For its signature event, the National Nursing Forum, the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) will be celebrating the nursing profession’s inclusiveness and advocacy for quality care for all.
“Nurses absolutely believe that equality is a critical component of health care. The profession has a long and proud history of caring for people regardless of gender, age, race, sexual orientation, cultural background, religious beliefs, income, education or rurality,” said Australian College of Nursing CEO, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN.
“ACN has decided the theme for our signature annual event, the National Nursing Forum, will be ‘Diversity and Difference’. This is to recognise the nurses across Australia who identify as LGBTQI; the men who work in this female-dominated profession; the nurses who were born overseas who provide care to all those in need as well as the diverse nature of work, including driving initiatives, that nurses lead all day, every day.
“Research from the National LGBTI Health Alliance shows that people who identify as LGBTQI have the highest rates of suicide and experience poorer health outcomes than the wider population. This demonstrates the direct relationship between equality and health.
“Nurses have a moral responsibility to safeguard the inherent dignity and equal worth of everyone. Equality is a fundamental human right and we condemn any kind of discrimination.”
Yolanda Bogert, a Registered Nurse, author and activist will speak on this topic on Day One of the Forum. Her personal experiences have shaped how she now cares for patients and through her NNF presentation, titled ‘Transgender Broken Arm Syndrome – Fostering respectful, supportive and effective therapeutic relationships with gender diverse patients’, she hopes to share what she has learnt with others.
“Much of the harm that gender diverse people report seems to stem from simple ignorance. Like most things, this can be addressed by providing more education and building awareness,” said Ms Bogert.
ACN’s National Nursing Forum will be held on the 28 – 30 August at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Hundreds of nurse leaders from across the country and internationally will be attending the three-day event.
For more information about the Forum please visit: https://www.acn.edu.au/event/the-national-nursing-forum-2018
