New network for Australian gerontological nurses
The Gerontological Alliance of Nurses Australia aims to raise the profile and increase the number of nurses looking after older people.
A new alliance established by nursing academics aims to raise the profile and increase the numbers of nurses caring for older people in Australia.
Named the Gerontological Alliance of Nurses Australia, the initiative was launched at University of Canberra and University of Wollongong on 6 October.
The organisation “will offer a forum that supports the professional development of gerontological professionals,” said cofounder Associate Professor of Gerontological Nursing at the University of Canberra Dr Kasia Bail.
With around one quarter of all Australians predicted to be aged 65 years or over by 2050, it’s important gerontological nursing is promoted as making a crucial contribution to the health and wellbeing of older Australians, she said.
“Our mission is to build a community in which members share specialist knowledge and skills to support the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based and holistic care to older Australians, both in hospital and aged care settings and at home,” said Dr Bail, who is president of GANA along with fellow cofounder Professor of Nursing at the University of Wollongong Professor Victoria Traynor (pictured together above).
Mission statement
GANA hopes to achieve its mission by:
- promoting the wisdom of First Nations Australians to inform the alliance
- collaborating with like-minded organisations
- providing mentoring opportunities for gerontological nurses
- ensuring the experiences of the culturally and linguistically diverse are acknowledged in the work that they do
- providing evidence-based practice strategies to improve the quality of nursing care for older Australians
- advocating for the human rights of older people.
“Through these initiatives and more, we want to nurture the future generation of gerontological nurses and equip them with the skills and capacity to help meet the complex needs of older people,” said Dr Bail.
The aged care sector is currently facing an acute shortage of registered nurses, Dr Bail told Australian Ageing Agenda. “We need an increase of 45 per cent registered nurses in aged care by the middle of 2024.”
As well as RNs, GANA membership is open to student nurses, assistants in nursing, enrolled nurses, and advanced practice nurses.
“It’s really important that we build up a collegial environment, and help the industry see the opportunities in career development,” said Dr Bail.
Main image: GANA founders Professor Victoria Traynor (left) and Associate Professor Kasia Bail
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