The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care have developed an updated supply and demand model (model) for the nursing workforce. The most recent data available on the supply and demand of the nursing workforce in Australia was last published in 2014, using the 2012 data from Health Workforce Australia (HWA). Importantly, the nursing workforce surpassed the number of nurses predicted by HWA for 2025, in 2022 and yet Australia is still experiencing nursing workforce shortages across all sectors.
The updated model uses more robust data, including the National Health Workforce Data Set, which is updated annually and has a greater than 90% participation rate. The model is built using a microsimulation approach which is a modelling technique for simulating a set of data at individual provider level. The model also used the Lifetime Transition and Estimation (LiTE) model. The LiTE model estimates, to 2050, the prevalence of chronic conditions, frailty and support needs, as well as the size and composition of the Australian population.
The data provided from the model is a key source of information contributing to the development of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy. Consultation on the methodology included the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery. This presentation will share insights from the model as well as discussing plans for this model into the future.

Aim/Objective: It has been over 10 years since the Australian nurse teacher professional practice standards (‘the Standards’) have been reviewed. The aim of the study was to review the Standards (previously called competencies) to see if they reflected current nursing educator practice and modify the Standards where needed.
Methods: A modified Delphi technique was used to obtain consensus on the relevance of the Standards’ statements to any nursing educator. Data collection was via two electronic surveys to an expert panel of nursing educator leaders and two online focus groups of nursing educators from any setting.
Results: Forty participants responded to the first survey and 38 to the second. A total of 15 nursing educators attended the focus groups. There was ≥85% agreement on all statements in the first survey, with some having 100% agreement. Wording changes and examples/cues for statements were sent in a second Delphi survey, with similar high agreement responses. The focus group data contributed to development of the second Delphi survey. Changes in the Standards included language used around culture, inclusion of ‘sustainability of the program’, and ‘demonstrates knowledge and expertise in teaching and educational practice’.
Conclusion: The Delphi surveys and focus groups allowed educators to contribute to a review of their professional practice standards. The Australian nurse teacher professional practice standards remain highly relevant to nursing educators across all settings. However, some changes to language, and contextual examples were made in response to feedback from nursing educators, resulting in the 2024 revised Standards.

Background: The rapid digital transformation in healthcare necessitates the integration of electronic medical records (eMR) in nursing education. This study explores the implementation and efficacy of an Australian Academic electronic Medical Records (AAeMR) program among third-year undergraduate nursing students at a regional Australian university, aiming to bridge the theory-practice gap and enhance digital literacy.
Methods: An inductive qualitative thematic analysis was conducted on focus group data involving third-year nursing students who participated in the AAeMR program. The program was designed to simulate key uses of eMR, such as electronic charting, medication dispensing, and patient assessment data entry.
Results: Four main themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Preparedness for electronic change in healthcare, 2) Comparison of e-learning with traditional methods, 3) Safety and efficiency in using workstations on wheels, and 4) The impact of technology on patient care. The program was found to effectively prepare students for using electronic records in clinical settings, enhancing their readiness for professional practice. Students reported an appreciation for the safe environment provided by the simulation for practicing skills and recognized the program's role in strengthening patient-centered care delivery.
Conclusion: The AAeMR program demonstrates significant potential in enhancing undergraduate nursing education by preparing students for the digital demands of contemporary healthcare. By incorporating simulated eMR experiences, the program supports the development of digital literacy and professional competence. Recommendations include the integration of learning theory in curriculum design and a scaffolded approach to eMR program implementation in nursing education.

Aim/Objective: Nurses and midwives are frontline healthcare providers for women and girls living with female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM is a harmful cultural practice with short and long-term negative health consequences. Globally, about 200 million women and girls have undergone FGM, and more than 53,000 of them are living in Australia. Nurses and midwives in western countries are consistently reported as facing challenges when communicating with and engaging affected women. We report the use of innovative art-based body-mapping in engaging women living with FGM.
Methods: Participants were drawn from established network of women’s health centres working with women living with FGM. Each woman was allocated 1 hour to undertake a body map. This involves tracing around an image of a woman’s body to create a live sized outline to be filled with images, words and colours, that embrace the non-verbal and symbolic aspects of a phenomena. Afterwards, each participant was requested to talk about their body mapping and what these mean through a semi-structured digitally tape-recorded face-to-face interview format which lasted between 15-40minutes. We looked for common phrases, reoccurring statements and reoccurring part of the body mapping that the women paid most attention to. These were thematically analysed for emerging themes.
Results: Six women of Sudan, Egypt, Iraq and Indonesia background aged 46 years and over participated in the study. Using a predominant red colour and symbols such as hearts pierced through with knife, the women explained that the consequence of FGM is more than the altered female genitalia. They spoke about ongoing emotional, sexual and reproductive health issues.
Conclusion: Interventions targeted at empowering nurses and midwives in therapeutic engagement with women living with FGM need to be creative in approach. Through innovative body-mapping approach, health providers can access important information beyond the spoken words, for provision of holistic health care.