By removing outdated restrictions and regulatory barriers that prevent nurses, midwives, and other healthcare professionals from working to their full scope of practice, could bridge critical gaps in care. This shift along with the introduction of expanded models of care could ease pressure on overstretched health services and improve patient access. It’s time to rethink how we deliver care.

Research both within Australia and globally has shown that when nurses and midwives are able to fully use their skills, healthcare delivery becomes more efficient, and health outcomes improve.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) wholeheartedly supports this approach.

“We know that when nurses work to their full scope of practice in rural and remote disciplinary health services, multidisciplinary health services, community health services that target high risk vulnerable groups and multidisciplinary general practice models, people do better,” ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said at Parliament House in front of politicians and peers late last year.

Benefits include improved patient experiences, better health outcomes, reduced costs, enhanced clinician wellbeing, and advanced health equity.

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