A project team has been appointed and work is afoot on the rollout of a new national support service for Australia’s nurses and midwives.

The Albanese Government has invested $25.2 million to establish and run a national nurse and midwife health service to provide peer-to-peer counselling, case management and referrals after years of lobbying by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF).

The project team kicked off on 23 January, with the new National Nurse and Midwife Health Service (NNMHS) anticipated to be operational in early 2024.

Newly-appointed NNMHS Director Heather Pickard, a registered nurse (RN) and founding CEO of the Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria (NMHPV), said she was delighted that funding had been secured for this “incredibly invaluable service”.

“This will make a real difference in individuals’ lives. The strong wellness focus offers a compassionate response to sensitive health issues,” Ms Pickard said.

Read full article