The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) will today host The National Summit on Nursing Workforce Issues to discuss what actions are needed to support the Australian nursing workforce. The actions from the Summit will be presented to The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care.
Invited guests include the 56 Associations in the Coalition of National Nursing and Midwifery Organisations (CoNNMO), the Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer (CNMO), the CNMOs from each States and Territory, The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery, 110 organisations in healthcare, as well as leading nurse experts throughout Australia.
Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, CEO of ACN, says the discussions and actions to come out of The National Summit on Nursing Workforce will be key to properly supporting the entire nursing profession.
“The nursing profession is under incredible strain; finding sustainable and viable solutions to the complex challenges requires a collegial approach.
“We cannot make change on our own; the Australian College of Nursing will facilitate the necessary conversations, and ensure we have an action list we can take to Government to consider.
“All nurses, regardless of where we work, are united on our need to devise solutions effective for the protection and support of nurses, and for the people we care for,” said Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward.
This is the first time this group of nursing organisations have gathered to discuss workforce issues.
The Summit will hear from Emeritus Professor Christine Duffield FACN, FAAN, FAICD, RN, BScN (Western) MHP (UNSW), PhD (UNSW) and President (ACN); Professor Alison McMillan MACN, PSM Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer, Australian Government Department of Health; Clinical Professor Fiona Stoker, FACN. Chief Executive Officer, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council (ANMAC); and Tanya Vogt, Executive Officer Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA/AHPRA).
Attendees will breakout into focus sessions to discuss and identify specific challenges and possible solutions to support the current nursing workforce and future of the profession.
The National Summit on Nursing Workforce takes place 8.15am – 11.30am today.
