If you are an ambitious go-getter looking for an opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone to advance your career and become the best nurse leader you can be then look no further! The ENL program will help you develop your leadership skills and confidence through unparalleled access to high profile nurse leaders, mentoring, career coaching and professional development opportunities. The program is self-paced and self-driven, meaning you will get as much out of the program as you put in. Participants will be required to independently complete a range of activities in order to accrue the points required to complete the program.

About the program
ENL program objectives
- Identify and have a greater awareness and understanding of their own leadership qualities, through self-assessment and ACN professional feedback
- See an improvement in their own leadership confidence and effectiveness
- Have developed a social, ethical and professional understanding of contemporary health care environments to provide nurse leadership within the health care context
- Have a growing understanding of the socio-political environment of nursing
- Have a better understanding of change mechanisms within the profession of nursing and health sector
- Be better equipped to understand the development of nursing policy, research and education and its influence on the profession and broader health environment
Meet our 2021 ENL Cohort
We are delighted to introduce the exceptional nurses who have been selected to participate in our 2021 Emerging Nurse Leader (ENL) Program.
Over a period of nine months, these up-and-coming nurse leaders will receive invaluable opportunities to develop their leadership skills and confidence, including mentoring, coaching, professional development and more. Each ENL has a unique journey and background into and through the nursing profession. You can learn more about what makes these leaders tick by checking out their photos and short bios.
Fast-track your nursing career
Some of our exceptional Emerging Nurse Leaders have shared how ACN has helped them fast-track their nursing careers. Check out the video to discover how ACN membership and the Emerging Nurse Leader Program can support you as you embark on your nursing journey.
Interested in becoming an ENL?
Applications for the 2021 ENL program intake have now closed. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in early September 2020. Successful participants will commence the program on 1 October 2020 and complete the program on 30 June 2021. An ENL Graduation Ceremony will be held at the ACN National Nursing Forum in August 2021 to celebrate participants’ successful completion of the program.
We encourage you to register your interest for the 2022 ENL program to find out as soon as applications have opened.
ENL program benefits

ENL mentoring program

Invitations to exclusive ACN events

Networking with high profile nurse leaders

Full registration for the ACN National Nursing Forum

Opportunity to build a profile within the profession

ACN Leadership workshops

Career coaching

Professional development webinars
Program overview and eligibility
The program is divided into five stages reflecting the challenges and opportunities nurses face as they progress through their leadership journeys. Each stage extends over a period of nine months and participants are welcome to enter at the program stage that corresponds to their career level.
To be eligible to apply for the 2021 program intake applicants must be current ACN members and meet the following criteria in January 2021:
Stage 1
Empowered to LEARN
Students completing a Diploma of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing (final year), Nursing Masters or Nursing Honours year
Stage 3
Empowered to REACH
Enrolled nurses or registered nurses in their second or third year of practice
Stage 4
Empowered to ACHIEVE
Enrolled nurses or registered nurses in their fourth or fifth year of practice
Congratulations to the 2020 ENL cohort!
We would like to extend a huge congratulations to our exceptional Emerging Nurse Leaders for completing the prestigious program.
What better time to celebrate this extraordinary achievement than during the official Year of the Nurse and the Midwife!
Throughout an unprecedented pandemic these up-and-coming nurse leaders persevered and stayed committed to reaching their goals.
To learn about their personal journeys of growth and development throughout the ENL program, check out the 2020 Emerging Nurse Leader Reflections video and read our NurseClick profile articles. If you would like to get in touch with our 2020 ENLs you can connect with them directly via neo.
NurseClick
For further information contact ACN Leadership
e: leadership@acn.edu.au
t: 1800 061 660