Media Release
12 January 2006
Health Minister's comments misleading
The ANF rejects claims made today by Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, that recent Commonwealth Government initiatives have led to a 'significant increase in the number of qualified nurses'.
ANF Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe described the Minister's comments as 'misleading'.
'Creating different employment opportunities for nurses, while welcome, does not equal more nurses in the system. The only way to get more nurses into the system is to create additional nursing education places.
'While it is true the number of nurses in general practice has increased under the Strengthening Medicare program, the overall number of nurses in the profession falls dismally short of projected workforce needs.
'It is interesting to note that the Minister has issued this statement today following a week of media reports on the nursing shortfall in aged care in particular.
'Aged care is every bit as important as general practice,' said Ms Iliffe. It also requires significant attention in order to attract and retain nurses.
Ms Iliffe said the Minister was trying to deflect attention away from the critical shortage of nursing staff in Australia that needs to be addressed to avert a looming crisis in the nations' health system.
A 2004 Australian Health Workforce Advisory Committee Report stated that the nation would need between 10,182 and 12,270 new graduate nurses to enter the workforce in 2006 and between 10,712 and 13,483 in 2010 to meet demand.
- Only 5,720 nursing students graduated in 2004.
- 12,451 students commenced nursing degrees in 1996 - by 2004 the number of commencements, along with the number of funded university placements had dropped to 8,803.
- A 2005 Australian Vice-Chancellor's Committee report found that 2,761 or 20 per cent of eligible nursing applicants missed out on an undergraduate nursing place.
- Almost half of the current nursing workforce will contemplate retirement in the next 10-15 years.
The ANF, representing 145,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses in Australia.
Media inquiries
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary 0417 053 322
Lani Stanistreet, Manager Communication & Journals 0414 471 339