The College of Nursing (Australia) - Professional Profile

Professional Profile

• Provides leadership, information, networking opportunities, continuing professional development and education to fellows and members, registered and enrolled nurses, students of nursing and allied health professionals across all states and territories of Australia and in a number of countries around the world.

• Leaders from a variety of clinical and scholarly backgrounds are active members of the College.

• Was the first professional organisation to achieve accreditation through the corporate standards of the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS).

• Is one of the largest single providers of postgraduate education for nurses in Australia with around 7,000 registered, enrolled and overseas-qualified nurses undertaking courses each year. The education programs use a variety of delivery modes including on-campus, at venues across Australia, ‘on-line’, distance education and other blended methods of delivery.

• Lobbies on behalf of nurses and midwives and the community in areas of access to healthcare, and improved models of care which are compatible with contemporary needs and a more integrated health workforce.

• Has attracted research grants during its links with The Nursing and Health Services Research Consortium.

• Has the largest dedicated nursing library in the Southern Hemisphere with close links to other nursing and health libraries in Australia and the United Kingdom. Students and members have access to library services on-line and specialist library staff undertake searches and provide advice on a wide range of subjects.

• Has an archival collection which continues to expand as it becomes known to archivists, scholars, nurses and other health personnel.

• Sponsored an International Travelling Scholar Seminar Series in 2003 and 2005. Scholars were Dr Naeema Al-Gasseer, World Health Organisation Senior Scientist for Nursing and Midwifery and Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, Dean at Kings College London.

• Holds an Oration each year at the Great Hall at the University of Sydney at which new members and fellows are inducted. A renowned Australian or international nurse is the orator.

• Is affiliated with large healthcare organisations and nursing specialty groups across Australia. It also works in partnership with over 20 universities nationally and internationally to conduct graduate programs and is represented on national and state committees and working parties.

The College journal, nursing.aust is published quarterly. It provides articles on clinical topics, health issues of concern to nurses, opinion pieces and other information of interest. It is indexed in both CINAHL and the Australasian Medical Index.

It has published several books documenting its own history as well as that of nursing in Australia. These are included in the list of references at the end of this article.