The Australian Government has released its first National Nursing Workforce Strategy, a policy document aimed at addressing a projected shortfall of 80,000 nurses by 2035. Health Minister Mark Butler unveiled the strategy at the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) National Nursing Forum, emphasizing the need for “urgent and effective policies and planning to support and sustain the nursing workforce.”
Key elements of the strategy
The ACN highlighted that the strategy must be “properly implemented to rectify the ad hoc, fractured approach to nursing workforce planning.” It calls for a coordinated effort between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments to meet growing and increasingly complex health needs.
Among the specific actions outlined are:
- Releasing a costed implementation plan with clear timeframes and accountable owners.
- Publishing a monitoring and evaluation framework that includes measurable targets, such as closing the projected 2035 shortfall.
- Focusing on supervision, support, wellbeing, remuneration, safe staffing and career structures as central retention levers.
- Enabling nurses to work to their full scope of practice across all settings.
- Sustaining collaboration between the Commonwealth and all states and territories.
These measures aim to address not only recruitment but also retention. ACN CEO Adjunct Professor Kathryn Zeitz warned that “we are failing to do enough to support our new, mid‑career, and late‑career nurses to stay in nursing.” She noted that many early‑career nurses leave the profession because they lack adequate support and viable new‑graduate roles.
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Responses from professional bodies
The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) welcomed the strategy, describing it as “an important step towards building, supporting and retaining Australia’s nursing workforce.” APNA President Denise Lyons praised the focus on workforce planning, education, regulation and professional leadership. APNA CEO Stephen Duns added that the emphasis on attracting, retaining and supporting nurses throughout their careers was “important to addressing future workforce challenges.”
The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM) also expressed approval, highlighting the strategy’s “strong focus on cultural safety and anti‑racism as essential foundations for a stronger nursing workforce.” Its outlined actions include growing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing workforce, promoting leadership, and adopting anti‑racism initiatives.
Some observers note that success will depend on concrete funding and the willingness of state health systems to adopt the recommended reforms. The projected 80,000‑nurse gap is sizable, and translating policy language into on‑the‑ground improvements will test intergovernmental coordination.
Implementation speed will determine impact.
Beyond nursing, the week’s health briefing noted new federal grants for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to improve clinical buildings and other infrastructure.
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The government also announced an additional 50 Commonwealth‑supported medical school places, aiming to bolster the pipeline of general practitioners. The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) welcomed the increase but called for targeted measures to encourage graduates to practice in rural, remote and First Nations communities.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has initiated Federal Court proceedings against two companies for alleged unlawful advertising of medicinal cannabis, highlighting ongoing regulatory enforcement in the sector.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released updated hospital data for 2024‑25, including principal diagnosis and procedures data cubes, as well as a refreshed report on oral health and dental care, which continues to show cost barriers for many Australians.
Overall, the new National Nursing Workforce Strategy marks a notable policy moment, but its effectiveness will be judged by the tangible outcomes it produces in nursing recruitment, retention and the broader health system.