The Australian College of Nursing’s signature event, the National Nursing Forum (NNF), is taking place this week at the National Convention Centre Canberra, bringing together more than 800 delegates and over 40 exhibitors under the theme “Courage, Compassion, Connection – Empowering Nurses for the Future.”
The Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, will address the Forum on Thursday 24 July, delivering the Ministerial Address and announcing the winner of the sixth annual Health Minister’s Award for Nursing Trailblazers.
The award is Australia’s premier recognition of nurses who are transforming the nation’s health and aged care systems through leadership and innovation.
This year’s three finalists are:
- Professor Michelle Barakat-Johnson, who has revolutionised wound care delivery through the Wound Care Command Centre, Australia’s first hybrid model of specialist wound care, launched in 2023 at the Royal Prince Alfred Virtual Hospital in Sydney.
- Kaitlyn Cooke, who created Ecodefend, a fully plastic-free, compostable, medical-grade face mask that decomposes into organic material after 180 days and can be repurposed as biochar feed.
- Dr Andrea Taylor MACN, who developed the Geriatric Emergency Department Intervention (GEDI), a nurse-led, evidence-based strategy designed to meet the unique needs of older adults from the moment they arrive at hospital.
Read more on the finalists here: Health Minister’s Award for Nursing Trailblazers recognises groundbreaking contributions to health care – Australian College of Nursing
The three-day event features an impressive lineup of keynote speakers including Shadow Health Minister Senator Anne Ruston and ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith.
The Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Professor Alison McMillan PSM MACN, will address nursing workforce sustainability. For the first time in Australia, the renewed definition of ‘nursing’ and ‘a nurse’ will be unveiled by Professor Jill White FACN.
ACN’s new President will be announced during the three-day forum, which will also feature sessions on workforce development, nurse-led models of care, scope of practice, digital health innovations, planetary health, clinical advances, and much more.
Special highlights include a tri-nations panel on combating racism in nursing, the Fellowship Ceremony, and a presentation from Associate Professor Jason Mills FACN on compassionate leadership.
Key Speakers:
- 8:55am, Thursday 24 July: Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP
- 8:35am, Friday 25 July: Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston
- 7.30pm, Tuesday 22 July: Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Health Minister (President’s Welcome Reception)
- 9:15am, Wednesday 23 July: Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Alison McMillan PSM MACN on “Strengthening the sustainability of the Australian nursing workforce”
ACN thanks all NNF sponsors:
Platinum:
HESTA
Gold:
Ausmed
Serco
Silver:
Nutricia
Guild Insurance
Bronze:
Griffith University
CATSINaM
National Lung Cancer Screening Program (Cancer Council)
The National Nursing Forum 2025
23-25 July
National Convention Centre, Canberra
More details: The National Nursing Forum 2025 – Australian College of Nursing
Contact details:
Lexi Metherell
0449 803 524
