What’s Happening!!

Keep up to date with all that is happening in community and at CATSINaM.

White Paper on workforce wellbeing and burnout

Earlier this year, Professor Roianne West participated in a roundtable discussion about burnout in the health workforce.

Overcoming barriers to diversity – particularly racism – is crucial. “Evidence tells us that you need an Indigenous health workforce to increase access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” said Prof. Roianne West.

A White Paper has now been published and is available to review.

Burnout White Paper Download

CATSINaM Congratulates Australia’s newest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing and midwifery graduates

Approximately 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives have completed their studies and placements in some of the most difficult circumstances faced in living memory.

This year’s graduates have succeeded in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, border closures, and the ongoing pressures on the healthcare system. They’ve also succeeded in the face of adversity; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery students are 30 per cent less likely to succeed in their programs and make up for only 1.3 per cent of the Nursing and Midwifery workforce nationally.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives are fundamental to addressing in equalities in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

Professor Karen Strickland, Executive Committee Chair of the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery, Australia and New Zealand congratulates all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives who are graduating this year.

“These new graduates have succeeded through an extremely challenging two years and are a credit to the professions they are about to join,” she said.

CATSINaM CEO, Professor Roianne West said the graduates join a contingent of health professionals Australians hold in the highest regard.

“At this time in our nation’s history, knowing our health workforce will be bolstered by such a resilient and adaptable group of new nurses and midwives is great news,” Professor West said.

“These new graduates have demonstrated just how responsive nurses and midwives are to a challenge, whether it’s completing their studies and placements or caring for the community”.

CATSINaM’s Board President, Marni Tuala said the graduates will rise to the challenge of caring for Australians in hospitals, clinics, and other health settings around the country.

“On behalf of the CATSINaM board, I wish them all the best in their coming careers,”

“Australians are rightfully proud of our nurses and midwives for their integral work during COVID. So many nurses have continued in their roles despite the risk to their own health,” she said.

This year’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery graduates will join the more than 5000 registered Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives in Australia.

Nurses and midwives are integral to healthcare delivery in team-based settings, especially in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health areas.

All of Australia’s nursing and midwifery graduates can be proud to have completed their studies and contributed to the care of Australians at this challenging time.

CATSINaM lodge pre-budget submission

The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM) put forward their 2022-23 pre-budget submission to the Australian Government on 16 December 2021, detailing actionable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing and midwifery workforce solutions to support the goal of improving Indigenous Health.

The submission considers significant challenges to meeting the health needs, rights and expectations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and presents ways forward to support the Australian Government’s goal of improving Indigenous Health.

CATSINaM’s submission recommends investment in Indigenous health and Cultural Safety and the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives through funding the following four actionable solutions:

The development of a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery Workforce Strategy.
Establishment of the CATSINaM National Support Line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives.
Development and stewardship of the CATSINaM Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety Education Standards and Endorsement Program.
Development and stewardship of the CATSINaM Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care Practice Standards and Endorsement Program.

To download a copy of the submission or to read our media release, click download below.

CATSINaM pre-budget submission 2022-23 Download

Media release-pre-budget submission Download

Online conference series announced!

With COVID-19 providing challenges of border closures, lockdowns and more, we had to make the decision to move some of our conferences online – we didn’t want you mob to miss out!

Our online events calendar is as follows:

1 November – New South Wales 9-3pm (AEDT)

2 November – Western Australia 9 – 3pm (AWST)

3 November – Australian Capital Territory 12 – 4pm (AEDT)

CPD hours are also available to those that attend – six hours for Sydney and WA and four hours for Canberra. A full program of speakers will be released soon!

To register your attendance, click here

CEO Professor Roianne West receives second dose of COVID-19 vaccine

CATSINaM CEO, Roianne West has received her second and final vaccine for COVID-19, supporting #OurJobToProtectMob.

To keep up with the news about COVID-19, sign up to the NACCHO updates – https://www.naccho.org.au/aboriginal-health-alerts-coronavirus-covid-19/

Launch of CATSINaM’s Online Community ‘Back to the Fire’

Launch of ‘Back to the Fire’ (formerly CATSINaM Connect)

A Message from CATSINaM CEO Professor Roianne West

“Yumalundi“

I am excited to announce the launch of our community platform ‘Back to the Fire’. This is a place to connect, network,
encourage and empower each other to continue our journeys in nursing and/or Midwifery in a culturally safe and private forum. Connect, Network, Encourage and Empower were key elements that members sought from CATSINaM. We have listened and have created this community platform which meets all those elements and also ensure we realise our vision “Unity and Strength Through Caring”

Over the coming months we will develop a range of smaller communities that encapsulates the cultural, professional, personal interest of our members.

In ‘Back to the Fire’ there is a place for you to connect with other members by posting messages, grow your network and ask questions.

Over the last few weeks 30 CATSINaM members volunteered their time to help us test the site and develop content. We look forward to your feedback and suggestions on how we can further improve your ‘Back to the Fire’ Online Community.

National NAIDOC Week 2021

National NAIDOC Week 2021 (4 July – 11 July)

Heal Country (2021 theme)

Heal Country! – calls for stronger measures to recognise, protect, and maintain all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage.

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Find out more about National NAIDOC Week

Nursing Now Finale Highlights

Nursing Now was a three-year global awareness campaign which, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the International Council of Nurses, aimed to raise the status and profile of nursing around the world. The initiative, which has been patroned by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, worked to empower nurses to take their place at the heart of tackling 21st Century health challenges. ACN is proud to have coordinated the Nursing Now Australia campaign. Join us for a look back at how we came together to support and make the Nursing Now campaign a success.