CNO Message – 12 May 2025
International Nurses Day 2025 spotlights the wellbeing of nurses
Each year IND is celebrated on 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth.
At the Commission, we recognise that the health and wellbeing of nurses is critical to ensure that patients receive better care everywhere.
This year's IND theme underscores the critical role that a healthy nursing workforce has in improving health systems and ensuring better health outcomes for communities.
We would also like to take the opportunity to recognise the critical role of midwives, both in Australia and internationally. International Day of the Midwife on 5 May focused on the theme ‘Midwives: Critical in every crisis’.
Respecting and supporting our nursing workforce
Through my career in nursing leadership, I have seen first-hand the invaluable contribution nurses make to the healthcare system.
Nurses are able to achieve this when they work in a safe, supportive and positive environment.
In Australia we have more than 504,000 nurses, making it the largest clinical workforce in the country. Nurses are at the forefront of patient care and treatment – from the moment a person seeks care at a health service until well after they go home or are discharged.
The Commission’s work aims to support clinicians, including nurses, every day to perform their roles. Our National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards and Clinical Care Standards provide strong foundations that guide nursing practice, enabling nurses to deliver safe, high-quality care.
Initiatives such as the National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) and resources such as the Emergency Triage Education Kit (ETEK) also offer guidance that support high-quality nursing practice.
Through its work, the Commission aims to support, empower, and equip nurses with safety and quality guidance that supports them to provide quality care to communities and to thrive in their roles.
Happy International Nurses Day!
Yours sincerely,