State and federal chief nursing officers from around Australia will arrive in Melbourne this week to take part in a panel forum at the 2009 Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) Annual Conference.

The forum will be presented by the Australia and New Zealand Council of Chief Nurses and will be attended by:

• Rosemary Bryant, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, Department of Health and Ageing.
• Adjunct Associate Professor Fiona Stoker, Chief Nursing Officer, Tasmania
• Adjunct Professor Belinda Moyes, Principal Nurse Advisor, Victoria
• Adjunct Professor Jenny Beutel, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, South Australia
• Adjunct Associate Professor Pauline Ross, Chief Nursing Officer, Queensland.

RCNA Chief Executive Officer, Debra Cerasa FRCNA, describes the panel forum as one of the highlights of the RCNA Annual Conference.

“The forum is a unique opportunity at an Australian conference for delegates to meet with a number of Australia’s chief nurses in the one place.

“Australia’s chief nurses play an important role in policy development, and in ensuring there is a nursing voice at the senior levels of government. It’s great for our delegates to have the chance to engage with these chief nurses on issues that are really affecting the profession.”

The 2009 RCNA Annual Conference takes place in Melbourne from 2 – 4 September 2009 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Chief Nurse Panel Forum will take place on Thursday 3 September at 11.00am.