On this International Nurses Day (IND), the ANMF is recognising and celebrating the dedication, skill, and compassion of nursing professionals, who deliver quality care when it is needed most across the community. This year’s IND theme Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies, emphasises the need to support the health and well-being of nurses.
ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said a healthy Australian nursing workforce is critical in building a stronger Australian health system and providing better patient care across the community.
“Happy International Nurses Day to all of our members,” Ms Butler said.
“On this very special day, we stop to recognise the amazing dedication and commitment our nurses have for the people they care for in their communities. And we acknowledge that nurses are the foundation of Australia’s system of quality, universal healthcare.
“IND gives us the opportunity to think about why we must place greater emphasis on caring for nurses, looking after their mental health and their workplace environment and safety to allow them to work to their full potential and in turn, lead to better health outcomes.”
The ANMF has implemented programs which better support nurses, including the establishment of the Nurse Midwife Health Program Australia (NMHPA), a free and confidential counselling support service, providing support to improve the health and well-being of nurses, midwives and students. The Albanese Government listened and acted on the ANMF’s advocacy efforts, with a $25.2 million grant over five years to roll-out the service across the country.
“The NMHPA is one everyday example of how we’ve collaborated with the Government to better support nurses with increased funding and programs which are helping retain our current nursing professionals and recruit more new nurses into the workforce,” Ms Butler explained.
“We’re pleased that the Albanese Government has already committed to the ANMF’s key priorities, such as paid prac placements for nursing students; the removal of outdated barriers preventing nurse practitioners working to their full scope of practice and a 20% reduction in university loan debt; which all focus on supporting nurses now and into the future.”
