industry & policy
is incredibly important, because what we’re
seeing now, from federal to state and
territory level, is inconsistency. Considering
we have national registration through the
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, so
the community can feel confident that we
have a professional licence, we shouldn’t
then have inconsistency because of local,
artificial boundaries.
Nurses’ role and scope of practice is
multidimensional and encompasses many
areas, including health promotion, illness
prevention, and community development.
As the white paper states, these three areas
are even more important in marginalised,
disadvantaged and isolated populations,
and we know that nurses are incredibly
important in caring for vulnerable
communities.
We will also need to make sure we take
into account the importance of allowing
nurses to work to their scope of practice,
especially in regional and rural areas,
where access to medical services is limited,
and where nurses play a significant role.
Potentially, we need to look at allowing
expansion of their scope of practice to
meet community needs.
We’ll look at legislation in many different
areas, such as nurse-led clinics and advance
care. We’ll look at legislation and what needs
to be [reasonably amended to ameliorate]
barriers to the nurses’ scope of practice.
ACN held a parliamentary breakfast in
Canberra that was attended by nursing
leaders, dignitaries and academics, along
with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
and the minister for health and aged
care, Sussan Ley. What reception did the
white paper receive, particularly from the
members of Parliament who attended?
The white paper was extremely well received
by members of Parliament, by all politicians.
Nearly all the politicians who spoke at the
parliamentary breakfast talked about their
own personal engagement with nurses,
and we’re always pleasantly surprised. It’s
warming to hear people’s connection with
nurses in all parts of the community.
We did not get any hesitation in getting
all parties to come and speak. We made
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it clear that there would be an audience
of 120 nursing leaders from across the
country. Nurse leaders flew in from every
state and territory. We had industry,
acute services, primary care, aged care
and community GPs. Academics and
educational institutions were represented,
as was all of Australia and all levels of
healthcare. We had student undergraduate
nurses right through to chief nurses and
deans of universities.
As soon as all of the parties knew of the
calibre of nurses, there was no hesitation.
We were pleased with the result, and we’re
proud of the white paper.
The members of Parliament were
impressed with the diversity, and that’s
what the Australian College of Nursing
brings to the table. I even had students
come up to me later who were just as
impressed with the calibre of nurse leaders
in the room as with the ministers who were
in attendance. The ability to connect with
such senior and experienced health leaders
through this nursing opportunity was
well received. ■
✓ Stable, reliable and cost effective
✓ Fully backed up with support
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✓ AIM is ‘hands on’ using its own
software daily, providing payroll
bureau and fully outsourced
financial Management Services
✓ Community Care module
is CDC compliant
✓ Our clients benefit from our
knowledge of the industry and
the commitment to develop
ongoing practical solutions
To find out how AIM can help chart your next course
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