NSW nurses union questions the legality of recency of practice standards By Darragh O Keeffe. Requiring NSW nurses to undertake a refresher course at a cost of $10,000 before returning to the workforce after lengthy absences is potentially at odds ...

Organisational change must address cultural issues, say nurses. By Linda Belardi Nurses have cautiously welcomed Premier Anna Bligh’s announcement to dismantle Queensland Health, but say there are no quick fixes to the troubled organisation’s entrenched cultural problems. The break-up of the ...

NSW government flags proposal to remove family veto on organ donation, Natasha Egan reports. A proposal to remove a family member’s right to override their relative’s organ donation consent has drawn opposition from health professionals. The suggestion was one of ...

Next year's unification of RCNA and the College of Nursing has been warmly received as a timely development for the profession. By Linda Belardi The profession has welcomed the merger of Australia’s two national peak professional bodies as a chance to ...

National registration and accreditation for nurses has been one the big changes over the past 15 years. By Rosemary Bryant. As an avid reader of Nursing Review, I would like to acknowledge this 15th anniversary edition and recognise the work ...

After more than a decade of change, Linda Belardi asks Australia’s nursing leaders to reflect on the shape of the profession and to lay out their policy priorities for the year ahead. The key players: Adjunct Associate Professor Fiona Stoker, ...

Ensuring the quality of aged care training has been made a priority by the new national regulator of the vocational education and training sector, reports Natasha Egan From January, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) will scrutinise registered training organisations ...

Tanya Plibersek will be sworn in as federal minister for health in Sydney tomorrow. Nurses and doctors have welcomed incoming health minister, Tanya Plibersek, who was elevated to cabinet in yesterday’s ministerial reshuffle. Nicola Roxon, who leaves the health portfolio ...

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has voiced its opposition to a parliamentary push to review smoking laws in mental health facilities. Doctors are urging the West Australian government to dump a proposal to reverse smoking bans ...

QLD’s largest government department to be split into two in wake of fraud scandal. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has announced she will dismantle Queensland Health and set up two new agencies in its place. Bligh said one entity will focus ...