AUSTRALIAN NURSING FEDERATION

federalofficeannualreport

0506

'What is food for one is to others bitter poison'(Lucretius Roman poet, philosopher and scientist - 96 BC-55 BC)

Australian Nursing Federation

Canberra Office

3/28 Eyre Street | Kingston | ACT | Australia | 2604T + 61 2 6232 6533 F + 61 2 6232 6610E anfcanberra@anf.org.au

Melbourne Office

Level 1, 365 Queen Street | Melbourne | VIC | Australia | 3000T + 61 3 9602 8500F + 61 3 9602 8567E anfmelbourne@anf.org.au

www.anf.org.au

table of contentsFederal President’s Report

Federal Secretary’s Report

The Federation

Federal Industrial Report

Federal Professional Report

Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing

Australian Nursing Journal

Australian Nursing Federation Financial Statement

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federal president’s reportAlthough it has been a difficult year for

trade unions throughout Australia, the

Federation continues to grow and achieve

positive outcomes for its members

throughout the nation. Unfortunately

for the working people of this nation,

this last year has seen the eventual

introduction of the Federal Government's

appalling industrial relations laws.

Despite this erosion to worker's rights,

the year has seen some improvements

in the wages and conditions of the

nursing and midwifery profession,

particularly for some of our aged care

and private sector colleagues due to the

excellent industrial lobbying by the State

and Territory Branches. Even with this,

we are yet to achieve our ultimate goal

of wage parity in all of the states and

territories. Wage parity will however

continue to be an important goal of the

ANF and will remain on our agenda into

the future.

The Federal Executive has met nine

times and Federal Council six times

throughout the year in order to deal with

issues and the ongoing management

of the Federation. These meetings

provided an opportunity to address

common industrial and professional

issues being faced by the ANF State and

Territory Branches and also for essential

strategic planning for the Federation's

future direction.

Clearly, our biggest focus for the year

in terms of political activism has been

our involvement in the ACTU's 'Your

Rights at Work' campaign. The Federal

ANF, State and Territory ANF Branches

(including the QNU and NSWNA) have

all been extremely active in their

involvement and support for this national

campaign to protect the rights of working

Australians. There have been a number

of national days of action and public

meetings to inform the community

about the potential losses to their rights

at work. Some of the more serious

consequences of the new laws adversely

affect our members in terms of their

ability to be collectively represented

by their union. Public sector nurses

in some states have been fortunate

enough to have been granted a

temporary reprieve from these laws

under protections given by State Labor

government initiatives. Nurses and

the nursing profession stand to lose

enormously if the impact of the

introduction of AWAs and other award

stripping industrial agreements are not

halted in the near future. For this reason,

the ANF will continue to be involved in

the 'Your Rights at Work' campaign until

our members' rights can be protected.

On a much happier note in October 2005

the ANF Northern Territory Branch hosted

the 7th Biennial National Delegates

Conference with close to 100 delegates

from across Australia attending. The

welcome to country was performed by

the Kenby Dance Troupe on behalf of

the traditional landowners, the Larrakia

people, and was well received by the

delegates. Following the opening of

conference by the Honorable Dr Peter

Toyne (NT Minister for Health, Minister

for Justice and Attorney General), a

number of invited guest speakers

address the gathering. Speakers included

a representative from the NTEU, Jill

Haynes and Elisabeth de Lino Araujo

from APHEDA in East Timor, Agnes

Stanilaus-Large from the ANF Tasmania

Branch, Liz Cloughessy from the NSW

Health Counter Disaster Unit, Sandra

Smiles from the NT Aboriginal Medical

Services Alliance, and Murray Paiva,

Secretary of the Papua New Guinea

Nurses' Association.

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federal president’s reportIn this forum, the delegates were able

to enthusiastically discuss and debate

a wide range of important nursing,

midwifery and health issues, including

professional and education issues, aged

care, unlicensed and unregulated workers,

and industrial issues such as the Federal

Government's proposed changes to the

industrial relations laws. Over 50 motions

were debated, with the outcome of a

number of new agreed positions on the

current policy and future direction for

the ANF. It was agreed that the 8th

National Biennial Conference of

Delegates in 2007 will be held in

Melbourne and hosted by the ANF

Victoria Branch.

As President of the Federation, I would

like to acknowledge the strong and

effective leadership shown by Jill Iliffe

and Gerardine Kearney in dealing with

the many important issues faced by

the Federation over the past year. The

Federal Executive and Council

together with this leadership continue

to admirably advocate for and represent

nurses effectively both nationally and

internationally.

Finally, on behalf of the ANF Federal

Executive, Federal Council and the ANF

membership, I would like to once again

thank all the staff of the Federal Office

for their dedication and hard work over

the past year. They are a great supporting

team and clearly committed to the goals

of the Federation. I look forward to

working with all of the staff over the

coming year to further the interests

of the Federation and its members.

Coral Levett

Federal President

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federal secretary’s reportOver the last twelve months, the biggest

challenge for unions has been the

Howard Government's harsh and

punitive industrial relations legislation,

WorkChoices, which was proclaimed

on 27 March 2006. The Government's

control of the Senate has put unions

and workers under deliberate and

systematic attack. The industrial

relations legislation is aimed at destroying

unions, destroying workers' rights, and

placing power firmly in the hands of

employers and business. Unions are

having to reassess their options for

providing industrial advocacy, for

remaining viable organisations and

for achieving and maintaining decent

working conditions for their members.

Dealing with the implications of the

WorkChoices legislation has occupied

and will continue to occupy a significant

amount of time and energy for the ANF

Federal Office. The Federal Office

activity has involved:

appearing before the Senate Inquiry

into the industrial relations changes;

supporting and attending the two major

national days of community protest

in November 2005 and June 2006;

being a member of the ACTU Industrial

Relations campaign committee;

sponsoring a Marginal Seat Campaign

Coordinator in Deakin, Victoria;

undertaking polling of members in

marginal seats;

taking part in the ACTU's Unions

Australia initiative;

financially supporting the ACTU 'Your

Rights at Work' TV commercials; and

providing ongoing education and

information to ANF members

through the ANJ and the Federal

Office website.

The ANF is represented on the ACTU

Executive. Executive meetings were

held 12-13 July 2005; 22-23 November

2005; and 7-8 March 2006.

ANF Membership 1991-2005

In 2005 the ANF membership increased

by 3.83%. Total membership stood at

147,972 at 31 December 2005.

To assist Branches to work in the new

industrial climate, corporate research

was undertaken on fifteen national

employers of nurses. The research

provides corporate and industrial

profiles and is included on the ANF

industrial data base.

Four ANF Branches held elections in

2005:

Neroli Ellis was re-elected Tasmanian

Branch Secretary. Anoni Morse

was re-elected Branch President.

Lisa Fitzpatrick and Jan Brownrigg

were re-elected Victorian Branch

Secretary and Assistant Secretary

respectively. Clare McGinness was

re-elected Branch President.

Yvonne Falckh was elected as

Northern Territory Branch Secretary.

Coral Levett was re-elected New

South Wales Nurses' Association

President.

7th Biennial National Delegates

Conference

The 7th Biennial National Delegates

Conference was held in Darwin on

20 and 21 October 2005. It was a

great success attended by over 100

delegates. The 8th Biennial National

Delegates Conference will be held in

Melbourne October 2007.

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federal secretary’s report

Premises

The ANF is purchasing new premises in

Melbourne, situated on the first floor of

the newly purchased ACTU building in

Queen Street in the Melbourne CBD.

The ANF Canberra premises have been

paid off adding to the financial stability

of the organisation.

Nursing Education

The Federal Office, with the assistance

of the ANF South Australian Branch,

was successful in their application

to become a Registered Training

Organisation which will allow us to offer

a range of national qualifications in the

health and community services area,

particularly for assistants in nursing /

personal care assistants and enrolled nurses.

Courses are currently being offered in

Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Communication

The ANF Federal Office journals, the

ANJ and AJAN, along with our website,

provide a vital link to Branches and

members as well as providing useful

information to other interested parties.

The Federal Office website is an

interactive medium for feedback and

discussion. Secure sites have been

established for Federal Executive,

Federal Office staff, IAC and PAC.

Submissions

The ANF Federal Office responds

to calls for submissions on all areas

that affect nursing. Copies of all the

submissions can be found on the ANF

Federal Office website: www.anf.org.au.

Aged Care

The ANF has been involved at all levels

in work being done to implement selected

recommendations of the Hogan Report.

Of key importance was the development

of the Aged Care Funding Instrument

(ACFI) which is intended to replace the

Resident Classification Scale (RCS).

The ACFI is based on care needs rather

than care provided, and should result in

less paper work for nurses working in

aged care. It is also trialing external

rather than internal assessment.

The ANF Federal Office continues to

act as Secretariat for the National

Aged Care Alliance which is the main

multi-representative peak body for the

aged care sector.

The ANF is represented on the Aged

Care Advisory Committee, the Aged

Care Workforce Committee, the National

Accreditation Agency Liaison Group

and the Aged Care Funding Instrument

Working Group.

Occupational Health and Safety

The ANF is represented on the new

OHS federal body, the Australian Safety

and Compensation Council (ASCC).

This is an important position, being one

of two union appointments on a tripartite

committee. The Federal Office works

closely with the ANF Branches on OHS

issues and with the ACTU OHS groups.

Projects

The project to review the Competency

Standards for the Advanced Registered

Nurse and to develop Competency

Standards for the Advanced Enrolled

Nurse and Competency Standards for

Registered and Enrolled Nurses in

General Practice has been completed.

Further funding was secured to produce

a tool kit to assist nurses, general

practitioners and practice managers

to use the competency standards.

The Information Technology project,

looking at nurses' access to and use of

information technology, barriers to that

access and use and recommendations

to enhance access and use is nearing

completion.

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federal secretary’s reportThe ANF is represented on a wide

range of projects being conducted by

other organisations, such as the ANMC,

the ACMI, RCNA, the RACGP and the

ADGP.

Nursing and health policy

The ANF Federal Office is actively

involved in all levels of nursing and

health policy development whether it is

through direct representation, persistent

lobbying, engaging the media or calling

on our membership to become involved.

Nursing Workforce

During the year the Productivity

Commission released its report into the

health workforce. A move to national

registration and national accreditation

of education programs for the health

workforce was announced (by July 2008).

Some other key areas for the ANF this

year have been:

the development of health reform

policy as a member of the Australian

Health Care Reform Alliance;

successfully lobbying for more

undergraduate nursing places in

universities;

successful lobbying for an increase

in funding for clinical education in

undergraduate nursing courses;

maintaining national links and

working with other national nursing

organisations, such as the Congress

of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Nurses, Royal College of

Nursing Australia, the Australian

Nursing and Midwifery Council and

the Australian College of Deans of

Nursing and Midwifery; and

providing secretariat services for the

National Nursing Organisations and

the Australian Peak Nursing Forum.

International activities

The ANF participates in activities of the

Commonwealth Nurses Federation, the

International Council of Nurses and the

South Pacific Nurses Forum.

East Timor

Financial and other support for the East

Timor Nurses Association continues. In

October 2005 the East Timor Nurses

Association held their second Congress

(the first was their inaugural Congress

in 2005). Agnes Stanislaus-Large from

the ANF Tasmanian Branch spent three

weeks in East Timor helping to organise

the conference and providing support

with organisational capacity building

Papua New Guinea

The ANF Federal Office worked very

closely with the Papua New Guinea

Nurses Association (PNG NA) in their

recent campaign around their industrial

claims and the implementation of a work

value study. The campaign was a great

success with the government agreeing

to back pay for the last EBA terms and

conditions (which had not been honoured)

and allocating enough money in the

coming budget to cover terms won in

this latest EBA. The ANF is working

in partnership with the World Health

Organisation to assist the PNGNA to

conduct the work value study.

Acknowledgement

The ANF would not be the successful

organisation it is without the commitment,

dedication and hard work of the Federal

Council, Federal Executive, Branch staff,

Branch Councillors, job representatives,

delegates and members in what has

been a very challenging year.

Jill Iliffe

Federal Secretary

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the federationFederal Office

Federal Secretary Jill IliffeAssistant Federal Secretary Gerardine (Ged) Kearney Federal Professional Officer Victoria Gilmore to 06/11/05

Fiona Armstrong from 07/11/05Professional Research Officer Elizabeth Reale from 07/11/05Federal Liaison Officer Victoria Gilmore from 07/11/05Federal Industrial Officer Nick BlakeIndustrial Research Officer Debbie RichardsFederal Communications Officer Heather Witham to 19/08/05

Catherine Beadnell from 22/05/06Editor, ANJ Yvonne Kelley to 2/12/05

Lani Stanistreet from 05/12/05Journalists Marcelle Mogg from 19/09/05 to 24/03/06

Catherine Beadnell from 07/11/05 to 19/05/06Associate Editor, AJAN Fiona Armstrong to 06/11/05Editor, AJAN Jackie JonesInformation and Resources Officer Elizabeth Reale to 06/11/05Finance/Office Manager Barbara Hughes Federal Graphic Design Officer Krista McClellandAdministrative Officer, Projects and Publications Kristy MaleAdministrative Officer, Finance Anne O'TooleAdministrative Officer, Canberra Anne WillsherAdministrative Officer, Journals and Publications Cathy FascialeAdministrative Officer, Industrial Anna AmantangeloAdministrative Officer, Professional Rebecca Shaw

Federal Council Members

Federal Secretary Jill IliffeAssistant Federal Secretary Gerardine (Ged) Kearney Federal President Coral LevettFederal Vice President Bernadette RobertsAustralian Capital TerritorySecretary Colleen DuffPresident Jill ParkeNew South WalesSecretary Brett HolmesPresident Coral LevettNorthern TerritorySecretary Denis Blackford (to 29 November 2005)

Yvonne Falckh (from 30 November 2005)President Neil SpencerQueenslandSecretary Gay HawksworthPresident Sue CadiganSouth AustraliaSecretary Lee ThomasPresident Bernadette RobertsTasmaniaSecretary Neroli EllisPresident Anoni MorseVictoriaSecretary Lisa FitzpatrickPresident Clare McGinnessWestern AustraliaSecretary Mark OlsonPresident Patricia Fowler

Federal Executive Members

Federal Secretary Jill IliffeAssistant Federal Secretary Gerardine (Ged) Kearney Federal President Coral LevettFederal Vice President Bernadette RobertsAustralian Capital Territory Colleen DuffNew South Wales Brett HolmesNorthern Territory Denis Blackford to 29/11/05

Yvonne Falckh from 30/11/05Queensland Gay HawksworthSouth Australia Lee ThomasTasmania Neroli EllisVictoria Lisa FitzpatrickWestern Australia Mark Olson

Federal Executive Meetings

From 1 July 2005 to 30 June 200620 September 2005 - by teleconference

4 November 2005 - in writing 18 November 200519 December 2005 - by teleconference15 February 200623 March 2006 - by teleconference

7 April 2006 - in writing 10 May 200630 June 2006 - by teleconference

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our people

From left to right

Anna AmatangeloFiona ArmstrongCatherine BeadnellDenis BlackfordNick BlakeGerardine (Ged) KearneyColleen DuffNeroli EllisYvonne FalckhCathy FascialeLisa FitzpatrickVictoria GilmoreGay HawksworthBrett HolmesBarbara HughesJill IliffeJackie JonesYvonne KelleyCoral LevettKristy MaleKrista McClellandMarcelle MoggMark OlsonAnne O’TooleElizabeth RealeDebbie RichardsBernadette RobertsRebecca ShawLani StanistreetLee ThomasAnne WillsherHeather Witham

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federal industrial reportThe 2005-06 ANF industrial programs continued to

focus on the protection and advancement of the industrial

rights of nurses.

The objectives included:

to provide effective industrial leadership and

representation for nurses at the national level;

to achieve planned and coordinated salary

increased for all nurses in Australia;

to maintain and enhance conditions of employment

for nurses in Australia;

to provide support to ANF Branches to enable them

to meet their industrial objectives;

to develop effective and constructive relationships

with the Australian Council of Trade Unions and

affiliated unions; and

to develop effective and constructive relationships

with the Federal Government other political parties

and industrial bodies.

Changes to federal and state industrial laws

The WorkChoices industrial relations legislation was

enacted in March 2006. The legislation was introduced

despite overwhelming opposition from community

groups, churches and unions. In broad terms the

changes to industrial laws seek:

to bring to an end the state industrial tribunals;

to severely reduce the power of the Australian

Industrial Relations Commission;

to remove existing protections from unfair dismissal

for all workers who employ less than 100 employees;

to further reduce and rationalise safety net awards;

to make it harder for employees to secure union

collective agreements in favour of individual

agreements (AWAs);

to make many union activities illegal; and

to establish the Australian Fair Pay Commission

who will be empowered to set and review minimum

wage rates.

Of particular concern to the ANF and the nursing

profession is the expected impact on federal and state

nursing awards. Presently all awards provide pay and

employment conditions that help protect nurses who

are unable to reach agreements with employers.

Furthermore, the awards include classification structures

and career paths that reward nurses for the attainment

of increased skill and experience.

Under WorkChoices all existing entitlements in federal

awards will be subject to a process of simplification

which could lead to the loss of employment conditions.

Award wage rates, classification structures and casual

loadings will be removed from awards. Many nurses

could also lose conditions such as weekend, shift and

public holiday rates, overtime redundancy pay,

allowances and loadings. The number of awards that

currently apply to nurses in the health and community

services sectors will be reduced and there will be

severe restrictions on the making of new awards.

For most nurses covered by existing state awards, it

appears that those awards are to be transferred to the

Australian Industrial Relations Commission and frozen.

The removal of awards classification structures and

career paths is disturbing and inimical to the best

interests of nursing and the provision of nursing care.

Without an appropriate career path and adequate

recognition of qualification, skills and extensive

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federal industrial reporteducation, nurses will leave the workforce and nursing

will become less attractive to potential new entrants.

Many observers consider that the WorkChoices

constitute the most significant transformation to

industrial laws for the past 100 years.

Nurses are already feeling the impact of this revolution

with an increasing number of employers seeking to

use the WorkChoices legislation to reduce their labour

costs and to deny nurses access to the support of

ANF officials. In response, the ANF Federal Office

in consultation with the ANF Branches is pursuing a

comprehensive industrial and professional strategy

on the future direction and the priorities of the ANF to

ensure that the union continues to provide a high level

of industrial representation to members and to the

nursing profession.

Public sector agreement outcomes

The table to the right details the percentage increases

and expiry dates of public sector enterprise agreements

that will continue to apply over the 2005/2006 period. In

addition to the wage increases detailed, the agreements

commonly included a range of improvements to

employment conditions including implementation

of staffing mechanisms, qualification allowances

and include shift and rostering arrangements. The

outcomes achieved in the public health sectors of

the states and territories are important as they not only

establish a benchmark for ANF negotiations in the

private acute and aged care sectors, they also apply

to the majority of the nursing workforce.

Australian Nursing Federation Rules and industrial

coverage

The Australian Nursing Federation has been granted

industrial coverage of assistants in nursing employed

in the private residential aged care sectors in South

Australia. This outcome follows a similar decision

reached in Victoria in 2004. As a consequence, the

ANF now has the right to represent the vast majority

of persons employed to assist in the provision of

nursing care across all health and community services

sectors; this means that the ANF can represent

assistants in nursing at the same time as protecting

the interests of our registered and enrolled nurses

who may be employed in those facilities. A copy of

the ANF Rules can be obtained at: www.anf.org.au.

Aged care

The wages gap between nurses working in aged care

and nurses working in the other sectors continues to

increase with the national average currently at 25

percent per week less. While there are a growing

number of collective agreements negotiated in the

aged care sector, the wages and conditions outcomes

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STATE

New South Wales

Victoria

Northern Territory

Tasmania

South Australia

Queensland

Australian CapitalTerritory

Western Australia

OUTCOME

14.0% over 3.5 years (30.06.08)

12.0% over 3.5 years (30.09.07)

11.0% over 3.0 years (09.08.06)

21.0% over 3.3 years (30.06.07)

16.5% over 3.0 years (30.06.07)

19.0% over 3.0 years (26.03.09)

12.15% to 23.2% over 2.5 years(23.03.07)

14.0% over 3.0 years (30.04.07)

federal industrial report

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are generally less favourable than public and private acute sector outcomes and fail

to remove the disparity in wages and conditions. The federal government is still

refusing to agree to any process that would achieve and maintain wage parity. The

graph below demonstrates the wages gap.

Wage disparity for aged care workers

From: Nurses Paycheck, June-August 2006, Australian Nursing Federation, Melbourne.

Nick Blake

Federal Industrial Officer

$500.00

$600.00

$700.00

$800.00

$900.00

$1,000.00

$1,100.00

$1,200.00

NSW VIC NT A C T W A SA TA S QLD N AT

P ublic Sector A ged C are

federal professional reportThe federal professional team has been

involved in a broad range of activities

representing the professional interests

of nurses and midwives throughout

2005/06.

The federal professional team represents

nurses and midwives on several national

projects and in a number of advisory

committees and policy making forums.

These include:

The Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct

for Nurses and Midwives project

This project is undertaking a review

of the Code of Conduct and Code of

Ethics for nurses and developing a

Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct

for midwives. The ANF is represented

on the project management committee

and ANF branches have been involved

in consultation forums and focus groups

in every state and territory.

The Decision Making Framework (DMF)

project

This project is developing a national

decision making framework, based on

models currently in place in four states.

The project has developed two draft

frameworks, (one for nurses, one for

midwives.

Midwifery Practice Review project

The Midwifery Practice Review project,

funded by the Australian Commission

on Safety and Quality in Healthcare

aims to develop a process for verifying

the qualifications, experience, and other

relevant professional attributes of mid-

wives to determine their competence,

performance and professional suitability

to provide safe, high quality health care.

It is aimed at providing a supportive

environment for individual midwives

across all areas of maternity care to

reflect on their practice and identify

priorities for further professional

development. Participation will be

voluntary. The ANF is involved through

representation on the project management

committee comprising representatives

of a range of key stakeholders.

Governance Standards project:

The ANF has played an important

role in the development of governance

standards for nursing and midwifery

organisations through the chairing of a

Working Group and project management

of a project funded by the National Nursing

and Nursing Education Taskforce (N3ET)

and conducted by the National Nursing

Organisations (NNOs). The ANF is a

member of the NNO as well as providing

the secretariat for these 52 associations.

The project developed a set of sound

governance standards to guide the

practice of nursing and midwifery

specialist organisations. The report

from the governance project has been

described as a landmark document

which demonstrates the capacity of

nurses to display considerable leadership.

A governance toolkit has now been

developed between the NNO secretariat

(ANF) and N3ET. The report and toolkit

are now available on the NNO website

www.anf.org.au/nno. In recognition of

the success of this project and the

importance of governance to nursing

and midwifery groups, the Department

of Health and Ageing (who provide

funding to support the NNO secertariat)

has agreed to provide additional funding

to the NNO (via ANF, as NNO fund

holder) to undertake further work in

relation to governance of the National

Nursing Organisations (NNO).

Health reform

The ANF has joined the executive of the

Australian Health Care Reform Alliance

(AHCRA) as the representative of nursing

and midwifery professions. The Alliance

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federal professional reportis pursuing a health reform agenda for

improved access to a more integrated

health care service sector with workforce

planning mechanisms that ensure a

sustainable health workforce and a

reduction in the current duplication of

services that occurs as a result of the

Federal and State/Territory funding

split. In 2005/06, AHCRA contributed

submissions to the Council of Australian

Governments (COAG) and the Productivity

Commission, and appeared before the

House of Representatives Standing

Committee Inquiry into health funding.

Submissions

The ANF federal professional team

prepared and coordinated a number of

submissions from the federal office in

response to inquiries.

This includes:

A response to the National Nursing

and Nursing Education Taskforce

(N3ET) proposed specialisation frame

work for nursing and midwifery

(June 2006).

Two submissions to the ACCC in

regard to an application by Medicines

Australia to amend their Code of

Conduct (February and May 2006).

A submission to the National

Nanotechnology Strategy Taskforce

(May 2006).

Making a decision about organ and

tissue donation after death - public

consultation feedback (April 2006).

Organ and tissue donation after

death: Ethical guidelines for health

professionals - public consultation

feedback (April 2006) .

Review of the professional code of

ethics and conduct for midwives and

nurses (April 2006).

A submission to the NHMRC on their

draft revision of the National

Statement on Ethical Conduct in

Research Involving Humans (March

2006).

A submission to the Department of

Education, Science and Training

medical education study (March 2006).

A response to a Treasury review of

the coverage of the Medical

Indemnity (Prudential Supervision

and Product Standards) Act 2003

(February 2006).

Submission in response to the

Award Review Taskforce discussion

papers on award rationalisation

of award wage and classification

structures (January 2006).

A submission to the review of the

Australian Council of Healthcare

Standards (November 2005).

A submission to the Productivity

Commission inquiry on the health

workforce (September 2005).

Conferences

The federal professional team presented

at two conferences in 2006, including a

paper on nurses, communication and

policy engagement entitled: Advocating

for ourselves at the Nursing Leadership

Conference 2006, and two papers: The

effects of nurse staffing on adverse

events and a Report on the governance

standards project at the Royal College

of Nursing, Australia conference 2006.

Rural health

The National Rural Health Alliance

(NRHA) of which the ANF is a member, is

currently developing policy and position

statements on: food security; Aboriginal

Health Workers; regional development;

and maternity services, and revising the

position statement on advanced nursing

practice. NRHA is also involved in the

development of a National Evidence Based

Guideline for Antenatal Care through

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federal professional reportconsultation with member organisations.

NRHA has made submissions to: the

Council of Australian Government

(COAG) on numbers of undergraduate

health professional places in March; and

to the federal treasurer's tax inquiry on

remote zone tax rebates, also in March.

Policy areas identified as priorities for

the NRHA over the next twelve moths

include: mental health; dental/oral health;

palliative care; rural health workforce;

research; culturally appropriate Indigenous

health care; and the sustainability of

rural communities.

The professional team also attended

and contributed to a policy forum on

rural and remote health held by the

Australian Rural and Remote Workforce

Agencies Group (ARRWAG) in March 2006.

Medicines policy

Through the ANF federal professional

team, nurses in Australia are involved in

the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory

Council (APAC), which advises the

Australian Government on a wide

range of medicines policy issues. This

forum consists of health professional

organisations, consumers, industry and

government.

As a member of the National Prescribing

Service (NPS), the ANF has the opportunity

to contribute to, and influence medicines

policy through the NPS. The NPS is an

independent, non-profit organisation

(funded by the Australian Government

Department of Health and Ageing)

which aims is to provide independent

information about medicines for all

Australians. One of its major programs

is the Quality Use of medicines

Program (QUM), intended to "provide

accurate, balanced, evidence-based

information and services to health

professionals and the community".

Other partnerships/activities in which

the ANF is involved

The professional team is involved in the

federal government initiatives to develop

Australia's responsiveness to pandemic

influenza with representatives involved

in the committees developing guidelines

for infection control, primary care and

clinical care; and is also a member of a

community nursing Industry advisory

committee conducted by the Department

of Veterans Affairs.

ANF partnerships

The federal professional team provides

information and updates on important

nursing initiatives to, and coordinates

meetings of, the professional advisory

committee with representatives from

each of the state and territory branches.

This committee contributes to policy

development and works collaboratively

on important submissions and position

statements.

Fiona Armstrong

Federal Professional Officer

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australian journal of advanced nursingThe AJAN provides nurses in Australia

and internationally with the opportunity

to publish original research and scholarly

articles on a diverse range of nursing

issues, with that diversity being one of

AJAN's strengths.

The availability of AJAN to an international

audience through its online presence on

IngentaConnect has extended its reach

and impact on evidence based practice.

The journal has published manuscripts

on a range of important nursing issues

including:

June 2005

23-hour care centre: changing the

culture of care.

The effect of pre-admission of

education on domiciliary recovery

following laproscopic cholecystectomy.

Mapping recovery after total hip

replacement surgery: health-related

quality of life after three years.

Coronary angioplasty: impact on risk

factors and patients' understanding

of the severity of their condition.

Competency standards for critical

care nurses: do they measure up?

Documentation and the transfer of

clinical information in two aged care

settings.

Physical restraint use on people with

dementia: A review of the literature.

September 2005

Medication knowledge and self-

management by people with type

2 diabetes.

A comparison of an evidence based

regime with the standard protocol for

monitoring postoperative observation:

a randomised controlled trial.

What were the outcomes of home

follow-up visits after postpartum

hospital discharge?

Implementing family-centred care:

an exploration of the beliefs and

practices of paediatric nurses.

Understanding the nursing workforce:

a longitudinal study of Australian

nurses six years after graduate

study concludes with a snapshot.

Do the ends justify the means?

nursing and the dilemma of

whistleblowing.

December 2005

Mothers' perceptions of overweight

and obesity in their children.

Nursing skill mix and nursing time:

the roles of registered nurses and

clinical nurse specialists.

Nurse practitioners' experiences of

working collaboratively with general

practitioners and allied health

professionals in New South Wales,

Australia.

Comparison between nurses'

professional needs and their

perceptions of their job.

Culture of rural nursing practice: A

critical theoretical analysis of deter

minants of power in nursing.

A review of graduate nurse transition

programs in Australia

March 2006

Shrouds of silence: three women's

stories of prenatal loss.

Parents' preferred child health

information sources: Implications

for nursing practice.

Warfarin use in the elderly: the nurses'

perspective.

Predicators of dietary and health

supplement use in older Australians.

Medication administration errors:

understanding the issues.

Mismanagement of delirium places

patients at risk.

Beyond the rhetoric: what do we

mean by a 'model of care'?

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australian journal of advanced nursingThe AJAN Editorial Advisory Board

which advises on editorial and publishing

issues, met by teleconference on two

occasions and in person once to discuss

issues relevant to the journal.

Board members in 2005-2006 included:

Sanchia Aranda, RN, B.App Sci (Adv

Nurs), MN, PhD

Director of Cancer Nursing Research,

Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute,

Head, School of Nursing, the University

of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria,

Australia

David Arthur, RN, PhD, FANZCMHN

Professor, School of Nursing,

The Hong Kong Polytechnic

University, Hung Hom, Kowloon,

Hong Kong

Dr Joy Bickley Asher

Professional Services Manager,

New Zealand Nurses Organisation,

Wellington, New Zealand

Yu-Mei (Yu) Chao, RN, PhD

Research Fellow,

Center for Health Policy Research and

Development, National Health Research

Institutes, Taipei, Taiwan

Mary Courtney, RN, BAdmin, MHP,

PhD, FRCNA, AFCHSE

Professor of Nursing, Director of

Research, School of Nursing,

Queensland University of Technology,

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Karen Francis, RN, PhD, MHlth Sc,

Nsg. MEd, Grad Cert Uni Teach/Learn,

BHlth Sc, Nsg, Dip Hlth Sc, Nsg

Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing

and Midwifery,

Monash University, Gippsland Campus,

Churchill, Victoria, Australia

Desley Hegney, RN, CNNN, COHN,

DNE, BA (Hons), PhD, FRCNA, FIAM,

FCN(NSW)

Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing,

University of Queensland, Ipswich,

Queensland, Australia.

Director, Research Centre,

University of Queensland and Blue

Care, Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland,

Australia

Linda Kristjanson, RN, BN, MN, PhD

School of Nursing, Midwifery and

Postgraduate Medicine,

Edith Cowan University,

Churchlands, Western Australia,

Australia

Anne McMurray, RN, BA, Med, PhD,

FRCNA

Peel Health Campus, Chair in Nursing

Professor of Nursing, Murdoch

University, Mandurah, Western

Australia, Australia

Colin Torrance, RN, B.Sc(Hon), PhD

Consulting Nurse, Nursing Consulting

Services, Warrandyte, Victoria,

Australia

Lesley Wilkes, RN, CM RenalCert, BSc

Hons, GradDipEd(Nurs), MHPEd, PhD

Professor of Nursing, Clinical Nursing

Research Unit,

Sydney West Area Health Service and

the University of Western Sydney,

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

The publisher also wishes to thank

Dr Jackie Jones, editor, the Editorial

Advisory Board members and the

reviewers who give their time to review

the constant stream of manuscripts

received by AJAN - their expertise is

crucial to the success of the journal.

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australian nursing journalThe ANJ plays a vital role in keeping

nurses informed on a variety of

professional and industrial issues.

The total readership of the ANJ is

estimated to be in excess of 70,000,

with nurses who receive the journal

as part of their ANF membership and

those with individual subscriptions

making it available to colleagues and

friends.

The harsh and unfair WorkChoices

industrial relations laws were introduced

in March 2006 and the ANF is involved

in the broad union and community

campaign to defeat the legislation.

The ANJ has a crucial role in keeping

nurses informed of industrial relations

developments and providing a forum

for highlighting the impact on individual

nurses and the profession as a whole.

The journal provides a space for nurses

to express themselves and share their

achievements in clinical practice and

research within a broader professional

context. The clinical updates, largely

contributed by nurses, for 2005-06

addressed a range of issues including:

Equity of care for people of culturally

and linguistically diverse backgrounds

(August 2005); Transfusing safely: A

2006 guide for nurses (Dec 05/Jan 06);

and Implementing a wound assessment

and management system (May 2006).

The authors of the clinical update:

Implementing a wound assessment and

management system wrote to the ANJ

following publication advising they had an

'overwhelming' response to the article

with 60 requests for more information.

Nurses from the United Kingdom, United

States of America, France, India and

every state in Australia contacted them

seeking more information on the wound

assessment model referred to in the article.

The features section of the journal

addressed a range of contemporary

professional, social and ethical issues

such as: Mental health: it's time for action

(June 2006); Putting the care back into

aged care (April 2006); and Nurse

practitioners: Forging new paths in care.

A feature titled Igniting change (Dec

05/Jan06) explored the role of ANF

workplace representatives in maintaining

and enhancing the professional standing

of nursing and the quality and safety of

patient care.

Major health issues of concern to nurses

and the wider community such as mental

health and aged care continue to have

a high profile in the journal. Nurses in

Australia and internationally continue

to make significant contributions to

health research and development.

The ANJ proudly promotes the research

achievements of nurses in clinical

practice and professional development.

The Working Life section of the ANJ

demonstrates time and time again the

dedication and commitment of nurses to

caring for their patients and the broader

community. From caring for homeless

people with mental illness, traveling to

South Africa to nurse people living with

AIDS, and providing palliative care to

several patients in a single day; nurses

have incredible stories to tell and the

ANJ is the vehicle through which they

choose to tell them.

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australian nursing journalThe focus themes for 2005-2006 were:

perioperative nursing

child and youth nursing

mental health

renal and diabetes nursing

community and primary health nursing

aged care

palliative care and oncology

organ transplant nursing

cardiac health

burns and wound care

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summary of resultsRevenue from ordinary activities

Capitation fees

Journal subscription fees

Journal advertising and other income

Interest

IR campaign

Other income

Grant income

Total revenue from ordinary activities

Expenses from ordinary activities

Affiliation fees

Interest paid

Employee benefits expense

Journal expenses

Other expenses

Total expenses from ordinary activities

Profit (loss) attributable to members of the organisation

2006 $

1,996,476

1,054,378

546,162

30,955

546,506

405,110

143,240

4,722,827

250,221

11,952

1,512,600

1,157,490

1,785,469

4,717,732

5,095

2005 $

1,800,156

1,060,730

524,440

35,658

510,432

304,699

4,236,115

203,708

14,199

1,418,270

1,091,151

1,399,580

3,478,148

109,207

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Current assets

Cash assets

Receivables

Other

Total current assets

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Total non-current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

Payables

Interest-bearing liabilities

Current tax liabilities

Provisions

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Interest-bearing liabilities

Provisions

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Accumulated funds | Retained profits

TOTAL ACCUMULATED FUNDS

2006 $

542,981

1,124,063

137,015

1,804,059

461,254

461,254

2,265,313

1,243,325

30,975

3,386

86,103

1,363,789

96,258

131,363

227,621

1,591,410

673,903

673,903

673,903

2005 $

977,618

494,588

86,893

1,180,060

492,116

492,116

2,051,215

908,477

30,975

28,878

211,420

1,179,750

129,019

73,638

202,657

1,382,407

668,808

668,808

668,808

The complete ANF Federal Office Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2006

is available at www.anf.org.au

Statement of Financial Performance for Year Ended 30 June 2006 Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June 2006

independent audit reportINDEPENDENT AUDIT REPORT TO THE FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE AUSTRALIAN NURSING FEDERATION - FEDERAL OFFICE

We have audited the above Summary of Results of the Australian Nursing Federation - Federal Office for the year ended 30 June 2006 in accordance with Australian

Auditing Standards.

In our opinion, the information reported in the Summary of Results is consistent with the annual statutory financial report from which it is derived and upon which we

expressed an unqualified audit report to the Federal Council dated 26 October 2006. For a better understanding of the entity's financial position and the results of its

operations and the scope of our audit for the period, the Summary of Results should be read in conjunction with the annual statutory financial report.

Bell Duke and Company

Chartered Accountants

Robert Henry Wald

Registered Company Auditor No. 10148 Dated this 26th day of October 2006

Level 7, 468 St Kilda Road

Melbourne, Victoria 3004

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