Retired nurses and midwives support community to solve loneliness: Generativity in action
After decades tending to patients’ health and welcoming newborns into the world, a growing group of retired nurses and midwives are discovering a new kind of caregiving – one centred on building connection, community and belonging. For these women, volunteering with Spark offers a new chapter of contribution defined by generativity: the deep human desire […]
Major new nursing and midwifery research partnership
A new Melbourne-based nursing and midwifery research partnership will embed research in clinical practice and strengthen leadership pathways. The Nursing Research Academic Partnership brings together La Trobe University, The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) and the Royal Women’s Hospital (RWH). The collaboration is driven by a shared ambition to build nursing […]
Educating students about cultural safety and trauma informed practice
In Australia, mental health statistics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remains deeply disproportionate. In 2018–19, over a third of Indigenous People (37%) reported having a current mental health condition,1 with suicide remaining a devastating issue highlighted in Closing the Gap targets.2 Current data indicate that suicide rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander […]
New national standards to boost virtual care safety
National standards for virtual care are set to be developed for the first time in Australia, with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care tasked with creating a consistent, system‑wide framework to support safe, high‑quality virtual care. The standards — expected to be published by the end of 2027 — will outline […]
New doco captures mission to bring back Birthing on Country
A powerful new documentary follows Yolŋu mothers, grandmothers, leaders and health workers as they work to bring birthing back on Country, shining a light on First Nations maternity care and self-determination. MAYPILAMA: Keel Line of Creation documents Yolŋu Elder and Professor Ḻäwurrpa Maypilama’s mission to return Birthing on Country through the Galiwin’ku Djakamirr Program. “The documentary […]
Q&A: Michael Whaites, NSWNMA General Secretary
As workforce challenges and cost-of-living issues intensify across the professions, Michael Whaites, General Secretary of the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), speaks to the ANMJ about his journey and the key issues facing nurses, midwives and carers. Take us back to the beginning — what inspired you to become a nurse and […]
UTS to make VR violence prevention training mandatory for nursing students
In an Australian first, the University of Technology Sydney will make immersive virtual reality training in aggression and violence prevention mandatory as part of preparation for clinical placements. From 2027, all first‑year nursing students at UTS will undertake mandatory VR training in violence-prevention before they go on placement. The decision comes amid growing concern about the frequency of violence in healthcare settings. A recent report from the NSW Nurses and […]
Medicare Mental Health Check In: Free digital mental health support
Australians can now access free, confidential, high-quality mental health support online, with no referral or diagnosis needed, to help deal with life’s ups and downs. The federal government, in partnership with St Vincent’s Health Australia, has launched Medicare Mental Health Check In, a free national service providing practical support for people aged 16 and over […]
ANMF launches landmark Work Value Case for nurses and midwives
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has commenced its landmark Nurses and Midwives Work Value Case before the Fair Work Commission, seeking long-overdue wage increases that better reflect the value, complexity and responsibility of nursing, midwifery and care work. The case follows the ANMF’s successful aged care work value case, which delivered minimum award […]
AHPRA moves to reduce distress for practitioners facing complaints
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is rolling out major reforms to reduce the distress experienced by health practitioners during the notifications (complaints) process, following growing concerns about the psychological impact of regulatory investigations. AHPRA has already completed 13 of 33 actions recommended by an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) aimed at making the complaints […]