The industrial and professional organisation for nurses and midwives in Australia
Canberra Office (Professional Services)
Unit 3, 28 Eyre Street Kingston ACT 2604
Australia
PO Box 4239 Kingston ACT 2604 Australia
+ 61 2 6232 6533 (T) + 61 2 6232 6610 (F)
anfcanberra@anf.org.au
Melbourne Office (Industrial Services)
Level 1, 365 Queen Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia
+ 61 3 9602 8500 (T) + 61 3 9602 8567 (F)
industrial@anf.org.au
anfmelbourne@anf.org.au
ANF Journals
Australian Nursing Journal
Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing
anj@anf.org.au ajan@anf.org.au
ABN 41 816 898 298
media release
16 October 2009
Nursing numbers increase but profession under pressure
The number of nurses employed in health increased by 11% between 2003 and 2007
but, unlike their medical counterparts, nurses are working longer hours, and the
ageing of the workforce poses challenges for Australia’s healthcare system the ANF
said today.
Responding to the release of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Nursing
and Midwifery labour force 2007 report, ANF Federal Secretary Ged Kearney said a
7.6% increase in nursing supply was welcome but more incentives were needed to
recruit and retain nurses.
“We are pleased with the overall increase in the supply of nurses and midwives but
the report highlights that 42,503 or 13.9% of registered and enrolled nurses are not
looking for work in nursing and already employed elsewhere,” Ms Kearney said.
While the federal government has taken steps to encourage nurses back into the
workforce more needs to be done to retain and attract nurses, particularly in aged
care.
“A great way to encourage nurses and midwives who have left the profession back
would be to address issues like wage parity in the aged care sector and improve the
working conditions in all areas of the profession, including incentives to improve
clinical career pathways.”
Ms Kearney said this could be achieved by practical measures such as legislation
now before the Senate to give nurse practitioners and eligible midwives access to the
MBS and PBS.
The report also noted an increase in nurses’ working hours from 32.5 hours in 2003
to 33.3 hours in 2007. “We would like to see this trend change because any increase
in working hours results in more pressure for our nurses on the ground.”
The nursing workforce continued to age with the proportion of nurses aged 50 years
and over increasing from 28% in 2003 to 33% in 2007. “The ageing workforce
continues to present challenges to our health care system. Nurses provide the bulk of
health care services in Australia. With 40% of the nursing workforce due to retire in
the next decade, we need to boost nursing and midwifery undergraduate places and
make the profession more attractive,” Ms Kearney said.
Media inquiries
Ged Kearney, Federal Secretary
0417 053 322
Lee Thomas, Assistant Federal Secretary
0419 576 590
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