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The Nurse and Midwife Health Program Australia is now open

The Nurse and Midwife Health Program Australia is now open

ANMF Federal Assistant Secretary Lori-Anne Sharp, Federal President Sally Anne Jones and Federal Secretary Annie Butler at the launch of NMHPA. Source: ANMF Federal

Earlier this year we reported that the national Nurse and Midwife Health Program Australia (NMHPA) was set to launch in 2024. As of 30 April, the program is now live and accepting clients.

Based on Victoria’s longstanding Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria (NMHPV), the NMHPA is the result of a 2022 election commitment by Anthony Albanese being implemented.

Federal ANMF had sought a commitment from the then opposition leader to support a national extension of the successful Victorian program, and Anthony Albanese promised to implement such a program and provide funding up to $23 million if elected.

On 15 November 2022, the Albanese Government announced a $25.2 million investment to establish and run the new national program, which will benefit from NMHPV’s experience over almost 20 years of operation.

Like its Victorian counterpart, the NMHPA is a free, confidential and independent service for nurses and midwives, as well as nursing and midwifery students, experiencing any sensitive health issue. It is founded on the following principles:

  • Individual focused – focused on the mental and physical wellbeing of nurses and midwives, providing flexible, empowering and collaborative care.
  • Integrated – supporting nurses and midwives to connect to trusted health professionals, ensuring a smooth referral pathway between the participant and the health professional.
  • Equitable and inclusive – a free, welcoming, compassionate, culturally safe, and appropriate environment.
  • Clinical governance and accountability – to ensure quality standards and clinical competence and reporting requirements.

The Albanese Government has committed to a five-year investment to deliver the NMHPA, which is being rolled out in stages. The peer-led, specialist counselling service has started with national telehealth consultations, and is working towards establishing four hubs and regional offices later this year that will offer face-to-face and telehealth services.

NMHPA Implementation Director Heather Pickard said the new service enables early intervention to address sensitive health issues faced by the nursing and midwifery workforce and, in turn, supports job satisfaction and retention.

Advocating help-seeking behaviours

‘Through the NMHPA, we’re strongly promoting and advocating help-seeking behaviours,’ she said. ‘In our professions we’re often not wired or used to putting our own needs or self-care first, so it’s important to reinforce that if we have concerns and aren’t feeling right that help is at hand.’

Ms Denise Heinjus, NMHPA Chair, described the service as a program that will care for nurses and midwives in order for them to care for others.

‘To be a nurse or midwife is not to be immune to the challenges or the vulnerabilities experienced by the general community,’ she said. ‘I think back to my days of hospital-based training as a very naïve 17-year-old and how ill-equipped I was to support a colleague struggling with years of family abuse and alcohol addiction. My colleague did not see a brighter future and alcohol numbed her personal pain. She died aged 22 years from sclerosis of the liver. My colleague deserved better; she was a great nurse. What a difference a service like the NMHPA would have made: exploring safe housing options and time away from the workplace to deal with issues of violence, addiction and mental health.’

Continuing, she added that ‘as nurses and midwives demonstrated enormous courage throughout the pandemic, we trust they will show personal courage by raising the flag when they too need help. The NMHPA services are free, non-judgemental, safe and inclusive. Nurses, midwives and undergraduates can self-refer or be referred by a colleague, friend, family member or employer.’

In launching the service, Ms Heinjus acknowledged the role of ANMF in securing the funds, and the trailblazing work of the NMHPV. ‘The Victorian program is the blueprint for the national program to provide personalised care to nurses, midwives and students across Australia.’

At the launch of NMHPA, left to right: NMHPA Board member Pip Carew, ANMF Federal President Sally Anne Jones, ANMF Federal Assistant Secretary Lori-Anne Sharp, NMHPA Director Heather Pickard, ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler, ANMF ACT Branch Secretary Carlyn Fidow, and NMHPA Deputy Director Mark Aitken. Source: ANMF Federal

At the launch of NMHPA, left to right: NMHPA Board member Pip Carew, ANMF Federal President Sally Anne Jones, ANMF Federal Assistant Secretary Lori-Anne Sharp, NMHPA Director Heather Pickard, ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler, ANMF ACT Branch Secretary Carlyn Fidow, and NMHPA Deputy Director Mark Aitken. Source: ANMF Federal

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