Our work related to nurses and midwives

A list of our initiatives, programs, campaigns, reforms or reviews related to nurses and midwives.

Our related work

Australian Nurse–Family Partnership Program

The Australian Nurse–Family Partnership Program supports women who are pregnant with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander baby to help them become the best mum possible. Nurses make home visits to provide guidance during early pregnancy, the baby's infancy and into toddlerhood.

Australian Rotary Health Rural Nursing Scholarships

We contribute funding for these scholarships, which support nursing students to complete their major clinical placement and graduating year in a rural or remote area. The aim is to encourage students to pursue a nursing career in rural Australia.

Collaborative Arrangements 2023 Project

This project aims to remove the legislative need for collaborative arrangements between participating midwives, nurse practitioners and medical practitioners to provide Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) services and prescribe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medications.

HELP for Rural Doctors and Nurse Practitioners

This initiative reduces outstanding Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt for eligible doctors and nurse practitioners who live and work in rural, remote or very remote areas of Australia.

High Cost Claims Scheme (HCCS)

The HCCS helps medical indemnity insurers with the cost of large claims against doctors, allied health professionals and midwives.

National Nursing Workforce Strategy

The National Nursing Workforce Strategy will establish priorities to guide the nursing workforce now and into the future. It will help address workforce challenges, foster collaboration and drive action among stakeholders in shaping the future of workforce planning, investment and reform.

Nurse Practitioner Workforce Plan

The Nurse Practitioner Workforce Plan supports nurse practitioners to deliver health and aged care services. The plan addresses barriers that have prevented them from working to their full potential.

Nursing and allied health scholarships

We fund a range of scholarship opportunities through the Australian College of Nursing including nursing, midwifery, aged care, undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships. Preference is given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.

Primary Care Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program

The scholarships will enable registered nurses and midwives to undertake postgraduate study. This includes supporting registered nurses to become nurse practitioners and midwives to become endorsed midwives in the primary care and aged care health sector.

Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme

The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme (PHMSS) assists entry-level First Nations students to complete their studies and join the health workforce. The Scheme is managed by Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA).

Rural Locum Assistance Program (Rural LAP)

Rural LAP provides locums so that rural health professionals can attend continuing professional development or take vacation leave. The program also funds GPs to do extra training so they can become rural locums.

Transition to Practice Program

The Transition to Practice Program provides an evidence-based framework of support over 12 months to nurses who have transitioned to primary health care and feel they would benefit from additional support. We fund the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) to provide this program.
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