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PDF printable version of International Nurses’ Day (PDF 18 KB)
Today, International Nurses’ Day, is an appropriate time to acknowledge the fundamentally important role that nurses play in Australia’s health system.
At some point in our lives, virtually all Australians will rely on the help of a nurse, and with Australia’s growing and ageing population, that need is likely to increase.
To help tackle this, the Rudd Government has committed $39.4 million to recruit 8,750 nurses back into our health and aged care system, by providing a $6,000 cash bonus to encourage nurses who have been out of the workforce to return to work.
This program is part of a larger measure through which the Government will provide $138.9 million across the Health and Ageing and Education portfolios in support of the recruitment and training of nurses.
Under this measure, the Government also will ensure over 1,000 additional places are available in universities to train nurses for our health system.
The Government will also be providing up to 50,000 additional vocational educational and training places from 2008-11 to train additional health professionals, including enrolled nurses.
International Nurses’ Day is also an opportunity to acknowledge the dedication of our more than 285,000 nurses and midwives. It is also an appropriate time to let nurses who are not currently in the workforce, and those considering nursing, that their skills and knowledge are a highly valued part of our health system.
The Government will support the work of nurses and midwives through the imminent appointment of a Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, who will be a strong voice for nursing within the Commonwealth Government.
To improve Indigenous health, the Government recently announced the ‘Nurse Family Partnership Program’ – a nurse-led home visiting program for Indigenous families. This will assist pregnant Indigenous women and their babies to maintain healthy and active lifestyles before and after pregnancy.
Media contact: Mark Ward – 0437 125 938
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