The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) has incorporated input from its frontline nursing members in its response to the latest National Nursing Workforce Strategy consultation.
ACN CEO, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, said today that ACN welcomes the development of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy, which aims to create a national strategic approach to nursing policy that addresses the current and future challenges and opportunities for the nursing workforce.
"We believe that this strategy is vital for ensuring that nurses can work to their full scope of practice and deliver person-centred, evidence-based, and compassionate care to Australian communities across all sectors and settings," Adjunct Professor Ward said.
"As the largest health profession in Australia, comprising over 40 per cent of the health workforce, nurses play a key role in meeting the population's diverse and complex health and aged care needs.
"Nurses provide high-quality care and perform key functions across metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote areas, as well as in emerging and innovative models of care.
"Nurses also contribute to health promotion, prevention, education, research, and leadership.
"But the nursing workforce faces significant challenges that require a coordinated and collaborative response from all stakeholders, including governments, regulators, educators, employers, professional bodies, unions, and, most importantly, nurses themselves.
"We have participated in the consultation process, including face-to-face workshops, webinars, and surveys.
"We have shared our insights, experiences, perspectives, and recommendations on addressing the nursing workforce issues and identifying opportunities for improvement.
"We look forward to seeing the final outcome of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy, and we will collaborate with all stakeholders to implement the actions and recommendations.
"We believe that this strategy will be a landmark achievement for the nursing profession.
"We believe it will be a catalyst for positive change and innovation.
"We hope this strategy will inspire and empower nurses to shape health and advance nursing – and health care more broadly - for the benefit of all Australians," Adjunct Professor Ward said.
The ACN response provides recommendations in the following areas:
- The growing need in aged care services
- The regional, rural, and remote nursing workforce
- Cultural safety
- First Nations nurses
- Career pathways and specialisation
- Nurses' health and wellbeing
- Building nurses' research capacity
- Recruitment and retention
- The future of nursing in Australia
- A workforce that thrives on a positive culture, empowered by accomplished leaders fully supporting their nurse workforce
- Delivering person-centred care
- Nurses working to their optimum scope of practice
- Technology drives a different workforce and health service
- Education and lifelong learning that provides high-quality skills
- Career pathways that are globally aligned, nationally recognised, and provide structured progress
- Nursing leadership and management.
The ACN response to the National Workforce Strategy is at https://www.acn.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/acn-submission-national-nursing-workforce-strategy.pdf
For more information:
Kirsty Waterford 0403 295 934
Email: acn.media@acn.edu.au
Notes to Editors:
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is the national professional organisation for all nurses and its aim is to ensure that the Australian community receives quality nursing care now and in the future. ACN is a membership organisation with members in all states and territories, health care settings and nursing specialties. ACN is also the Australian member of the International Council of Nurses headquartered in Geneva in collaboration with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF). An organisation not afraid to challenge industry issues affecting the nursing profession or Australia's health care, ACN is a well-connected and educated national body that drives change with people of influence to enhance the delivery of health services to the Australian community. ACN's membership includes nurses in roles of influence, including senior nurses, organisational leaders, academics, and researchers.
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