Tradition and reality: nursing and politics in Australia

Tradition a n d reality: nursing a n d politics in Australia This is the title of a new book by Bridgid McCoppin and Heather Gardner and published by Churchill Livingstone, Melbourne. It is an account of A u s t r a l i a n n u r s i n g , particularly in its relation to the political system, and of nurses' efforts to become a recognised part of that system, an accepted voice in p o l i c y - m a k i n g , w h e t h e r in government, in the union movement or in the workplace. Throughout, nursing is analysed and described as part of the Australian social and political structure which is integral to work, especially women's work, and to the d e v e l o p m e n t of the m o d e r n h e a l t h care system. The voices of nurses themselves speak throughout the test, enlivening and expanding the description of events and ideas t h r o u g h their o w n c o m m e n t s and interpretations. Australian nurses have advanced politically in a number of policy arenas. They have become m o r e p r o m i n e n t in w o r k p l a c e decisionmaking; their industrial and professional organisations are more unified and have

d e v e l o p e d clear policies and they are establishing themselves securely in higher education. Through these achievements, nurses have transformed an entire profession from one preoccupied with its traditional ideas and practices of the past to one able to face the political realities of the present, and with greater control over nursing and its future. The research for this book was supported by a grant from the Royal College of Nursing, Australia. The book can be purchased at major bookshops for $29.95. Heather and Bridgid, who are senior lecturers in the School of Behavioural Health Sciences, Faculty of H e a l t h Sciences, La Trobe University Melbourne, publish widely in nursing and political journals. The second edition of their first book Politics of Health will be published next year.

Review of ANRAC competencies (Left to right) Professor P e n n y Little, Professor Margaret McMillan a n d M s H e l e n Baker outside the n e w R C N A b u i l d i n g in C a n b e r r a . The review of ANRAC competencies for registered and enrolled nurses, scheduled for 5 years after their acceptance by nurses, will take place between October 1994 and August 1995. The review team is led by Professor Margaret McMillan, who takes up the position of Professor and Dean of the School of N u r s i n g at the University of Newcastle next year. Professor McMillan will be assisted by Professor Penny Little, who is Director of the Problem Based Learning and Research Centre (PROBLARC) in the University of Western Sydney, Macarthur and Ms Helen Baker, who was recently appointed as senior research fellow at the University. Ms Baker was formerly a research fellow at the Geelong Hospital and Deakin University, COLLEGIAN VOLUME 2 (1) JANUARY 1995

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Geelong, Victoria. The members of the team bring to the project expertise from academic and clinical settings and experience in developing standards. The project is funded by the Australian Nursing Council Inc. An interim report will be submitted to the Council in August next year and it is anticipated that the final report will be available before the end of 1995. Written submissions have been called for in the national press and nursing print media. Guidelines for submissions and expressions of interest in forwarding a submission or for participation in workshops can be forwarded to Ms Rosali Harland, Faculty of Health, University of Western Sydney, Macarthur: PO Box 555, C a m p b c l l t o w n , NSW 2560. Tel: (02) 772 9231 or fax: (02) 773 0998. ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING. AUSTRALIA