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20 Jun 2016
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), has appointed provider Turning Point to deliver a national health support service for nurses, midwives and students with a health impairment or at risk of a health impairment in Australia.
The service will offer nationwide health support for nurses and midwives in Australia, providing an equitable service across workplaces, jurisdictions and locations.
In addition, the service will provide education and awareness about health impairment as defined in the National Law for nurses, midwives, students, educational providers and employers.
The NMBA Chair, Dr Lynette Cusack RN, thanked those who responded to the request for tender and said that Turning Point would offer nurses and midwives greater access to support on health issues.
‘It’s important that nurses, midwives, students and employers can access confidential advice on issues related to their health anywhere in Australia.
‘No matter where nurses and midwives are living, working or studying, they will be able to consult with a professional about a health impairment, particularly where it may effect their ability to practise, and get confidential advice and referral to specialist treatment.
‘As the regulator, the NMBA is continuing to engage with nurses and midwives to ensure they are supported to provide safe care to the public. The national health support service will be funded by the NMBA, but will be an independent service.’
Turning Point (part of Eastern Health) will first develop the infrastructure to deliver the national health support service. It is expected that services will be offered from early 2017. As previously advised, the NMBA and AHPRA have agreed to continue to fund the Victorian Nurses and Midwives Health Program until the national health support service is established.
The NMBA will share more information on the new service with nurses and midwives as soon as it is available.
The National Health Impairment Final Report has informed the NMBA’s response as to the appropriate role of a regulatory authority in supporting the provision of an independent national program for nurses, midwives and students of nursing and midwifery with a health impairment. It has also informed the NMBA’s proposal on referral, treatment and rehabilitation services for nurses and midwives.
To accompany the publication of this report and the related request for tender, a summary of AHPRA and the NMBA’s view on the report and its content has been published:
For further information on the project, please contact Petrina Halloran, Policy Manager, Nursing and Midwifery, Strategy and Policy at [email protected].
Download a PDF of this Media release - NMBA appoint provider to deliver national health support service for nurses and midwives - 20 June 2016 (240 KB,PDF)