APNA expands its presence in healthcare reform

President's Message

By Karen Booth, APNA President 

Source: APNA Primary Times Summer 2024-5

This year has been totally wild for consultations! There is so much happening in the healthcare reform space. The APNA Advocacy team has made amazing efforts amplifying the voices of primary health care nurses in all the right places.

APNA has submitted considerable written and in-person feedback to all the major reviews, including direct presentations to the Scope of Practice Review team as well as comprehensive written submissions. As we go to press, we eagerly await the release of the final version of the Scope of Practice Review Report. 

APNA has also had high-level representation on all the major reviews covering general practice and aged care funding. Some of the changes are now being implemented. 

In workforce matters, the development of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy (NNWS) is well underway. Congratulations to the NNWS team for the comprehensive research and consultation process that provided a strong and well-informed background to the Strategy. The Nurse Practitioner Strategy has moved to the implementation planning stage. The major good-news development for nurse practitioners and midwives is the removal of the collaborative arrangements from 1 November 2024. Both the Registered Nurse and Enrolled Nurse standards are under review and APNA has representation on both of those advisory groups.  

The APNA team has been making its presence known in Parliament House with regular attendances at key events and visits to politicians highlighting the great work of primary health care nurses and their contribution to keeping our communities healthy. On the 19 November 2024, APNA along with several national nursing peak organisations will hold a showcase ‘Health Check’ and information-sharing event at Parliament House. Look out for pictures on our social media pages and in the Connect news. 

I want to give a big thank you to our members who have given up their time to support our efforts in Canberra. APNA is also growing an Advisory Nurse Panel, many of whom attended our webinar recently on growing our representation and policy profile. This is an exciting way that members can contribute to APNA’s efforts. Check out the APNA website for details on how you can join the group. I send another big thank you to all our APNA members who have contributed on committees and advisory groups to make sure that primary health care nurses are front and centre of health policy development. 

A highlight for APNA this year was July’s highly successful Essential Health Summit in Adelaide. The APNA conference was combined with the Australasian College of Lifestyle Medicine Conference to form the Essential Health Summit: a truly multidisciplinary event reflecting the changing approach to health care in Australia. We had over 1,100 attendees, over three wild days of education and networking that attracted policy-makers and key stakeholders. 

APNA’s footprint in the primary health care space has grown even larger. During the Essential Health Summit, APNA simultaneously, in Adelaide, held the first national Primary Health Care Congress. Executive-level representatives across multiple disciplines of primary health care attended the Congress. We were fortunate to have a stunning line-up of guest speakers, including Professor Mark Cormack giving early insights into the findings of the Scope of Practice Review, Professor Michael Kidd on future directions for primary health care, as well as presentations by APNA Patron Professor Rosemary Bryant, former APNA Board member Dr Tony Hobbs, NACCHO Medical Director Dr Jason Agostino and the new Allied Health Commissioner, Ms Anita Hobson-Powell. There was a high level of energy and agreement on future reforms and a multidisciplinary approach to primary health care. APNA is preparing a ‘white paper’ that will be available to attendees and circulated through our APNA media channels soon. 

A big thank you also goes to the Hon Ged Kearney, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, and the Hon Anne Ruston, opposition Health Spokesperson, for their attendance and opening both the Essential Health Summit and the Primary Health Care Congress. 

Many of you will be aware that I have recently been appointed as the inaugural Chief Clinical Advisor (Nursing) to the Australian Digital Health Agency. This is a wonderful opportunity, not just for me as a nurse, but also to extend the influence and input of nurses shaping the future directions of health care. Nurses are known as project leaders and drivers of change and excellent clinical practice. Nurses also embrace new technologies and bring others along that journey. I’d like to give a shout out to our highly regarded Nurse Digital Transformers for the great work they do teaching and championing change. 

As we know, there will be elections next year. Not just the federal government elections but also the APNA elections. Elections are great because they allow an organisation to reflect and renew. It’s time to reflect on the good work we have done and to focus on how we can build an even stronger, future-focused organisation. This is my last term as APNA President. Whilst my tenure on the Board continues until 2026, it’s time for a new president in 2025. As the APNA election approaches, stay tuned for more information about the Board member nomination and election process. 

The APNA team has put in a huge effort in 2025. The work of APNA has grown and so has our team, who deliver stellar work that is highly regarded by our members, the sector and governments. The APNA Board send a big thank you to APNA CEO Ken Griffin and the APNA team. 

I would like to personally thank the APNA Board for their dedication and their insights that build a strong governance support for APNA. 

Last but not least, to all our wonderful APNA members, you are the reason we all do what we do at APNA. Thank you for your support and the strengths that you bring, as science-based health professionals, to primary health care nursing. There will be so many exciting things happening for you and APNA in 2025. On behalf of the Board and the entire APNA team, we wish you a wonderful holiday season. Enjoy lots of fun and relaxing rest time with your loved ones. See you in 2025! 

Cheers 

Karen 

Karen at the NurseForce Summit with Miriam Nolan (left) and Bernadette Hollis (right) from Justice Health NSW 

Karen at the NurseForce Summit with CATSINaM CEO Ali Drummond (left) and Anne Samuelson from the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (right) 

Karen at Parliament House with Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler (left) and RACGP President Nicole Higgins (centre) for the launch of the Health of the Nation report