Coinciding with this year’s International Nurses Day, this week’s Federal Budget has had some significant outcomes for the primary health care, nursing workforce.
The Federal Budget delivered on 9th May 2023, APNA believes will strengthen Australia’s primary health care (PHC) system by addressing growing nursing shortages, seeing more nurses hired where they are needed, and better utilising the largest workforce in PHC of nearly 100,000 nurses to their full potential to reduce the pressure on the health system.
The Federal Budget could significantly boost job prospects and career progression in primary healthcare, as well as strengthen the current PHC nursing workforce by funding:
- An 18-month national Scope of Practice review
- 6,000 additional clinical placements in primary healthcare nursing ($4.2 million over four years)
- 1,850 graduate scholarships to train more Nurse Practitioners ($50.2 million over four years)
- $1 million towards incentives to get 500 nurses back into the workforce
Australian Health Journal met with APNA President Karen Booth and CEO Ken Griffin at their Money in May 2023 event in Sydney.
Money in May is an APNA member-only initiative and is a month of education so that nurses know more about money and how to navigate the financial side of being a nurse. The campaign has three key themes: do more, save more and earn more.
Timed to coincide with the end of the financial year, APNA has focused on financial literacy. Nurses who understand the opportunities and challenges of finance and funding mechanisms and keep abreast of changes can be an even greater asset for their patients and the business they work for. For their personal lives, they make better financial decisions, earn more and retire with more super.
The outcomes are for each Primary healthcare nurse in a time to influence and pitch for what they want — be that money to fund a nurse-led clinic, a financial allocation for CPD or negotiate pay.
Relating that back to the funding announcements in the Federal Budget, there is potential to significantly boost job prospects and career progression in primary healthcare, as well as strengthen the current PHC nursing workforce.
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National Cancer Plan activates Australian Comprehensive Cancer Network
The landscape of cancer care in Australia is set to transform with the Australian Government launch in May 2024 of the Australian Comprehensive Cancer Network (ACCN) at the Innovations Showcase event, hosted by Cancer Australia in Sydney, Australia.
The ACCN is a nationally integrated system of cancer care, aimed at enhancing patient experiences and outcomes through coordinated and equitable access, by linking to comprehensive cancer services across Australia. Anchored by Comprehensive Cancer Centres (CCCs), the ACCN strives to deliver evidence-driven prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support to all Australians affected by cancer.
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Enriching experiences in nursing mentorship
Mentoring in nursing is crucial for the development of nurses and the advancement of the nursing profession. It provides a supportive environment for personal and professional growth, knowledge transfer, and leadership development.
Australian Health Journal met with two nurses both working in Queensland, one the mentor, the other, the mentee. Both get to appreciate the experiences mentorship gives them.
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Bridging the orthodontic knowledge gap
In recent years, the orthodontic sector has been growing rapidly due to success in B2C marketing and companies like Invisalign reaching the consumer, but there has also been a lack of knowledge sharing among general dental practitioners and specialists.
General dentists require mentorship and guidance from orthodontists to feel confident in providing orthodontic treatment to their patients, ultimately improving the quality of care in the community.
