March 2010

It is an exciting year ahead. The federal government has moved the legislation forward and now nurse practitioners will be able to offer the community greater choice and access to healthcare.

The details of the legislation are still being worked on with the government and ACNP is an active member on all the committees. We have a sizeable number of nursing agencies and colleagues working with us on the details of the role out. A number of board members have put in several hours each week to this end.

This year the international NP movement comes to Australia for the International Council of Nurses INP/APNN conference. This will be another show case on what NP's are doing in Australia and worldwide. The conference information is on the website.

NP's can now step forward from the shadows into the light and be allowed to do what changes to the nurses act accomplished over 10 years ago.

We have also been listening to the membership and the college is in the process of updating the website. This will allow to generate pod-casts of education sessions to be accessed on the website when it best suits a member. The newsletter will change format slightly so that we can keep members regularly updated on what is currently occurring.

I would like to also welcome Darleen Cox as a co-opted member of the board. Darleen is the executive director of healthcare consumers association. It is important that consumers have a voice. The healthcare consumers association have been one of the organisations that have supported the NP role at the federal level.

On behalf of the ACNP Board of Directors I wish to convey sincere thanks to Amal Helou our past editor for her invaluable work in launching our newsletter and the 3 years she committed to its success, Amal is still on the board as Secretary. We also welcome Luke Christofis in his continuing role as Webmaster with an added role of director of News and Communication

Sincerely
Helen Gosby
ACNP President

ACNP FACE TO FACE MEETING 2010
FROM LEFT TOP Robin Moon, Cassandra Ruan, Luke Christofis, John Kelly, Alison Bean Hodges, Amal Helou
BELOW Leonie Burdack, Andrew Cashin, Robyn Peters, Helen Gosby, Wendy Waters
ABSENT : Donna Muscardin