Hepatitis B and C: A call to action for nurses and midwives
In Australia, just under 300,000 people live with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C, liver infections caused by the hepatitis B and C viruses.1 If the infections become chronic, they may cause liver disease and liver cancer, which has the fastest increasing mortality rate in Australia compared to other cancers.2 Hepatitis B and C are […]
NSW nurses and midwives accept interim pay deal
Public sector nurses and midwives have voted to accept the NSW government’s interim pay and conditions offer, which includes an interim 3% pay increase back paid to 1 July 2025, and night duty penalty increase to 20%. The offer also includes several no cost claims: This interim offer would put money in members’ pockets now, […]
Systemic racism rife in healthcare, NSWNMA report uncovers
Nearly two-thirds of nurses, midwives and care workers from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and/or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background surveyed had been direct victims of racism, a new report by the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) has exposed. Of these, 9% had experienced racism within the past day, 17% in the […]
South Australia edges closer to mandated nurse and midwife ratios
The South Australian state government will this week introduce landmark legislation to mandate nurse-to-patient and midwife-to-patient ratios across public hospitals, delivering on its pre-election commitment. The proposed new laws, strongly lobbied for by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF SA Branch), are modelled on Victoria’s pioneering ratios legislation, which prioritise patient care, safety, and […]
New guidelines for nurses performing non-surgical cosmetic procedures
Registered nurses will now need at least one-year of practice under their belt before performing non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Racism in healthcare is costing lives, new report shows
The devastating impact of health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples impacted by racism has been laid bare in a report released today by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Health inequities in Australia: A scoping review on the impact of racism on health outcomes and healthcare access synthesises evidence from 100 studies and highlights […]
‘We support each other’: A nurse’s journey working in war-torn Ukraine
My husband and I were deployed to Ukraine to work in an Emergency Field Hospital (EFH) with International Relief Agency, Samaritan’s Purse (SP), following the full-scale invasion by Russia the previous February, 24 May 2022. The journey from Poland was eerie as our bus of aid workers was the only vehicle on the motorway headed for […]
Frailty – supporting better outcomes
Frailty is a common, yet often under-recognised, condition in older people. It is estimated that at least 11% of community dwelling older Australians, and up to 75% of residents in aged care homes are living with frailty. Frailty is an independent predictor of poor health outcomes, however it can be slowed and even reversed in […]
The Power of Starting a Green Group
Why collective action is one of the best ways to lead change in your workplace and community. It started with cold curry in my lunch box and a ward office full of nurses. Our sustainability Clinical Nurse Consultant was clicking through slides about PVC recycling while we crammed in our lunch, knowing we all had […]
Celebrating over 300 McGrath Foundation cancer nurses this Cancer Nurses Day
There are now more than 300 McGrath Cancer Care Nurses around the country, a milestone acknowledged today on Cancer Nurses Day. Cancer Nurses Day held on 14 August this year, recognises the 7,700 cancer nurses nationwide and their outstanding contributions in improving patient outcomes in Australia. The 2025 Cancer Nurses Day theme is Strong, Skilled […]