeframe
Free Mindfulness Course 8 week step by step Mindfulness Course. Mindfulness has been scientifically demonstrated to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and help you to manage your stress levels in a more positive way. Use the code SELFCARE at checkout to access for free

Last updated 13 October 2022
© The State of Queensland (Metro North Health) 2024

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