Primary health care nurses provide critical care, but are at risk of burnout

Media Statement - Thursday 14 May 2026

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) is today releasing the 2025 APNA Workforce Survey Report, an in-depth analysis of data from over two thousand primary health care nurses across Australia.

APNA CEO Stephen Duns said: “Primary health care nurses provide critical, frontline care in communities across the country. They are highly skilled and experienced, and deeply committed to the work they do – but structural challenges are contributing to underutilisation and burnout.
“Australia faces a rising chronic disease burden, and a shortage of primary health care nurses that is forecast to grow over time.

“The data from the 2025 APNA Workforce Survey Shows that primary health care nurses are consistently providing quality assurance, research, and governance, coordination of care across complex systems, preventive health and clinical interventions such as immunisation, chronic disease, end-of-life, and minor procedures.”

“This data also confirms that scope of practice is directly linked to intention to remain in the workforce, and to stress and burnout. Primary health care nurses who work to their full scope of practice are more likely to remain in the workforce, and less likely to experience burnout. Nurses who are not able to work to their full scope of practice are 59% more likely to experience burnout.”

“The Scope of Practice Review identified clear opportunities to act so that primary health care nurses and other health professionals can work to their full scope of practice.”

“This is a clear call to action for governments around the country, to support a critical workforce that is providing invaluable care in so many areas. Acting on scope of practice reform can contribute to improved workforce retention, and better community health outcomes.”

About APNA 

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) is the peak body and professional membership association for all nurses working outside of a hospital setting in Australia. APNA champions the role of primary health care nurses; to advance professional recognition, ensure workforce sustainability, nurture leadership in health, and optimise the role of nurses in patient-centred care. 

APNA is bold, vibrant and future-focused. We reflect the views of our membership and the broader profession by bringing together nurses from across Australia to represent, advocate, promote and celebrate the achievements of nurses in primary health care. 

APNA represents a significant and rapidly expanding workforce; primary health care nurses account for around one in eight of the 640,000 registered health professionals in Australia.