ANMF – Bringing Nurses Together From Around The Globe

Lori-Anne Sharp, ANMF Assistant Federal Secretary

I was fortunate to represent the ANMF at the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Triad meetings in Geneva, Switzerland in May this year. The ICN’s theme this year was health is a human right.

Every two years ICN hosts a meeting of its member organisations in Geneva in advance of the World Health Assembly. These meetings bring together national nursing and midwifery organisations, chief government nursing and midwifery officers, regulatory bodies and the World Health Organization (WHO). Over 80 countries were in attendance representing 20 million nurses worldwide.

The four-day Triad meetings focused on ways to support and strengthen nursing and midwifery leadership at national, regional and international levels in the broader context of health workforce, health systems and global health priorities.

Countries shared their stories on recruitment and retention, impact of burnout, social determinants of health, and effects of climate change, universal health coverage and the high percentage of deaths globally attributed to non-communicable diseases.

I was both delighted and impressed to hear that one of the case studies chosen was from Brisbane’s outreach service “homeless to healthcare”, demonstrating how nurses are working to break the poverty cycle in their delivery of healthcare to those experiencing homelessness.

I left the Triad meetings grateful to have experienced this unique opportunity and the chance to share knowledge, network and learn from other health professionals around the globe. I was often reminded how lucky we are here in Australia, compared with many other countries - while not losing sight that there is still much work to be done here, especially in the areas of aged care, mental health, addressing inequality and raising the status of nurses and midwives in supporting them to lead change.