The Australian Nursing Federation is now one of the major voices of Australia’s health unions after its membership soared past the 200,000 mark.

The largest professional nursing organisation in Australia is now also one of the country’s fastest-growing unions after a massive 10.5 percent spike in membership in the past year.

ANF federal secretary Lee Thomas said there had been "unprecedented growth" in the union’s membership across all sectors, from private and public hospitals to aged care facilities, medical practices and community centres.

"We thank all of our existing ANF members and welcome all our new members, which includes registered and enrolled nurses, midwives, assistants in nursing and students," she said.

"Our membership numbers now clearly put ANF front and centre of the health unions and a major stakeholder in the health, aged care and the industrial and professional arenas.

"We will continue to be a force to be reckoned with."

The union, established in 1924, represents nurses in urban, rural and remote locations in both the public and private sectors, including hospitals, health and community services, schools, universities, the armed forces, statutory authorities, local government, offshore territories and industry.

The union has this year waged a massive battle for urgent reform of the aged care sector as part of its ‘Because We Care’ campaign.

The ANF is calling on the Federal Government to stop the slide in the number of nurses and assistants in nursing with better wages and the right balance of skills and nursing hours.

Ms Thomas vowed the union would continue its fight for the embattled sector.

"Australia’s aged care sector needs urgent reform to make sure we have more staff, much higher wages and a focus on quality care for residents," she said.