Nurses and midwives unite for safer staffing

The Global Nurses United (GNU) annual conference was held in Australia for the first time this year, with nurses and midwives from across the world gathering to discuss significant issues facing the health industry.

Safe nurse-to-patient ratios dominated the agenda of the two-day conference at the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA), with countries such as Brazil, Spain, Ireland, Uruguay, Taiwan, Greece and South Korea sharing concerns about staffing numbers and patient safety in their own countries.

Discussions around safe staffing will continue on a local level during the NSWNMA 73rd Annual Conference at Rosehill Gardens from Wednesday, 25 July.

Over 800 nurses and midwives from across NSW, as well as GNU affiliates, will attend the event at Rosehill Gardens Grand Pavilion to hear from leaders in the health sector about the future of nursing and midwifery.

The three-day conference, themed It’s Time for Safe Staffing will also include direct addresses from the NSW Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard and Leader of the NSW Opposition, Luke Foley.

General Secretary of the NSWNMA, Brett Holmes, said the conference would cover important healthcare topics, including safe practice and innovative technology, and address pertinent healthcare issues, such as Australia’s aged care staffing crisis and midwifery shortages in NSW.

“Nurses and midwives are facing increasing challenges, which is only exacerbated by ongoing understaffing issues,” Mr Holmes said.

“We have a growing ageing population with complex healthcare needs, yet both state and federal governments are not providing the funding needed to ensure we can maintain a sustainable workforce to meet those needs.

“The NSWNMA annual conference is an opportunity for our 64,500 strong membership of nurses and midwives to learn, share advice and use their collective strength to achieve better health outcomes for NSW.”

On Wednesday, ABC National Medical Reporter, Sophie Scott will introduce nine Professional Day conference speakers, including Jordan Nguyen, Biomedical Engineer and Inventor; Neil Sharwood, Chief Operations Officer, Australian 3D Manufacturing Association; Jacqui Cross, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer and Tracey Spicer AM.

During Friday’s final day of conference, resolutions will be raised and debated from the floor to improve the level of support and recognition provided to nurses and midwives across the public, private, aged care, mental health and community based settings.

You can follow the 73rd Annual Conference via social media, using @nswnma and #NSWNMAconf

Download this media release: Nurses and midwives unite for safer staffing

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