‘The accidental school nurse’: More skilled nurses needed to help students, finds study
While no formal education pathways to become a school nurse in Australia exist, nurses are stumbling into the career path via a number of ways, new research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) suggests. “The accidental school nurse; that’s almost a way to describe this career path,” says lead author, Dr Anita Moyes. “A lot of […]
Black tea and berries could contribute to healthier ageing
Higher intakes of black tea, berries, citrus fruits and apples could help promote healthy ageing, new research has found. Foods rich in flavonoids could help to lower the risk of key components of unhealthy ageing, including frailty, impaired physical function and poor mental health, according to a collaborative study involving Australian and international researchers. “Our […]
Nurses at the forefront of youth homelessness support
Amid the hustle and bustle of Melbourne’s King Street, a small team of dedicated nurses provide vital healthcare to young people aged 12 to 24 experiencing homelessness. “What I love most is that you feel like you are making a difference in young people’s lives,” says youth health nurse practitioner Dot Henning. “These are young […]
‘Eighty years is enough’: Why Australia must sign the Treaty to ban nuclear weapons
“There are no safe hands for nuclear weapons,” says activist Dimity Hawkins, co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). As the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States approaches on 6 and 9 August, the leading nuclear disarmament advocate warns that amid ongoing global conflicts, […]
Gender affirmation, surrogate leave, among new progressive conditions won during enterprise bargaining
What began in 1970 as the Family Planning Alliance of South Australia continues to lead the way advancing workplace conditions, thanks to an ANMF (SA Branch)-negotiated Enterprise Agreement that has introduced several progressive new provisions. Nurses and midwives at the organisation, now known as the Sexual Health Information Networking and Education South Australia (SHINE SA), […]
‘The war is on top of you’: Red Cross nurse Ruth Jebb on caring for the injured in Gaza
For Brisbane-based Red Cross humanitarian nurse Ruth Jebb, responding to some of the world’s biggest emergencies – no matter how dangerous – has always been a given.
10,000 steps? New study suggests 7,000 just as good for health
A new study suggests it might be time to rethink the common 10,000-steps-a-day goal, with just 7,000 daily steps achieving nearly identical health benefits. Led by Professor Melody Ding from the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health, the study, published in The Lancet Public Health, analysed data from 57 studies from 2014 to 2025 that were conducted in […]
Paediatric Organ Donation Specialist Nurse urges Australians to consider giving someone a second chance at life
“This job enables me to offer families a chance to create a legacy for their child,” says Mellissa Short, a DonateLife Victoria paediatrics Nurse Donation Specialist based at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) and Monash Children’s Hospital. “Organ and tissue donation can help families cope with their grief in the months and years ahead of […]
Between the frontline and the executive: A personal call to recognise and support healthcare’s middle managers
Middle managers—such as Nurse Unit Managers (NUMs), Midwifery Unit Managers (MUMs), and departmental leaders—play a critical role in translating strategic priorities into frontline care. They are the vital link between executive leadership and clinical teams. Yet, despite their pivotal position, they often operate without adequate recognition, consistent support, or inclusion in broader organisational acknowledgements. The […]
Nurses can’t stay silent on medicinal cannabis: A call for safer, smarter practice
As a nurse who has worked at the frontline of both traditional and cannabinoid-based care, I’ve witnessed the real-world consequences of our system’s slow and inconsistent uptake of medicinal cannabis policy. Despite medicinal cannabis being legal and regulated in Australia since 2016, nurses are still left in the dark. We are expected to care for […]