The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) welcomes the Federal and Western Australian Governments’ $11.7 million in funding for the employment of nurse practitioners (NPs) in a new multi-discplinary care model in Western Australia, which will improve access to primary care and assist in relieving current workforce pressures on health and aged care systems.

The new program, which builds on the recommendations from the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce to allow and promote NPs working to their full-scope of practice, will see 20 NPs employed in WA primary care settings.

ANMF Federal Secretary, Annie Butler, said today: “NPs have already been extremely successful in providing quality-care and improving health outcomes for many across the community, particularly in rural and remote regions, where there is a dire shortage of GPs and other health professionals. Nurse-led, walk-in clinics in a number of regions have allowed people to be provided with safe, quality care without the need to wait in overcrowded EDs.

“Currently, NPs are a significantly underutilised workforce which is why the ANMF and our members have long been calling on Governments to increase the number of NPs working in health and aged care and urgently expand these models of care. This new program will include a number of elements designed to increase primary care service delivery in WA and, importantly, will deliver more efficient and effective care and improved chronic disease management and health outcomes for those communities.

“This pilot will allow NPs to work to their full scope of practice and provide people in WA with quality, timely care – at no cost to the patient.

“We believe that NPs are critical to creating a stronger, sustainable Australian healthcare system and the ANMF commends the Federal and WA Health Ministers for implementing this new model of team-based care for the community. We look forward to the expansion of this program to other states and territories.”

The ANMF, with over 320,000 members, is the industrial and professional voice for nurses, midwives and carers in Australia.

ANMF media release authorised by Annie Butler, ANMF Federal Secretary. 1/365 Queen St, Melbourne.