This content relates to a former minister

Celebrating nurses who put their heart into our health

Australian nurses, and the immense contribution they make to the health of our nation, are being recognised this week as Nursing in the Community Week kicks off.

The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Former Minister for Health and Aged Care

Media event date:
Date published:
Media type:
Media release
Audience:
General public

Australian nurses, and the immense contribution they make to the health of our nation, are being recognised this week as Nursing in the Community Week kicks off.

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said as the nation and the world continue to navigate the COVID-19 health emergency, Australia’s nurses are at the forefront of health care.

“There are more than 124,500 nurses working in community health care including more than 40,000 working outside our cities,” Minister Hunt said.

“These highly trained and skilled nurses are working in GP practices, outpatient services, correctional facilities, Aboriginal health services, the Australian defence forces, schools and hospices.”

Nursing in the Community Week is this year raising awareness about how nurses can support people to stay safe at home.

Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton said nurses are the lifeblood of rural communities, responding to complex health needs away from major hospitals in rural, regional and remote Australia.

“We are seeing highly skilled Nurse Practitioners work autonomously across health services, where they are often the only provider of health care in the region,” Minister Coulton said.

“Thank you to all nurses who continuously put their heart and soul into caring for regional and rural communities, especially this year as we face the challenges of COVID-19.”

“Our investment in community nursing includes more than $13 million over three years to CRANAplus to provide remote health professionals, including community nurses, with access to training, professional services and mental health support.

The Government has also provided the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association with $8 million over four years to deliver the Nursing in Primary Health Care Program.

This program is helping to build the capacity of the primary health care nursing workforce by improving employment opportunities and the recruitment and retention of nurses in primary health care.

Help us improve health.gov.au

If you would like a response please use the enquiries form instead.