Archived Media Releases: 9 March 2008

At last: a Chief Nurse for Australia

The Australian Nursing Federation today warmly welcomed the Rudd Government’s announcement they were establishing the position of Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.

“The establishment of the position of Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer was a Rudd Government pre-election commitment and another one they have now delivered on”, Jill Iliffe, ANF Federal Secretary said. “Nursing plays a role in so many of the Government’s programs such as: health, aged care, education, mental health, Indigenous health, rural health and the MBS and PBS; it is vital they have a representative at a senior level in government to provide nursing input and link all the programs together.

“It is also important for Australia to be officially represented in international nursing forums by their Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer,” Ms Iliffe said.

Ms Iliffe said the role will raise the status of nurses and midwives within government.

The ANF anticipates the national Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer will be a part of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.

“Nurses have been lobbying strongly for health reform for many years,” Ms Iliffe said. “Nurses comprise over 50% of the health workforce in Australia working across all sectors; the community, hospitals and aged care, so it is essential they are represented at a national level. Nurses have a major contribution to make to the health reform process.”

The ANF, which currently represents around 160,000 nurses, says nurses are pleased that the Rudd government is acknowledging the importance of nurses to the health system and to the Australian community by the establishment of this position.

Media Contacts
Ged Kearney, Federal Secretary, 0417 053 322
Libby Muir, ANF Communications Officer, 0413 834 979

The ANF, with 170,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.