About ANF

Related Files
Federal Rules | Annual Financial Statement | Annual Reports

The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) was established in 1924. The ANF is the national union for nurses and the largest professional nursing organisation in Australia. The ANF's core business is the industrial and professional representation of nurses and nursing through the activities of a national office and branches in every State and Territory.

The ANF's 160,000 members are employed in a wide range of enterprises in urban, rural and remote locations in both in the public and private sectors, including hospitals, health and community services, schools, universities, the armed forces, statutory authorities, local government, offshore territories and industry.

The ANF participates in the development of policy in nursing, nursing regulation, health, community services, veterans' affairs, education, training, occupational health and safety, industrial matters, immigration and law reform. Policy making within the ANF is through consultation with the branches and their members and representation of each branch on the national executive committee and the national Council. National sub-committees cover professional issues, occupational health and safety, industrial issues, publishing, aged care and rural and remote nursing.

The ANF has a range of national policies, guidelines and position statements relating to nursing, health and social justice issues, for the guidance of members in their practice and at their workplaces.

The ANF represents Australian nursing internationally through links with other national and international nursing organisations, professional associations and the International Labour Organisations. The ANF is a member of the Commonwealth Nurses Federation and the South Pacific Nurses Forum and is affiliated to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), International Centre for Trade Union Rights and Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA (Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad) which is the overseas aid agency of the trade union movement.

Nationally, the ANF initiates activities to raise political awareness, and political action if necessary, among members and the general public in the pursuit of improved public policy on health and related issues.

The Federal Secretary is responsible for the day to day management of the Federal Office and, together with the Assistant Federal Secretary, coordinates the activities of the Federation at a national level. Branch Secretaries manage the day to day activities of the State and Territory branches of the ANF.

The main governing and policy setting body of the ANF is the Federal Council. Federal Council meets at least once each year and consists of the Federal President and Vice President, the Federal Secretary and Assistant Federal Secretary, Branch Secretaries and Branch Presidents.

The other governing body is the Federal Executive. The Federal Executive consists of the Federal President and Vice President, the Federal Secretary and Assistant Federal Secretary and the Branch Secretaries. Federal Executive meets at least four times each year.

Every two years there is a special conference for ANF job representatives. This conference sets the priorities for the organisation for the next two years.

The ANF Federal Office publishes three journals. The Australian Nursing Journal (ANJ) is published monthly. Apart from clinical articles, the ANJ carries all the latest news of interest to nurses. The Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing is a peer reviewed research journal which is published quarterly. Nurses' Paycheck is a quarterly publication designed to provide a comprehensive analysis of nurses' wages throughout Australia for both Federal and State awards and collective agreements.

The ANF has an office in Canberra and one in Melbourne. The head office is located in Canberra, while the industrial services and the three journals are located in Melbourne.

The ANF Federal Office coordinates the activities of the ANF Branches in response to national issues of importance to nurses. ANF Branches respond to issues at a State and Territory level and actively represent the industrial and professional interests of members at the local level. All Branches have a network of job representatives in workplaces where they have members. Job representatives are the vital link between the ANF and its members.

When a nurse joins the ANF, they join the branch in the State or Territory where they work. There is an ANF branch in each State and Territory of Australia.

The ANF provides a range of services to members through its state and territory Branches. The ANF's main services are:

  • resolution of workplace disputes
  • industrial representation
  • legal representation
  • negotiating awards and agreements
  • information about wages and conditions of employment
  • information and representation on workplace issues such as occupational health and safety
  • educational services
  • library services