ANMF Announces Election Priorities for Health and Aged Care

In the lead-up to the federal election, the country’s largest union, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), has written to all major political parties and Independent MPs and Senators, seeking their commitment to the ANMF’s five-core priorities to reform Australia’s health and aged care systems.

The ANMF election priorities are:

1.  A high-quality, well-funded health and maternity care system, with the capacity and resources to meet increased demand and complex needs across all sectors, from preventative and primary health, to hospital and end of life care;
2. A well-funded and regulated aged care system that supports a strong, valued aged care workforce to work safely and effectively to deliver high-quality, dignified care to all residents and clients;
3. A strong, valued post-pandemic healthcare workforce that is supported to work safely and effectively to deliver the best possible experience and outcomes to every patient and client;
4. Gender equity in all Australian workplaces and enhanced recognition of and solutions to the increased burden on the nursing, midwifery and carer workforce;
5. Future-ready policies, legislation and practices that genuinely and pro-actively address the climate crisis and its negative health impacts on Australia, the region and the world.

ANMF Federal Secretary, Annie Butler, said today: “In our wealthy, well-resourced and highly-developed country, every Australian should be able to expect and receive the very best health and aged care, delivered in a timely fashion, according to their wishes, in a place of their choosing. To achieve this, genuine, significant and sustained reform is urgently required.

“The ANMF has written to all political parties and independent politicians to seek their commitment on our five-priority issues for the upcoming federal election and the specific actions the next Government will need to take to ensure real reform in the health and aged care systems. Our politicians must place the health and well-being of the Australian people at the heart of their policies – they can achieve this by addressing the ANMF’s five-core priorities.”

The ANMF will be sharing politicians’ responses to its election priorities with its 310,000 members and supporters.

Original content from Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation. Note: Content has been edited for style and length.