Archived Media Releases: 25 November 2008

Australian Nursing Federation slams NBV decision

The Australian Nursing Federation is bitterly disappointed that the Nurses Board of Victoria has approved Holmesglen TAFE's application to offer a Bachelor of Nursing degree.

The ANF is opposed to any attempts to move undergraduate education beyond the university sector. Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary said that the decision was a bitter disappointment and that the Nurses Board of Victoria had let down all of Australia’s nurses and midwives.

“This will have significant implications for the profession of nursing and midwifery and with regard to national registration.”

Ms Kearney said that the nursing and midwifery profession had already endured inquiries, reviews and reports that all recommended and reinforced the argument that nursing education should be delivered by the university sector.

“That the Nurses Board of Victoria could disregard so many recommendations is extremely disappointing.”

Nursing is a complex and demanding profession that requires the same rigorous scholarly preparation, based on research and evidence, as other recognised health professions. Allowing nursing education to be further segmented and isolated from other health professionals will diminish the standard of nursing.

The ANF said that this decision is a backward step in the development of the profession that will be detrimental to the future of nursing and health in Victoria.

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

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