Weighted blankets can help improve sleep, finds study
Weighted blankets can help to improve sleep in adults with insomnia and other mental health conditions including anxiety and depression, but results are mixed for children, new research has found. Led by occupational therapist and Flinders University researcher Dr Suzanne Dawson, the study found the blankets were effective in improving sleep, reducing medication use and […]
Manual handling and no lift
Safe manual handling and no lift policies had their origins with the union back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The movement towards ‘no lift’ policies were driven by nurses and midwives on the ground with increasing awareness of occupational health and safety issues. These policies aim to improve both patient and staff safety […]
ANMF champions universal health coverage and high-quality aged care
The ANMF continues to be a powerful advocate for universal health coverage (UHC) in Australia, underlining the pivotal role nurses and midwives can play in ensuring all people have access to the healthcare services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. For example, the expansion of nurse-led and midwife-led clinics, such […]
Queensland unions push for equal paid parental leave
The Queensland Police Union has this week partnered with the Queensland Council of Unions in a joint campaign pushing for equal paid parental leave across the state public sector. The campaign is calling for commitments from both Labor and the LNP to assure workers of their job security, fair wages and improvements to paid parental […]
Transitioning nursing education into higher education
The transfer of nursing education to the higher education system was one of the most significant milestones in the history of nursing in Australia. Australian Nursing Federation (ANF), now the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), has played a pivotal role in the evolution of nursing and midwifery education in Australia. Its involvement spans decades […]
The Power of Persistence: How the ANMF’s advocacy laid the foundation for NPs in Australia
The nurse practitioner (NP) role originated in the United States in the mid-1960s to address gaps in healthcare. But it took 35 years later, on 12 December 2000, for Jane O’Connell (emergency) and Sue Denison (rural and remote health) to become Australia’s first authorised NPs. Requiring Master’s level education, NPs possess the expertise and authority […]
Calling all primary healthcare nurses and midwives: Complete APNA’s 2024 Workforce Survey today
For over 15 years, the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association’s annual Workforce Survey has provided a comprehensive snapshot of the working conditions and professional concerns faced by primary healthcare nurses and midwives working across the country. It remains the only national survey focused on the nearly 100,000 nurses and midwives working outside of hospitals […]
ANMF calls for urgent action to address birth trauma in Australia
The ANMF has called for the urgent implementation of all 43 recommendations from the NSW Select Committee on Birth Trauma report.
Strength in numbers: 100 years of improving the working lives of nurses and midwives
The working lives of nurses and midwives have undergone significant transformation over the past 100 years. In 1938, a typical staff nurse in Victoria earned just two pounds, four shillings, and four pence, for a 50-hour work week, caring for 10 patients during the day and 15 at night. These early nurses’ responsibilities extended far […]
Let’s celebrate: Share your stories and messages of support
This year, we proudly celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), which has grown to become Australia’s largest trade union in 2024, representing 327,000 members. Our future is strong, and our future is bright. For a century, the ANMF has championed the rights and welfare of nurses, midwives, and the […]