Educating the Nurse of the Future - Independent Review of Nursing Education

Overview

Professor Steven Schwartz AM has now submitted the final report to Minister Hunt following completion of the Review. The report will be considered by government and a plan for public release will be developed. There is no fixed date for the release of the report available at this time.

An independent review of nursing preparation in Australia – Educating the Nurse of the Future was announced as a measure within the 2018/19 Federal Budget.

Led by Emeritus Professor Steven Schwartz AM, the Review was future focussed and considered how the education and preparation of nurses in Australia would ensure the nursing workforce is well placed to meet the future needs of Australian communities and our health system.

The Review gave consideration to the attraction into nursing as a career, international competitiveness of Australian based education programs and articulation and career paths of the preparation programs for enrolled and registered nurses and nurse practitioners.

Consultation to inform the Review occurred in a number of ways including face to face consultations across Australia in metropolitan, regional and rural areas.

Public consultation workshops were from April until the end of June.

The Terms of Reference for the Review were to examine:

• the effectiveness of current educational preparation of and articulation between  enrolled and registered nurses and nurse practitioners in meeting the needs of health service delivery 
• factors that affect the choice of nursing as an occupation, including for men 
• the role and appropriateness of transition to practice programs however named and
• the competiveness and attractiveness of  Australian nursing qualifications across international contexts.

The Review also had regard to regional needs and circumstances and national and international trends, research, policies, inquiries and previous reviews related to nursing education.

A copy of the full Terms of Reference can be found below.

Submissions based on the Terms of Reference could be made until the end of June 2019.  Submissions have now been uploaded onto the Consultation Hub website.

Online Submissions Received

Please find below written submissions recieved for the independent review - Educating the Nurse of the Future.