Nursing in the Community Week aims to raise awareness of how nurses can support our community to stay safe at home, wherever that is.

This year, the activities will support nurses in having “A Voice to Lead”, in discussion of topical areas affecting nurses working in our communities.

Webinars

Ministerial Launch – Reimagining the Community and Primary Health Care System

Leadership - No Health Care Future without Nurse Leaders

Aged Care in the Community - Making Change Happen

Vaccination - Outside the Box

Digital Health - Connecting the Dots

White paper

Reimagining the community and primary health care system

Profiling our nurses in the community

Join the ACN 'Nursing in the Community' 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 ‘Nursing in the Community’ 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 FACN
Chair

About me

Kitty Hutchison has been working in community nursing for over twenty years. Her early roles were in post-acute care and coordination of care. For the past ten years she has worked in nurse education roles supporting and enhancing practice of community nurse clinicians and is currently developing a Transition to Community Nursing Practice program in Queensland. Kitty believes that nurses in the community are a valuable resource in bridging the ever-increasing gap between primary health care and acute care services in our Australian health care system. She is committed to supporting nurses in the community to maintain high standards of practice and share their innovation and experience confidently with others.

Alan Merritt MACN
Deputy Chair

About me

Alan Merritt is a registered nurse with a wide range of experience in varied nursing, health care and regulation contexts. Alan has been a clinician, manager and educator in community nursing, and an academic in the tertiary education sector. He has extensive experience in the governance of nursing and midwifery as a past member of the Australian Capital Territory Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, and through the accreditation of Nursing and Midwifery education programs. He is currently the Manager of Medical School Assessments at the Australian Medical Council where he oversees the accreditation of medical schools for the Australian and New Zealand Context. Alan’s research interests include teaching and learning, nursing in the community, and exploring the expression of artistry and tacit knowledge in practice.

Pammie Ellem MACN
Communication Coordinator

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.

Proudly supported by

Partner

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) is the peak body and professional membership association for all nurses working outside of a hospital setting in Australia.

Founding Sponsor

Regal, for 55 years, has been matching the skills and expertise of our Nurses to what matters to our community – exceptional home care.

Sponsor

Medibank is a leading private health insurer, with more than 45 years of experience delivering better health to Australians.

Medibank also delivers a range of health services in Australia with 1,500 health professionals making a difference to the health and well-being of millions of Australians every year.

Sponsor

Smith & Nephew is a leading portfolio medical technology company operating in around 100 countries globally.

Our purpose: Life Unlimited. Smith & Nephew exists to restore people’s bodies, and their self-belief.

Our global franchise areas are Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine & ENT and Advanced Wound Management.