Archived Media Releases: 19 November 2007

ANF welcomes ALP initiatives for rural and regional areas

The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) today welcomed Federal Labor’s plans to dedicate resources to universities offering clinical experience in regional and rural hospitals.

ANF Acting Federal Secretary Gerardine (Ged) Kearney said the announcement is a welcome first step in addressing the shortage of nurses in regional and rural areas.

“However there should be additional funding to assist students and universities with the costs associated with undertaking a clinical placement in a regional or remote area. Students currently bear the financial burden of accommodation and travel costs and this can often be a deterrent to taking on a placement at a regional or country hospital,” Ms Kearney said.

While the ANF welcomes any initiatives to boost nursing numbers, all levels of government need to address the key issues of professional recognition, and wages and conditions as central to workforce planning, Ms Kearney said.

“There are still major problems with funding allocations, particularly in the aged care sector where nurses earn much less than their colleagues in the public sector, and the WorkChoices laws that punish nurses for legitimate efforts to improve conditions in the workplace.

“The best way to attract people to nursing and retain the wonderful nurses already working in our health system is to treat nurses decently and afford them the professional recognition they deserve,” Ms Kearney said.

Media Contacts
Ged Kearney, Acting Federal Secretary, 0417 053 322

The ANF, representing 150,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia