Education

We lead national advocacy to strengthen education, skills and career pathways for nurses, midwives and care workers across Australia.

Education is central to workforce development and reform. It shapes who enters our professions, how they develop and how long they remain. Strong education systems protect standards, strengthen capability and secure the future of our workforce.

Under the direction of the ANMF’s Federal Executive, we influence higher education reform, vocational education and skills policy and national regulatory consultations. We work closely with ANMF branches through the Education Advisory Committee to coordinate national priorities and align advocacy across jurisdictions.

Education partners with the ANMF Workforce Lead to integrate education reform with workforce strategy and collaborates across the Strategic Policy and Engagement (SPE) division, including aged care and midwifery functions, to respond to discipline-specific education and skills priorities.

Students and Future Workforce
We advocate for strong education standards, sustainable placement models and curriculum reform that reflects contemporary practice.

We actively promote nursing and midwifery as careers of choice, strengthening the pipeline into the workforce and protecting their reputation as professionals essential to Australia’s health system.

We also provide consultation on curriculum review and education standards [AK4.1][DK4.2]to ensure programs preparing nurses, midwives and care workers remain contemporary, evidence-informed and aligned with professional expectations.

The ANMF has led advocacy to address placement poverty and improve financial support for students, including securing Commonwealth Prac Payments to help reduce the financial burden of mandatory clinical placements.

Students are valued members at many ANMF branches welcome student members, supporting future nurses and midwives to understand their rights and join a united professional voice from the beginning of their careers.
 
Graduate and Early Career Support
We drive national action on transition to practice programs and early career structures to ensure new nurses and midwives are supported to grow in capability and confidence.

The ANMF convenes the long-standing Early Career Nursing & Midwifery Roundtable, bringing together peak bodies, education providers and health services to coordinate national priorities for graduates and early career professionals.

We produce the annual Graduate Data Set, a unique national evidence base bringing together information on graduate employment outcomes, student completions and new registrations to inform workforce planning and policy reform. This document is publicly available.

Skills Reform and Workforce Pathways
We shape national skills reform to ensure upskilling pathways remain coherent, regulated and responsive to workforce need.

Working closely with Jobs and Skills Australia and relevant Jobs and Skills Councils, we influence qualification reform, workforce planning and skills policy affecting nurses, midwives and care workers.

Skills reform must enhance, not dilute, professional capability.

Learning Across Your Career
Lifelong learning strengthens workforce participation, retention and longevity.

We advocate for:

• Supported transition programs, including for new graduates and into retirement
• Clear progression and leadership pathways
• Accessible, improved refresher and re-entry programs
• Ongoing professional development aligned to evolving models of care
  Nurse- and midwife-led research, ensuring our professions create the evidence, set the standards and lead improvement in care.