Media release: Launch of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy

The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) welcomes the release of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy yesterday by the Hon. Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing. Nurses are not only the largest health workforce in Australia, they are critical to every aspect of health care and better health outcomes. The nursing workforce needs careful planning to meet current needs and build for future workforce numbers. Australia needs a nursing workforce that is prepared and supported to meet future health care needs. Sustainability and retention are key factors, and the ACNP is pleased to see consideration of these factors within the National Nursing Workforce Strategy.

ACNP CEO Geri Sumpter - "This is a key milestone for nursing. The National Nursing Workforce Strategy now needs to progress to funding and implementation as soon as possible”. ACNP Strategic Advisor Leanne Boase says - “Peak nursing bodies, including ACNP, were engaged in the development of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy, and we are ready to support implementation. This is a shared national commitment that is integral the work being undertaken across the profession, including the Nurse Practitioner Workforce Plan, and other workforce plans across health professions”.

ACNP would like to thank everyone involved, including the Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon. Mark Butler, Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Advisor Alison McMillan, the DoHDA team, and acknowledge the meaningful consultation with nursing peaks in the development of the Strategy. We strongly support the focus on cultural safety, and growing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce.

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For more details contact media@acnp.org.au

Website: National Nursing Workforce Strategy
For more information Media release: Launch of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy