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The federal government has committed $128,000 to fund mental health course materials for undergraduate nursing degrees across the country.
Minister for rural health, senator Bridget McKenzie, said the funding would be provided to the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses to undertake the Improving Mental Health Content in Undergraduate Nursing project.
“Australians – including people living in rural areas – deserve top quality health care, whenever and wherever they need it. Mental health is central to this,” McKenzie said.
“Nurses and midwives are the largest professional group in the health workforce. They play a vitally important role in providing care to Australians every day and are the front line of our health services in rural and remote areas.
“This project will take a detailed look at the current mental health content of undergraduate nursing degrees and clinical nursing placements in mental health settings.”
McKenzie said that as more Australians recognised the impact of mental health issues, it was important that Australia’s health workforce was equipped to provide the best possible care and support.
“Improving mental health care is a key priority for the Coalition Government and we are committed to transforming the way mental health care is delivered in Australia,” McKenzie said.
“Projects like this will ensure mental health content being taught in nursing programs equips our workforce to respond to mental health challenges on the front line.
“The Coalition Government recognises around four million Australians experience mental health conditions every year and that’s why we are committed to delivering vital mental health services.”
The findings of the project will assist in the development of a national framework for mental health content in undergraduate nursing programs.
This framework will then be distributed to Australian universities, and will inform the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) review of Registered Nurse Standards.
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