
Join the ACN Community & Primary Health Care Community of Interest
Connect with other nurses in the community and stay up-to-date with the latest news by becoming a part of the Community and Primary Health Care Community of Interest (COI). Members can join the COI via neo. If you are currently not yet a member and are interested in joining the COI, you can join online now.
You can also find out more about COIs on our website.
Meet the Leadership Team

Kitty Hutchison MACN
Chair
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Adjunct Professor Anna Shepherd FACN (Hon)
Deputy Chair
About me
Widely recognised for her passion, commitment and advocacy, in 2018 Anna was recognised as an Honorary Fellow with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). She was instrumental in approaching ACN to create the initial Community & Primary Health Care Nursing Week initiative.
Anna has been involved in building community through her successful Wisdom Exchange, and is consulted on issues relating to Primary Healthcare, Aged Care & Governance locally, nationally and globally.
Anna has developed innovative and sustainable business models and initiatives that support the community both from a service perspective and through philanthropic activities around the world in healthcare, the arts, and indigenous projects.
Anna is committed to connecting communities and setting an example for business in finding sustainable solutions that empower people to be independent, connected and valued in society.
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Alan Merritt MACN
Secretariat Support
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Get involved
Nursing in the Community Week aims to raise awareness on how nurses can support you to stay safe at home, and their impact on the well-being of individuals and those in local communities.
Registrations for our Nursing in the Community Week awareness pack have now closed.
If you would like to view our infographics poster please download here.

#NursesWhereYouNeedThem
#NursesWhereYouNeedThem
Acknowledging nurses in the community
High profile nurse leaders from around the country have thanked nurses in our communities in a heart-felt video. We will also be releasing a series of videos this week featuring nurses that work in the community. Tune in to hear them share their personal perspectives of nursing in the community.
Acclaimed primary health care nurse leader Professor Elizabeth Halcomb FACN is the special guest on a Nursing in the Community Week themed episode of The ACN Podcast with Ben Jenkins MACN. Give the episode a listen to learn about her journey throughout the nursing profession and advice on why graduate nurses should choose to work in primary health care.

As a member of the Australian public you have a choice, why not ask the question
HOW CAN I ACCESS NURSING IN THE COMMUNITY?
Profiling our nurses in the community
Free webinars during Nursing in the Community Week
COVID-19: Primary Health Care Nurses’ perceptions of care from crisis to recovery, preliminary findings
Hosted by: SIGMA, in partnership with the University of Wollongong, University of Notre Dame, University of Technology Sydney and Western Sydney University
Date: Tuesday 15 September 2020
Time: 1-2pm AEST
Speakers: Prof Elizabeth Halcomb FACN (Professor of Primary Health Care Nursing – University of Wollongong, Sigma Oceania Regional Coordinator), Dr Christine Ashley FACN, Ms Sharon James (PhD Candidate – University of Wollongong, Sigma Xi Omicron at-Large Primary Health Care Lead)
Nursing in the Community Week Connection Forum
Hosted by: ACN Community and Primary Health Care Community of Interest Leadership Team
Date: Wednesday 16 September 2020
Time: 5-6pm AEST
Speaker: Kitty Hutchison MACN (Chair), Adjunct Professor Anna Shepherd FACN (Hon) (Deputy Chair), Suzanne Volejnikova-Wenger MACN (Communication Coordinator) and Alan Merritt MACN (Secretariat Support)
Primary Health Care Nursing careers you never knew existed!
Hosted by: University of Wollongong School of Nursing
Date: Thursday 17 September 2020
Time: 12:30–1:30pm AEST
Speaker: Robbie Bedbrook MACN
Interested in further study?
ACN is committed to providing high quality evidence-based education to ensure nurses are prepared with the knowledge and skills required to practice in a primary health care setting.
We offer a Graduate Certificate in Community and Primary Health Care Nursing, and a Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health Nursing.
There are also a range of short courses available.
Stay up-to-date with your profession
Want to be kept in the loop about other exciting opportunities for nurses?
Subscribe to ACN’s free quarterly eNewsletter to find out how to stay connected with your profession and advance your career.
With thanks to the support of our official partner, Regal Home Health
