Nursing & Midwifery Policy, Department of Health

Nursing and Midwifery Policy is located in the Wellness, Integrated Care and Ageing Division of the Department of Health (DH).

We support a sustainable and integrated approach to the health workforce in Victoria by:
• Providing advice on the nursing and midwifery workforce; its skill, size and distribution
• Supporting the activities of public health services in Victoria to recruit and retain nurses and midwives
• Promoting innovation, development and optimal skill-mix of the nursing and midwifery workforce to deliver contemporary and responsive health, aged care and community services, and
• Contributing to the promotion of nursing and midwifery as career choices in the community.

Our policies and programs bring together the three interrelated elements of an integrated nursing and midwifery workforce framework:
• Supporting transitions and reform
• Promoting professional practice
• Enhancing the working lives of nurses and midwives

Supporting transitions and reform through: Policies and programs that recognise the key points of transition in a nursing and midwifery career including initial entry to practice, re-entering the workforce and practice in new areas.

Promoting professional practice through: Policies and programs that ensure nurses and midwives continually develop their practice and are supported to practice to the full extent of their competence.

Enhancing the working lives of nurses and midwives through: – policies and programs that promote healthy, productive and sustainable environments for nurses and midwives to practice in, including through targeted approaches to human capital management and health/safety.