This is an exciting time of the year for Enrolled Nurses from across the country.

On the 17^th October: Hobart will be the place to be. It is the date we will all meet for the 9^th Biennial NENA(National Enrolled Nurses Association of Australia) Conference. The welcome function is that night and then the main conference will be the following two days culminating with a gala dinner on the Tuesday evening.

The program is full of exciting presentations from both Enrolled Nurses and industry leaders. As every health professional now knows that with National registration which commenced on the 1^st July this year comes the responsibility for our own continuing professional development and this conference is the peak event for nurses to come and learn from their peers and to gain valuable knowledge and contribute to those required hours. There will be representatives from AHPRA who will be sharing with you the latest information in relation to the transition to National registration.

We will also be having as a keynote speaker Mr Walter Mikac who’s wife and two beautiful daughters were victims of the Port Arthur massacre. He has set up a foundation in memory of Allannah and Madeline and it will be an honour to welcome him.

Another notable keynote speaker is Dr Paul Dunne who is the Director Palliative care services Hobart.

We have Enrolled nurses from diverse area of the health arena presenting papers on their specialties from educating women with diabetes in pregnancy. To the introduction of enrolled nurses into a private health care setting and the vital role they now play.

We will hear extensive talks around the future of education and expended roles of enrolled nurses.

And what about the planned fireside chat, for that you will need to come and be part of this exciting conference.

For your readers let us tell you a little more about NENA: The National Enrolled Nurse Association of Australia (NENA) was formed at a conference in Hobart in 1995. It was formed to give Enrolled nurses a voice in their professional future. As per our constitution which was established after that first conference we elect a new executive committee who have a two year term of office and this is for the purpose of advancing the role of the Enrolled Nurse in the Health arena. On that executive we have members from every state and territory so we can get the latest information from every jurisdiction thus enabling us to be truly representative of all. For industry leaders and Enrolled Nurses alike NENA is the vital link. We welcome members from all over this wonderful country of ours.

For a lot of the members of NENA this will also be a very special conference as we return to where it all began, 15years ago. There have been enormous changes to health since then and lots of those have influenced how we now as professionals deliver care to those in our communities we come into contact with. And another important reason to celebrate all things nursing this year is the fact that 2010 is the International year of the nurse. It is a chance to say a thank you to all for their hard work and dedication to this profession and to encourage those who are now coming into nursing for the first time that this is a wonderful and lifelong career to be proud of.

Members of the executive are representatives at many forums and we as an organisation make many submissions in all things relating to the role of the enrolled nurse and to ensure that we remain a vital part of the health workforce. It is by remaining abreast of the trends in this ever changing health workforce we as Enrolled Nurses believe that we do effect change.

We have an office located in Victoria who are only too happy to assist anyone/ anywhere who wants further information. When you do make an enquiry it is forwarded to an enrolled nurse executive to assist as a first point of contact.

Enrolled nurses from across the country do not need to be a member of the ANF to join NENA however to vote at the 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 this October and be part of this prestigious event.

Further information can be found on our conference website: www.nena.org.au/conference

Or by phoning Corporate Communiqué our conference conveners on: 0359770244