Medicare Locals to nurse the system back to health
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Australian nursing groups have welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of the first 15 Medicare Locals. The Australian Nursing Federation and the Australian Practice Nurses Association have thrown their support behind the primary health reform initiative, which is expected to provide new opportunities for nurses.ANF federal secretary Lee Thomas said the Medicare Locals would not only provide increased access for the community to a whole range of health professionals but also more opportunities for nurses. “There is some scope there for a broader employment, more opportunities. What really Medicare Locals does is to broaden their horizons in access to the community,” she said. “Some of the things we will continue to work with the Federal Government on are about governance structures, where nurses are included and also consumers. “The Federation has been particularly very supportive of many of the Federal Government’s initiatives in health and certainly Medicare Locals is one of those.” APNA president Julianne Badenoch said nurses will be natural lead clinicians under the initiative. “Nurses can and do contribute robustly to their communities and evidence shows that nurses working in primary health care are drivers of change for the benefit of the communities they work in,” Ms Badenoch said. "It is an important period of growth and recognition for primary health care nurses and APNA are buoyed by the prospects for our nurses to be identified for the important work they do in the community.” The first Medicare Locals will begin operating from July 1. They include four in New South Wales, five in Queensland, two in South Australia, two in Western Australia, one in Tasmania and one in the ACT. Four more have been earmarked for Victoria but are yet to be announced. Related articles: Share your thoughts Related and Recent Articles
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