An Albanese Labor Government will extend health and wellbeing support for our nurses across the country with a new National Nurse and Midwife Health Service.
Nurses have been the heroes of this pandemic. They have been dealing with the COVID crisis for more than two years - they are stressed, burned out and leaving the profession.
They deserve our help.
The new National Nurse and Midwife Health Service will provide nurses and midwives with a range of personalised and professional support services to help them manage burnout and stress.
This will build on the successful Nursing and Midwifery Health Program already available in Victoria, which has been inundated with calls from nurses struggling with wellbeing during the pandemic.
As restrictions ease around the country, there is no end in sight for our nurses. Many of them are close to breaking point - one survey of 7,800 Australian healthcare workers found 40 per cent had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It is estimated that one in five frontline workers, including nurses, are considering quitting their job because of the pandemic.
Australia is already facing dire nursing shortages - we can't afford to lose any more due to unnecessary burn-out.
Labor will ensure these heroes of the pandemic get the help they need, when they need it most.
The program will be open to enrolled and registered nurses, midwives and students. Labor will commit up to $23 million to the National Nurse and Midwife Health Service to keep nurses in the job, and keep them caring for Australians.
