Media Release: 12 May 2011

Australian nurses receive international award

The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) is celebrating International Nurses Day today after it received international recognition for its massive growth in membership across the Australian health system.

Over the past 12 months, membership of the ANF has increased 10.5 per cent to more than 200,000 members - making it one of Australia’s fastest growing unions.

At the recent International Council of Nurses (ICN) Conference in Malta, the ANF, and the Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) as collaborating partners, was awarded a silver medal in recognition of increased membership growth.

The President of the ICN Dr Rosemary Bryant presented the medal to RCNA President Dr Stephanie Fox-Young and ANF Federal Secretary, Lee Thomas.

“The ANF is honoured to have its membership growth officially recognised by the ICN, especially at a time when we are celebrating International Nurses Day,” ANF Assistant Secretary, Yvonne Chaperon, said today.

“Our unprecedented growth in memberships across all sectors is a reflection of the campaigns we continue to run on behalf of all of our members, which includes registered and enrolled nurses, midwives, assistants in nursing and students.”

Ms Chaperon said International Nurses Day 2011 would showcase the vital role nurses play in helping achieve access and equity across the Australian health system.

This year the theme of International Nurses Day (IND) is “Closing the Gap: Increasing the Equity”, aimed at improving people’s health, well-being and life expectancy by increasing their access to health services.

“International Nurses Day rightly acknowledges and pays tribute to the very special work provided by our hard-working nurses who deliver quality care across the full spectrum of the Australian health system, from tending to newborns and their Mothers, right through to looking after the frail and elderly in nursing homes,” Ms Chaperon explained.

“We’re pleased that nurses across Australia will take time out from their busy schedules today for breakfasts, morning teas and other events, coinciding with celebrations attended by nurses all across the world.”

Above: Stephanie Fox-Young, RCNA President; Rosemary Bryant, ICN President and Lee Thomas, ANF Federal Secretary, at the ICN Conference in Malta.

 

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The ANF, with over 200,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives and assistants in nursing in Australia