The Albanese Labor Government has launched a public consultation process for the next National Nursing Workforce Strategy, aiming to enhance the quality of healthcare across Australia.
The strategy seeks input from a diverse range of stakeholders, including nurses, nursing students, educators, administrators, and consumers, to shape the future of nursing workforce planning, investment, and reform.
The draft strategy, developed after extensive research and engagement, is now available for public review. The government is particularly interested in feedback from targeted groups such as First Nations stakeholders and peak bodies. This input will be crucial in refining the draft before it is finalised and approved by Commonwealth and State and Territory Health Ministers.
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, Ged Kearney MP, emphasised the importance of this strategy in supporting the nursing workforce. “Australia’s healthcare system is powered by the sweat, hearts, and expertise of nurses. Labor will always back our nurses,” Kearney said. “The National Nursing Workforce Strategy is a comprehensive framework to support the nursing workforce so all Australians can continue to benefit from their quality care.”
The strategy aims to empower the nursing workforce to meet the current and future needs of Australians while providing career support for nurses. It complements other government reforms, including the Nurse Practitioner Workforce Plan, the Independent Review of Overseas Health Practitioner Regulatory Settings, and the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce (Scope of Practice) Review.
Public consultation will be open for the next five weeks. To participate, visit the National Nursing Workforce Strategy website at www.health.gov.au/nnws.
