The Office is responsible for the strategic leadership, planning and policy framework for the nursing and midwifery profession that is congruent with SA Health directions and objectives.

Responsibilities

The Nursing and Midwifery Office is staffed by the Chief Nurse, Principal Nursing and Midwifery Advisor, Principal Project Nurses/Midwives, Project Nurses and administrative support.

The Nursing and Midwifery Office team has a strategic focus on the following areas:

• Professional Relationships;
• Workforce Recruitment and Retention;
• Education;
• Professional Development;
• Nursing Clinical Information Systems;
• Legislation;
• Quality and Safety Standards;
• Key Performance Indicators;
• Research;
• Magnet; and
• Marketing.

Australian and New Zealand Council of Chief Nurses (ANZCCN)

The Australian and New Zealand Council of Chief Nurses (ANZCCN) is a network of all Chief Nursing Officers (CNO) in Australia and New Zealand working in Government. The Council provides high level leadership and strategic policy advice through communication and collaboration with nursing and midwifery, other health professions and key stakeholders, thereby enhancing a consistent response to nursing and midwifery and health related issues.

At the December 2006 meeting in Melbourne, the ANZCCN (hereafter the Council) discussed a wide range of issues in the interests of promoting national consistency for nursing and midwifery. The Council also exchanged information in order to facilitate a robust and coordinated approach to nursing and midwifery policy and practice.

National Nursing and Nursing Education Taskforce (N3ET) Final Report
The Council is aware that the final report of the Taskforce is progressing to AHMAC in December 2006. The Council looks forward to the release of the Report and believes it will assist in shaping the future strategic direction for nursing and midwifery in Australia.

The work and outcomes of N3ET will make a valuable contribution to the planned move towards national consistency identified by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).

Nurse Practitioners
The Council agrees that national consistency for nurse practitioners is imperative and that a uniform policy context and regulatory framework will optimise the impact of these health practitioners in terms of client outcomes. The Council is supportive of the national nurse practitioner research project entitled ‘Reforming Health Care: Nurse Practitioner Workforce Redesign’ led by Professor Glenn Gardner.

The ANZCCN Members are: