Message from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
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Message from the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
Welcome to the first newsletter for 2020 and my first as Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.
My career as a nurse has provided me with many different and exciting opportunities, and I consider it a privilege to assume the role of Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer for the Australian Government. I would like to acknowledge the determination and dedication of my predecessors in this role, Adjunct Professor Debra Thoms and Dr Rosemary Bryant.
I completed my initial nursing qualifications in the UK and moved to Australia in 1987, settling in Melbourne and working for 12 years at the Austin Hospital. During my career, which spans 35 years, I have held a range of roles both in nursing and the health sector more broadly. I have held the positions of Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer and State Health and Medical Commander and the Director, Quality Safety and Patient Experience in the Victorian Department of Health. Most recently, as Deputy Director, Strategy and Policy (Emergency Management) in the Department of Health and Human Services in Victoria I led the development of the key policies, processes and plans for the health and human services sector response to emergencies and for community-centred relief and recovery delivery. I did not expect those skills to be some of the first that I drew upon in this role.
As you will know, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife (IYNM) to coincide with the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale. I believe this is a significant opportunity not only to recognise the vital contributions of nurses and midwives to the health outcomes but also for health policymakers and health systems to more fully realise the potential of our professions in the delivery of health care into the future.
IYNM also provides a fantastic platform to showcase the global Nursing Now campaign, which aims to improve health outcomes by raising the status and profile of nursing. June 2019 saw the launch of the Nightingale Challenge 2020 as part of the Nursing Now campaign calling for every employer of nurses globally to provide leadership and development training for 20 young nurses and midwives during 2020. The goal is to have at least 20,000 young nurses and midwives benefiting from this in 2020.
In Australia, there will be many opportunities to raise the profile of our professions during the IYNM, and I encourage you to get involved and celebrate the enormous contribution that all nurses and midwives make to the health and wellbeing of all Australian communities.
I am delighted to announce that the Department of Health will include the launch of Australia’s first national nursing strategy in 2020 - Nursing Toward 2030, announced by Minister Hunt in 2017 and a collection of stories describing the history and growth of the nursing and midwifery professions in Australia.
I’m looking forward to leading the development of Nursing Toward 2030 which aims to support the ongoing development of a capable, resilient nursing profession delivering person-centred, evidence-based, compassionate care to all Australian communities.
Consultation on the strategy will commence shortly. And a number of the recommendations from the recently released Educating the Nurse of the Future report will be considered during its development. Information on how you can be involved will soon be available on my webpage.
I look forward to engaging with nurses and midwives from every aspect of our professions to hear your thoughts and ideas on how the professions might develop into the future.
Please feel free to email your thoughts, comments and suggestions to me at cnmo@health.gov.au.
International Year of the Nurse and Midwife
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife (IYNM).
IYNM is an opportunity to recognise the benefits of nursing and midwifery to the health of people worldwide. In announcing IYNM Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO said: “WHO is proud to nominate 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. These two health professions are invaluable to the health of people everywhere. Without nurses and midwives, we will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals or universal health coverage. While WHO recognises their crucial role on a daily basis, 2020 will be dedicated to highlighting the enormous sacrifices and contributions of nurses and midwives, and to ensuring that we address the shortage of these vital professions.” The designation of IYNM has been timed to coincide with the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, regarded as one of the founders of modern nursing.
To celebrate the WHO will launch the first State of the World’s Nursing report (SoWN). The SOWN report will describe the nursing workforce in WHO Member States, the first ever such international perspective on the world’s nursing profession. WHO is also a partner In the State of the World’s Midwifery 2020 report, which will also be launched around the same time. The Office of the Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer has led on the provision and validation of Australian data for SOWN .
In Australia celebrations will include the launch of the first National Nursing Strategy. More information on the strategy will be available soon.
To find out more about IYNM click here
Bushfire information and support
Australia's bushfires are affecting our health in many ways.
To learn more about smoke and air quality, how you can access the medical help you need, and what the Australian Government is doing to support your health during these devastating times please click here
Department of Health News
To keep up to date with the latest news from Health and get updates on current health warnings please click here
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was established on 8 October 2018 by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd).
The Honourable Tony Pagone QC and Ms Lynelle Briggs AO have been appointed as Royal Commissioners. The Letters Patent for the Royal Commission, which formally appoint the Royal Commissioners, also outline the Commission's terms of reference.
The Commissioners delivered an interim report on 31 October 2019, and are required to provide a final report by 12 November 2020.
For more information and to make a submission please click here
Educating the Nurse of the Future Report
The Educating the Nurse of the Future report details the outcomes of the Independent Review of Nursing Education. The report was submitted to Minister Hunt by Emeritus Professor Steven Schwartz in September 2019.
The accompanying literature reviews reflect the issues outlined in the Terms of Reference for the Review and were used to help inform the public consultation and stakeholder engagement that underpinned the Review.
The Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Education, are currently developing a formal response to the recommendations made by Professor Schwartz.
The report and literature reviews can be found here
The state of patient safety and quality in Australian hospitals 2019
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released a report of the state of patient safety and quality in Australian hospitals 2019. The report draws on data from a wide range of sources, and includes information about key advances in safety and quality in Australia; prevalence of common safety risks to patients; action taken to identify and drive the delivery of appropriate care; and the Commission’s approach to supporting value based healthcare. The report can be found here
Open consultations
Cancer Australia Lung Cancer Screening enquiry
On 1 August 2019, the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP invited Cancer Australia to conduct an enquiry into the prospects, process and delivery of a national lung cancer screening program in Australia.
Cancer Australia is undertaking a broad consultation process through the Department of Health Consultation Hub, to seek views and input across all sectors of the Australian community on the Lung Cancer Screening enquiry.
For further details and to make a submission please click here
Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol
The National Health and Medical Research Council has released the draft revised Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol for public consultation. The guidelines are being updated to reflect the most recent and best available evidence on the health effects of drinking alcohol. For more information and to provide comments on the guidelines please click here
Productivity Commission Inquiry in to Mental Health
The inquiry will examine the effect of mental health on people’s ability to participate in and prosper in the community and workplace, and the effects it has more generally on our economy and productivity.
The Commission has released the draft report and is seeking further information and feedback. To read the report and make a submission click here
Woman-centred care:Strategic directions for Australian maternity services
After extensive consultation the national strategy to support the delivery of maternity services to women, from conception until 12 months after the pregnancy or birth has been published.
The strategy aims to ensure that Australian maternity services are equitable, safe, woman-centred, informed and evidence based and provides directions around what consumers should expect from maternity services.
The strategy includes values, principles and strategic directions that are based on current evidence and feedback provided by women and health professionals.
Woman-centred care can be found here
Mailbox
To subscribe to the CNMO newsletter, please click here. If you have any feedback or would like to contact the Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, please email the CNMO mailbox.
