Emerging Nurse Leader program – Australian College of Nursing

About the program

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 Emerging Nurse Leader (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.

Program outcomes

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

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 2024 program intake applicants must be current ACN members and meet the following criteria in January 2024:

Stage 1

Empowered to LEARN

Students completing a Diploma of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing (final year), Nursing Masters or Nursing Honours year

Stage 2

Empowered to GROW

Enrolled nurses or registered nurses in their first year of practice

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

Stage 5

Empowered to LEAD

Enrolled nurses or registered nurses in their sixth year of practice

Meet our 2023 ENL Cohort

We are delighted to introduce the exceptional nurses who have been selected to participate in our 2023 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.