For International Nurses Day (IND) 2025, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is highlighting the critical importance of a healthy nursing workforce in strengthening economies, improving health systems, and ensuring better outcomes for communities globally. 

This year’s IND theme is – Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies, emphasises the need to support the health and wellbeing of nurses. 

“Nurses face numerous challenges: physical, mental, emotional and ethical, and it is imperative we address these challenges in a way that promotes their overall health,” said Dr Pamela Cipriano, ICN President.  

In Australia, the Nurse Midwife Health Program Australia (NMHPA), a free and confidential counselling support service launched in 2024, is working to improve the health and wellbeing of nurses, midwives and students across the nation.

“It’s important that nurses, midwives and students have a service that they can trust and rely upon. This is peer-to-peer, so, they’ve got an opportunity to be counselled from people who understand what it’s like to work as a nurse or midwife in the health sector," said NMHPA Deputy CEO Lori-Anne Sharp.

“Nurses and midwives are often the last ones to get help because they’re busy caring for others all the time and tend to put themselves last. We must normalise the importance of seeking help when needed.” 

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