Australian College of Nursing

23/07/2025

Day one at the National Nursing Forum 2025 kicked off in Canberra with a warm Welcome to Country by Aunty Violet Sheridan, Senior Ngunnuwal Elder, and a strong opening from our Master of Ceremonies, Karen Cook FACN.

From inspiring keynote speakers to invigorating concurrent sessions and a networking reception sponsored by SERCO, we can't help but be excited for day two.

We look forward to the next two days of learning, networking, and innovation! Are you ready for day two?

23/07/2025

Addressing ACN’s National Nursing Forum in Canberra, the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Alison McMillan, has released the latest figures on the nursing and midwifery workforce, revealing sustained growth across the profession over the past five years, with a compound annual growth rate in the number of all nurses and midwives of 4.2% since 2019, to 497,894 in 2024.

For the year 2023 to 2024, there was 5.1% annual increase in the overall nursing and midwifery workforce.

There are 413,653 registered nurses, showing robust 6.1% year-on-year growth and a healthy 4.5% compound annual growth rate over five years.

Nurse practitioners continue their rapid expansion, growing 9.1% year-on-year to reach 2,867 professionals. That was the highest growth rate among all categories, with 8.9% compound annual growth rate since 2019.

Midwives also showed strong performance with 7,901 professionals, representing 7.5% year-on-year growth, and 7.2% compound annual growth rate over five years.

We need to understand better a slight decline in enrolled nurses, of -1.1% to 64,586 professionals from 2023 to 2024. This represents the only category to show negative growth, though it maintained a modest 0.7% compound annual growth rate over the five-year period.

In terms of the number of nurses and midwives actually *employed*, there was a 5.9% increase in the number of employed registered nurses from 2023 to 2024; 232 more employed nurse practitioners; a fall in the number of employed enrolled nurses of 1%; and an 8.7% increase in the number of employed midwives.

Addressing common concerns about healthcare worker exodus, McMillan emphasised that "attrition rates are quite stable" and dismissed suggestions of a mass departure from the profession. The 2024 exit rate is actually lower than 2023, with many departures attributed to natural retirement patterns among baby boomer nurses.

The growth comes as the Australian government implements significant healthcare reforms, including the introduction of designated registered nurse prescribing and expansion of nurse practitioner roles.

With nursing representing one of Australia's most critical healthcare professions, these workforce numbers provide reassurance about the sector's resilience and continued appeal to new practitioners.

ACN is looking forward to the release of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy this year.

23/07/2025

The Australian College of Nursing is delighted to announce that Group Captain Kath Stein FACN GAICD has been appointed as ACN's new President, bringing over three decades of distinguished military nursing leadership to the role.

With her extensive experience as Director of National Operations at the Department of Defence and as a former Director of Defence Force Nursing, Group Captain Stein is uniquely positioned to champion our profession during this transformative period.

"It is an honour to lead the Australian College of Nursing at such a pivotal time for the profession," she shared. "Nurses are becoming increasingly vital as patient care grows more complex, and ACN has an incredible opportunity to transform support for nurses throughout their careers."

Her presidency comes as exciting developments unfold, including the new prescribing endorsement for registered nurses — expanding opportunities for nurses to operate at their optimal scope and improve patient access to quality care.

A heartfelt thank you to outgoing President Adjunct Professor David Plunkett FACN for his exceptional leadership since 2023, particularly his work on the "Nurses Are the Solution" campaign and strengthening advocacy alliances across our profession.

Under Group Captain Stein's leadership, we're excited to continue advancing nursing excellence, education, and advocacy.

Read more: https://ow.ly/G09L50WtJPA

23/07/2025

Professor Jill White AM FACN writes in the Canberra Times today on the renewed global definition of nursing – moving beyond narrow hospital-focused roles to embrace nurses' broader impact on healthy communities and illness prevention.

This expanded definition couldn't be more timely. Australia faces alarming rates of obesity and diabetes, faltering immunisation rates, and emergency departments bursting with preventable presentations. Yet, nationally, we're underutilising the 54% of our health workforce who are specifically educated for these challenges: nurses.

As Professor White explains, the new definition emphasises nurses' roles in policy, healthcare innovation, disaster response, and population health – exactly what Australia needs. Nurses bring scientific knowledge, ethical standards, and therapeutic relationships to chronic disease management, health promotion, and community care.

The gap isn't in nursing capability – it's in outdated funding models and regulations that prevent nurses from delivering the holistic, preventative care they're trained for.

It's time our healthcare system caught up with nursing's evolved definition.

Read more (paywalled): https://ow.ly/YTZR50WtJ2j

22/07/2025

ACN's National Nursing Forum has launched with strong backing for nurses working to their full scope of practice from ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith.

"We need everyone to be practising at full scope of practice,” she told the ACN President’s Welcome function last night. “We need everyone to be working together, and it has to be a collaborative approach where everybody recognises the skills of everyone else in the health system."

The Minister emphasised that “nurse-led models of care are critical to the health care system” and she committed to “standing with you in the implementation of expanded scope of practice, not just here in the ACT, but advocating with my colleagues around the country to continue this work.”

This recognition comes as ACT's nurse-led walk-in centres continue proving their value – operating 7 days a week, 365 days a year, delivering accessible community care staffed by advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners.

When governments recognise nursing expertise and leadership, health outcomes improve for everyone.



Image (L-R): ACN Director of Leadership and Transformation, Jennifer Harland; ACT Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Marina Buchanan-Grey; ACT Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith; Professor Sabina Knight.

22/07/2025

Ahead of the National Nursing Forum, ACN President Adjunct Professor David Plunkett FACN hosted an exclusive event to thank some of ACN’s vital volunteers, including our Region and Faculty Leadership Teams, for their invaluable contributions. “Your knowledge, experience, and dedication are integral to helping us lead and advocate for our profession.”

We were honoured to be joined by ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, for this special event. We look forward to connecting with more Members and Fellows at the NNF tomorrow.

16/07/2025

Upskill in respiratory care with these microcredentials.
This series of microcredentials is designed to stack towards ACN’s 336 Respiratory Nursing Single Unit of Study.

Apply now for our July intake, head to our website to learn more.
https://www.acn.edu.au/education/microcredentials

16/07/2025

13/07/2025

Government funding is available to Aged Care Providers for ACN's Aged Care Transition to Practice (ACTTP) Program.

Designed for both ENs and RNs, this program builds confidence and essential skills to provide evidence-based, holistic aged care.

✅ 83 CPD hours
✅ Pathway to Clinical Leadership in Aged Care
✅ Led by expert nurse educators with live sessions and real-life case studies

Head to our website to learn more: acn.edu.au/education/aged-care-transition-to-practice

11/07/2025

ACN’s Institute of Leadership’s Nurse Unit Manager Leadership Program (Hybrid).

Join us in in Parramatta on Friday 29 August 2025 to start your leadership journey.

This blended program combines a face-to-face masterclass with three online workshops, helping you develop practical leadership skills and learn from nursing leaders.

ACN Members get a further discounted rate. Head to our website to learn more.

The Nurse Unit Manager Leadership Program will develop those in, or those aspiring to nursing unit management roles with practical skills required to influence and manage resources, and operations.

11/07/2025

In acknowledgement of NAIDOC Week, ACN CEO Adjunct Professor Kathryn Zeitz FACN, joined fellow nurse Laura Messing, Client Executive at Altera Digital Health, at the "Lowitja - A Life of Leadership and Legacy" Exhibition in Adelaide