We create a strong collective voice for nurses

The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is the national voice of the nursing profession focused on policy, advocacy and education to advance the status, recognition and respect for nurses. We are committed to our intent of ‘Shaping Health, Advancing Nursing’ to enhance the health care of all Australians.

Our membership, events and higher education services allow nurses at all levels to stay informed, connected and inspired. We are excited to lead change and create a strong, collective voice for our profession by bringing together thousands of extraordinary nurses from across the country.

Our people

At ACN, our power is in our people. Our high performing and passionate team spans across two offices and four operational divisions: Partnerships, Education, Office of the COO, and Professional Practice. We are led by a Chief Executive Officer and each operational division has a National Director and supporting teams – all of whom bring a wealth of diverse expertise, experience and passion.

View ACN organisation structure here

Customer experience

At the Australian College of Nursing our customers include our Fellows, Members, Students, Scholars, Affiliates, and the nursing profession of Australia.

Our Customer Experience Charter outlines our commitment to the nursing community and what you can expect from our dedicated team. It also sets out your responsibilities and how you can give us feedback on any aspect of our service.

Join the team! Available vacancies

ACN has a commitment to attracting a dynamic and talented workforce. Our staff are driven by a shared passion for the nursing profession and a desire to make a difference. Find out how you could become a part of the team.

Policies and assurances

We are committed to protecting the privacy of our members and students and have a range of policies and assurances in place to make sure we provide the best possible service and support.

Initiatives we support

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.

The World Health Organization has designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in honour of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. To mark this historic year for nursing the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has created a dedicated website to share information and connect nurses around the globe.

Nursing Now is a three-year global campaign run in collaboration with the International Council of Nurses and the World Health Organization. ACN is proud to be the lead organisation for the Nursing Now Australia campaign in partnership with the major nursing organisations in Australia. The Nursing Now Australia campaign was launched officially on 9 April 2019. Find out more.

Australia’s peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health bodies, health professional bodies and human rights organisations operate the Close the Gap Campaign.

The Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia is a campaign in response to Australia’s obligation under the global climate agreement – the Paris Agreement – for all nations to consider their citizen’s “right to health” in the context of national climate policy.

Corporate documents

Find out more about what makes ACN tick, our intentions and operations through these documents.

We’re here for nurses

The Australia College of Nursing Foundation’s mission is to ensure 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 Foundation is here to support nurses by acknowledging a nurse’s education is an integral part of our lifelong learning.

The ACN Foundation helps enable Australian nurses and the nursing profession achieve the highest level of nursing excellence through the raising of funds from corporations, individuals and private Trusts and Foundations. We’re here for nurses.

We invite you to join us in supporting nurses.