The $60-million Nurse Support Fund BCNU successfully secured in negotiations with the provincial government is aimed at protecting nurses' mental health and providing hardship assistance to members who have exhausted their existing benefits or who face unexpected financial struggles.

BCNU council established this working group to oversee the fund's implementation in July 2023, with the primary objective of efficiently distributing funds to members in need. I'm proud to serve as the chair of this group.

As a regional council member I am acutely aware of the challenges nurses working within our strained health-care system face – challenges that are only compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and the housing crisis. I recognize the substantial impact this fund could make in the lives of many members and I'm deeply committed to ensuring its success. I'm also grateful for the invaluable support of working group members Scott Duvall, Roy Hansen, Denise Waurynchuk, Aida Herrera and numerous BCNU staff.

In February 2024, we celebrated a significant milestone with the successful launch of the Nurses' Bargaining Association (NBA) Hardship Assistance initiative, which provides immediate financial aid of up to $1,500 to address urgent needs such as food, shelter, medical support, family crises, and disaster-related financial hardships.

We continue to work on the development of the NBA Supplemental Mental Health Benefit in partnership with Pacific Blue Cross. This new extended health benefit will address the need for enhanced mental health support and reimburse the cost of a registered psychologist or a registered clinical counsellor for members who have used up the annual $900 benefit under their existing plans, up to a maximum lifetime amount of an additional $5,000.

We're optimistic that members in need will soon be able to access this benefit, and make claims retroactive to March 31, 2023. This fund will remain accessible until the $60 million in the Nurse Support Fund is exhausted.

Both the NBA Hardship Assistance and the Supplemental Mental Health Benefit help fulfil BCNU's mission of safeguarding the health, safety, and socio-economic well-being of our members.

The journey to full implementation and the task of managing a $60-million fund came with some unforeseen challenges. But the collaborative efforts of working group members and the expertise of BCNU's staff helped us overcome them.

I again extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated members of the Nurse Support Fund working group for their unwavering commitment to advancing this endeavour. Their continued work underscores BCNU's commitment to addressing the pressing needs of our members, and we remain dedicated to optimizing these funds for the benefit of members who tirelessly serve their communities.