The ANMF has a new Federal Assistant Secretary. Registered nurse Catelyn Richards has stepped into the national leadership role with a background that spans paediatric nursing, union organising and climate advocacy.
From the bedside at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital to campaigning for stronger action on climate and health, she brings a broad perspective on the challenges facing nurses and midwives today.
Hailing from Bridport, a small rural town on Tasmania’s north-east coast, Catelyn weighed up offers to do study both law and nursing after finishing high school. “I wanted to pursue a career where I could have a direct impact giving back to the community. I wanted to have skills that I could use in community, being from a rural and remote area myself. Healthcare is so translatable across contexts and health is something that’s so foundational for everything that we do.”
Catelyn joined the ANMF Victorian Branch as a student and later expanded her undertaking of unionism through ‘Union Summer’, a paid internship run by Victorian Trades Hall Council. Her union journey continued when she moved back to Tasmania mid-COVID pandemic and became an organiser with the ANMF Tasmanian Branch advocating for members to resolve workplace issues.
A co-founder of Climate Action Nurses in 2021, Catelyn became the ANMF’s first Climate Change Officer in 2025. Transitioning to her federal leadership role, Catelyn says she is committed to improving conditions for the ANMF’s 356,000 members.
