APNA welcomes direction of Scope of Practice Review Issues Paper 1

Media Release 24 January 2024 

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) has welcomed today’s Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce Scope of Practice Review Issues Paper 1 and its recognition that more primary health care (PHC) professionals working to full scope of practice will provide greater levels of safe, efficient, patient-centred care for our communities. 

APNA President Karen Booth said that addressing issues identified under the five key themes would enable nurses, the largest workforce in PHC, to play a more significant role in the health of Australia including: 

• Using their full skills and experience as part of multidisciplinary health care teams 
• Providing better care for people with complex needs 
• Sharing the care with other health and medical practitioners to help ease workforce shortages 
• Providing patients with increased access to health care such as prevention, screening, and the management of chronic diseases.  

"A healthier Australia requires enabled health professionals to actively collaborate with one another as they deliver excellent patient care.  The Issues Paper provides a clear-eyed view of what needs to change if this is to be achieved,” Ms Booth said. 

“The paper recognises the contribution of PHC nurses and embraces a contemporary understanding of collaborative practice and what nurses are capable of providing to keep people well in the community.” 

"This is the first stage of the process.  We look forward to working with the government as this process moves into its second phase,” Ms Booth said. 

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