The National Enrolled Nurse Association of Australia (NENA) was formed at the 1995 inaugural enrolled nurse conference held in Hobart Tasmania. It was formed to give enrolled nurses a voice in their professional future. With the guidance of the ANF the group became their special interest group and still has the strong professional team you will meet at our conference in Hobart. It was in collaboration with the ANF that enrolled nurses gathered from every state and territory to develop a constitution that would allow enrolled nurses to have a voice and be an integral part of the nursing profession.

We met in Adelaide a little over 1 year after NENA’s inception and soon became the peak professional body for the second level nurse across the country, a tradition that has continued across all these years. It has allowed enrolled nurses to have a legitimate career path without the need to articulate to registered nurse. Since our inception across all jurisdictions the role and competency by which all nurses practice have been revised and renewed. The work has been undertaken by a range of industry leaders and NENA has been part of the consultations such is the respect we have gained in this profession.

NENA also applied and was admitted to the Coalition of National Nursing Organisations (CoNNO). CoNNO meet twice a year to progress nursing in Australia. NENA have recently applied to have a seat on the executive of this organisation a first for enrolled nurses.

The new national Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia also had an enrolled nurse as part of the initial set up, and that member was the president of NENA. As well our members have been integral members of state and territory consultations in a variety of consultative processes relevant to the second level nurse in that jurisdiction.

In Adelaide it was resolved to hold a biennial conference and meeting to progress the association. It is at the conference in line with the constitution that a new executive committee is elected and charged with progressing the association. The constitution has a specific clause to ensure that there is representation from all states and territories across the country. The executive meet 4 times per year by teleconference and have one face to face meeting. The committee also keep in contact be email mostly enabling input from everyone when there needs to be submissions or representation in decision making forums. All members of the executive work full time in a variety of health care settings which assists to get us a broad view of the issues facing enrolled nurses in the modern health care arena.

NENA also publish a newsletter 4 times per year to update the membership on what is relevant to their practice. We acknowledge the valuable contribution that our members make to this publication and responding when we need input from the broader enrolled nurse workforce.

The biennial conferences have been held in all the capital cities of this great country of ours where enrolled nurses from across the country come together to learn from each other and to share the latest trends. The member’s general meeting is held at our biennial conference where the ultimate decision making forum for NENA is held.

This important conference also gives enrolled nurses the opportunity to meet with educators and industry leaders when they come to share their expertise.The main focus for NENA at these conferences is the Enrolled Nurse and communicating to the membership and the wider nursing community how changes to legislation and practice will directly affect them. It is also how we as a vital part of the workforce can effect change. Collectively as a regulated workforce we have effected many changes over the years and we have been involved in all aspects of the discussion to get Enrolled Nurse education delivered at the same level nationally. It has taken many years to achieve this.Enrolled Nurses across the country have given vital input and a note of thanks must be given to all those who consistently respond to the call for input into all consultative processes. Without such input the outcomes may be different.

NENA is also valued across the international nursing community. We are proud to have supported our New Zealand Enrolled Nurse colleagues in their struggle for recognition and celebrated their historic victory resulting in restoring their status within the community. The celebration culminated at their NZNO Enrolled Nurse Section conference in Dunedin when they received a public apology from the Nursing Council of New Zealand. What a wonderful outcome for all enrolled nurses. Australian and New Zealand enrolled nurses truly value each other’s international support. We have also formed strong bonds with Canadian Registered Practical Nurses (RPN) and were looking forward to hearing from one of their nurses at our conference.

For industry leaders and enrolled nurses alike NENA is the vital link. It is a forum for sharing information, gaining a greater understanding and appreciation of the vital role of the Enrolled Nurse across all jurisdictions and health settings. We welcome members from all over this wonderful country we all call home and have an office located in Victoria who are only too happy to assist anyone who requires further information. Membership of NENA is open to all enrolled nurses across the country whether an ANF member or not. However to vote at the Biennial General Meeting (BGM) or to hold an executive position you must be a financial member of both the ANF and NENA.

So we invite all your readers to come to Hobart the 18 & 19thOctober and be part of this prestigious event.

Further information can be found on our conference website: www.nena.org.au/conference or phone Corporate Communiqué our conference conveners on: 0359770244