A significant event held at Parliament House in Canberra saw nine of Australia’s largest nursing and midwifery organizations coming together to advocate for urgent primary healthcare reform, underlining the critical role that nurses and midwives play in the healthcare system. These organizations emphasized the need to empower these professionals to work to their full scope of practice, highlighting this as essential for the improvement of healthcare services in the country. The call to action was strongly voiced during the event, with nurses and midwives engaging political leaders and showcasing their extensive skills.
The Alliance of Nine Peaks
Central to this advocacy is a campaign initiated by the Alliance of the nine peaks, a coalition of prominent nursing and midwifery organizations. Members of this alliance include the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA), the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM), the Australian College of Midwives (ACM), the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN), the Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia (CRANAplus), and the Council of the Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (CDNM). Together, they are a formidable force advocating for substantial reforms that would improve access to quality, affordable healthcare for all Australians.
Statistics reveal that nurses and midwives constitute 54% of the health workforce; however, many of these professionals, particularly those in primary healthcare, are not fully supported to realize their potential. Notably, one-third of these healthcare workers operating in primary settings rarely practice to their full scope. This significant underutilization of skills and knowledge has been recognized as a critical area that needs addressing to bolster Australia’s health system. Scholars and practitioners alike argue that optimizing the use of nursing and midwifery resources can deliver better healthcare outcomes and reduce systemic inefficiencies.
Showcasing Expertise at Parliament House
During the event aptly named “Parliamentary Friends of Nursing,” nurses and midwives demonstrated their expertise by conducting health checks on politicians. These included skin and hearing checks, postnatal and prenatal care services, and basic life support demonstrations. These activities served a dual purpose: they illustrated the competencies and essential contributions of these frontline professionals, while simultaneously delivering the clear message that nurses and midwives are critical to the sustainability and enhancement of Australia’s healthcare system.
In addition to these practical demonstrations, the event also featured strategic meetings with key political figures, most notably Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler. The discussions centered around the urgent need for primary healthcare reform, particularly stressing the recommendations from the recent Scope of Practice Review. The review brings to light various restrictions and barriers that hinder nurses and midwives from fully utilizing their training and skills. Moreover, inconsistencies in regulations across states and territories further exacerbate the problem, making it challenging for patients to access timely, high-quality healthcare and for practitioners to work effectively where needed most.
Evidence of Positive Impact
The peaks provided robust evidence demonstrating that enabling nurses and midwives to practice to their full scope significantly improves patient outcomes, reduces overall healthcare costs, and promotes health equity. Annie Butler, Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, furnished concrete examples illustrating the positive impact of such empowerment. She cited instances where full scope practice has led to enhancements in cancer care, mental health care, chronic disease management, birth outcomes, and general health maintenance, thereby benefiting Australians’ everyday lives substantively.
To further illustrate the impact, Butler referenced diverse scenarios: parents with young children, for example, rely on school nurses for early issue identification; concerned mothers can receive comprehensive care at walk-in clinics; and homeless individuals can gain essential services through initiatives like One Reach. These examples underscore the profound positive ramifications that supporting nurses and midwives to work at their fullest capacity can have on various community segments.
Overcoming Regulatory Barriers
A notable event was held at Parliament House in Canberra, where nine of Australia’s largest nursing and midwifery organizations united to advocate for urgent primary healthcare reform. This gathering highlighted the vital role that nurses and midwives play in the country’s healthcare system. These organizations stressed the necessity of empowering these professionals to fully utilize their skills and expertise, viewing this as crucial for improving healthcare services across the nation. During the event, a strong call to action was made, with nurses and midwives actively engaging political leaders. They showcased their extensive skills and competencies, emphasizing the need for policy changes that would allow them to work to the full extent of their training and abilities. The reforms discussed aim to address current limitations in the healthcare system, ensuring that nurses and midwives can contribute more effectively to patient care. This event underscored the importance of supporting these professionals to enhance healthcare outcomes for all Australians.
