The Australian College of Nursing’s (ACNs) Nursing in the Community Week 2021 raised awareness for the seventh straight year of how nurses can support our community to stay safe at home, wherever that is.
The Week is an initiative from ACN’s Nursing in the Community Community of Interest (COI) and is proudly sponsored by founding sponsor Regal Home Health, MediBank, Smith + Nephew and official partner the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association.
In case you missed it, we’ve provided a recap of the major events of the week which included a four-part webinar series, White Paper Launch and the sharing of stories of nurses working in the community.
Four-part webinar series
The Nursing in the Community Week 2021 focused on supporting nurses in having “A Voice to Lead”, through a four-part webinar series which discussed topical areas affecting nurses working in our communities.
Held across the four weeks of September in an easy-to-access digital format, the webinars covered topics including:
- Aged Care in the Community – Making Change Happen
- Vaccination – Outside the Box
- Digital Health – Connecting the Dots
- Leadership – No Health Care Future without Nurse Leaders.
All the webinars can now be accessed via ACN’s YouTube channel.
White Paper Launch
ACN was privileged to have Federal Minister for Regional Health The Hon. Dr David Gillespie MP join CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN for a special webinar during Nursing in the Community Week 2021 to launch our Reimagining the Community and Primary Health Care System White Paper.
The White Paper aims to open dialogue and provide the Australian Government with recommendations for system-wide reform in the C&PHC sector; to safeguard the health of all Australians; and to ensure equitable access to health services regardless of background, geographical location or financial status.
During the webinar, which can be replayed below, Adjunct Professor Ward thanked all those who contribute their expertise to making the webinar possible and raise the profile of nurses working in the community.
“The Primary and Community Health Care sector is absolutely vital and is the way of the future and for too long you haven’t had the recognition that you all deserve,” she said.
Minister Gillespie also touched on the importance of ensuring nurses received proper recognition for their contribution.
“This week is nursing in the Community Week and as we come together, we celebrate and acknowledge the important work that the nursing profession and the midwifery profession perform,” he said.
Sharing the stories of nurses working in the community
Thank you to everybody who took to social media to acknowledge and celebrate Nursing in the Community Week 2021 using the official hashtag #NursesWhereYouNeedThem.
Nursing in the Community Week is a good reminder that access to good health care is a human right; universal healthcare is key to a healthy population and a flourishing society, and it should not be dictated by your postcode. #nurseswhereyouneedthem https://t.co/yuIblJHfvo
— Kylie (@kylieward) September 20, 2021
DO YOU WANT TO STAY AT HOME AS YOU AGE? https://t.co/i3XYKa3TOV#NursesWhereYouNeedThem @normanswan @acn_tweet @APNAnurses @Regal_Health @medibank @SmithandNephew @GregHuntMP @ScottMorrisonMP @celestebarber_ @KittyHutchison @EllemPammie @Mark_Butler_MP @DVASecretary
— Anna M Shepherd FACN GAICD (@shepherdannam1) September 19, 2021
ACN’s NurseClick blog also shared three stories from our valued partner organisations.
Executive Chair of Regal Home Adjunct Professor Health Anna Shepherd FACN (Hon) outlined her lifetime of advocacy for community nurses, Medibank’s Shireen Mallouhi highlighted the role of nurses in telehealth and Smith + Nephew’s Ruth Timmins shared her expertise in Wound Care.
Access here for all these stories and check-out those from years gone by.
