The Australian College of Nursing is the peak professional body and leader of the nursing profession. We are a for-purpose organisation committed to our mission of Advancing Nursing, Shaping Health.
In a world where nurses are trusted, specialised and valuable, our purpose is strong.
At ACN, we believe:
We can build a better future for nursing
Being a nurse means being a leader
We are powerful individually and unstoppable together
Voices of our community
ACN has achieved outstanding results through securing educational credibility, empowering nurse leadership, building networks and raising the profile of the organisation as a professional and powerful advocacy voice for the profession. We continue to grow our membership and influence.
“It has been a wonderful learning experience and I am able to use much of the relevant content within my practice. I have enjoyed my studies with ACN over the past 12 months very much and thank you all very much for your assistance.”
“I have really enjoyed my course and am hoping to do another in the near future. Tutor Ashley has been excellent and was always available during the course whenever I had a question or felt overwhelmed with anything. I would highly recommend ACN.”
“I joined ACN as a student member in my first year of my nursing degree and can safely state it has been the best investment of my undergraduate years. Expanding my nursing horizon, seeing the bigger picture of the nursing profession, networking and inspiration will continue into my novice years.”
MACN
“I am proud to be a part of a large, well-respected organisation that advocates and cares for nursing. The ACN is progressive with all that is on offer to their members and provides a number of platforms for networking opportunities. Attendance at the Annual Nursing Forum is always on my bucket list.”
Our strategic pillars
Advocacy
We will advocate for the issues that matter to our profession and the health of all Australians to make real and lasting change for today and generations to come.
Community
We will support an engaged and contributing community of nurses – at all stages and levels of their career – inclusive of a strong band of supporters, volunteers, health professionals, media and government.
Education
We will train, educate, inspire and mentor nurses, with constant access to world-class information, research and evidence, and foster the intellectual rigour required of professionals making health-care decisions.
Leadership
We will prepare nurses to lead. We will facilitate opportunities for nurses to make a difference and grow, to expand career options and horizons to reach their utmost potential.
Policy
We will demonstrate how health and professional care can be enhanced through the expertise and experience of nurses via developing, debating, responding, publishing, promoting and commissioning good policy.
Social Impact
We are inclusive and here for all nurses and their place in society. We will actively strive to develop respect and appreciation for nurses and improve the beneficial impact nurses have on our society and to protect the environment we all share.
Our people
Kath Stein FACN
President
About me
Close
Kath Stein FACN
Kath joined the Air Force in 1991 through the Undergraduate Scheme. Following graduation from Curtin University of Technology, she consolidated in the Graduate Program at Fremantle Hospital. In the years that have followed she has served in health facilities across NSW, WA, NT and QLD, with operational experience on exercises and deployments in Australia and overseas. This background supported her health planning role in Headquarters 395 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing and various policy and governance roles in a number of positions across the strategic centre both in health and non health positions. She was privileged to Command Joint Health Unit Northern New South Wales, the former Director of Defence Force Nursing and is currently the Director of National Operations responsible for the delivery of health care to Defence members nationally. A proud Nurse, Kath is honoured to have been inducted as a Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing and welcomes the opportunity to serve as the President. She has raised two fabulous young men, an impressive stepdaughter and indulges one very spoilt puppy, Alfie.
The Australian College of Nursing is a member-based organisation with corporate and individual membership reaching over 150,000 people across all Australian states and territories. However, our reach and scope is significantly greater. We actively advocate to government for better policy and education and seek support from the media to highlight the country’s largest clinical profession.
Our membership consists of clinical nurse experts, organisational leaders, academics, educators, and researchers, as well as early and mid-career nurses looking to move into leadership roles within the profession.
Nurses play a crucial role in closing the health gap that First Nations people experience. As the leader of the profession, we are proud to demonstrate our dedication to this important cause through our Reconciliation Action Plan.
We are currently developing towards an innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
ACN supports a number of initiatives in health care which align with our values for health equality for all. We advocate for nurses and the nursing profession across the globe, and particularly in Australia.
ACN is a national body that drives change to enhance the delivery of health services to the Australian community. We are an organisation not afraid to address the issues affecting the nursing profession or Australia’s health care systems.
Modern slavery
Modern slavery is a sad reality across many sectors, including health care. ACN is unwavering in its commitment to actively combat all forms of modern slavery, particularly within our own operations and supply chains. Learn more
Nursing leadership in emissions reduction guiding principles
Just as nurses advocate for the health and wellbeing of patients, we also have an ethical obligation to combat the disastrous impacts of climate change. ACN’s guiding principles provide nurses with the resources to foster sustainable and equitable practices. Learn more
Nursing leadership in diversity and inclusion guiding principles
Nurses are in a vital position to advocate for a safe, equitable and inclusive healthcare environment. Our guiding principles provide nurses with the tools and knowledge to establish culturally safe and inclusive workplaces for all our colleagues and healthcare consumers. Learn more
Men in Nursing Working Party
ACN’s Men in Nursing Working Party is committed to promoting nursing as an appealing career for men to pursue, attracting and retaining men into the profession, and breaking down broader socio-cultural barriers around gender roles and expectations. Learn more
Reconciliation Action Plan
Nurses play a crucial role in closing the health gap that First Nations people experience. As the leader of the profession, we are proud to demonstrate our dedication to this important cause through our Reconciliation Action Plan. Learn more
Mental Health Plan
ACN strengthens the mental health and well-being of its fellows, members, staff, and students by providing internal staff training, regularly reviewing and updating policies and procedures, providing staff recognition awards, increasing the accessibility of counselling services, and promoting diversity and cultural safety. Learn more
Work at ACN
At ACN, our strength lies within our people. Our passionate and high-performing team, comprised of experts in their respective fields, operates from offices in Sydney and Canberra. As a purpose-driven organisation, we take pride in offering our employees the opportunity to engage in meaningful work that truly makes a difference. We are unapologetically ambitious, dedicated to working as hard as the nurses we proudly represent, and committed to fostering an environment that encourages continuous growth and learning.
As the national professional organisation for all nurses in Australia we are privileged to represent and support thousands of nurses around the country, including our valued Fellows, Members, students, scholars, and Affiliates. Our Customer Experience Charter outlines our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional experiences to those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.
ACN and its predecessor organisations have had a rich history of raising the status and profile of nursing, advocating for the profession and offering high-quality postgraduate education for nearly 75 years.
1949
ACN’s predecessor organisations ‘The Royal College of Nursing, Australia’ and ‘The College of Nursing, Australia’ are founded.
2012
The Royal College of Nursing, Australia and The College of Nursing, Australia unify to establish the Australian College of Nursing.
2018
The ACN Foundation is established to provide Australian nurses with access to educational, research, advocacy and leadership opportunities.
2022
ACN celebrates its 10-year anniversary with a spectacular ball held at Parliament House in Canberra.
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Foundation is dedicated to ensuring Australian nurses have access to educational, research, advocacy and leadership opportunities that will keep them highly skilled and at the cutting edge of health care delivery.
The ACN Foundation is able to support Australian nurses and the profession in achieving the highest level of nursing excellence thanks to the generous support of corporations, individuals and private Trusts and Foundations.
Join us in supporting nurses by making a donation to the ACN Foundation today.
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Our social impact
ACN supports a number of initiatives in health care which align with our values for health equality for all. We advocate for nurses and the nursing profession across the globe, and particularly in Australia.
ACN is a national body that drives change to enhance the delivery of health services to the Australian community. We are an organisation not afraid to address the issues affecting the nursing profession or Australia’s health care systems.
Modern slavery
Learn more
Nursing leadership in emissions reduction guiding principles
Learn more
Nursing leadership in diversity and inclusion guiding principles
Learn more
Men in Nursing Working Party
Learn more
Reconciliation Action Plan
Learn more
Mental Health Plan
Learn more