‘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 […]
Give peace a chance: Nurses and midwives can play crucial role in fostering global peace in a fractured world
As trusted frontline health professionals in every corner of the globe, nurses and midwives are uniquely positioned to lead collective international efforts for lasting peace. On top of clinical care, nurses and midwives can play a significant role in helping bridge divides – including cultural, political and social – through their daily advocacy and action. […]
Intermittent fasting improves night shift worker health, study finds
Intermittent fasting (IF) used as an alternative to continuous energy restriction (CER) supports metabolic health improvements and weight loss in night shift workers, a Monash University-led study (the SWIFt study) has found. Published in The Lancet’s eBioMedicine, researchers tested the effectiveness of two modified IF strategies, more commonly known as the 5:2 diet, compared with […]
Deadly Outstanding Workforce Leadership (OWL) Research Program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives
Evidence-based practice is crucial for ensuring the best patient outcomes, and as Australia’s largest and most diverse health workforce, involved in almost all sectors of healthcare delivery, it is of great importance that nurses and midwives are equipped to apply evidence-based practice. However, nurses and midwives often encounter difficulties in translating research evidence into clinical […]