Media Release
11
May 2005
International Nurses Day 2005: 12 May
Happy International Nurses Day from the Australian Nursing Federation
International
Nurses Day, is a day for the community to celebrate nurses and
nursing.
May 12 is the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. Florence
Nightingale made a significant contribution to nursing internationally:
raising the status of nursing as a desirable occupation, especially
for women; raising educational standards for nurses; and, improving
health care standards generally.
FACTS ABOUT NURSES IN AUSTRALIA
- There are over 236,000 registered and enrolled nurses in the workforce in Australia.
- Nurses make up 1.16% of Australia's population.
- There are 1024 full time equivalent (FTE) nurses per 100,000 population.
- In an average federal electorate there are 986 nurses.
- Nurses make up 45% of total FTE staff in public hospitals.
- 54% of nurses work part time.
- The average age of a nurse in Australia is 42.2 years, in aged care it is 47.3 years.
- 91.6% of nurses are female, 8.4% male.
For
the latest news on nurses and nursing visit the Australian Nursing
Federation, Federal Office, website at www.anf.org.au
Media inquiries:
Jill Iliffe, ANF Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Ged Cowin, ANF Assistant Federal Secretary 0417 053 322
Heather Witham, ANF Federal Communications Officer 0417 359 907
The ANF, representing 145,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses in Australia.