It is estimated that in excess of 70,000 ANMF members live and/or work in rural and remote parts of Australia. The ANMF is active on a number of fronts to positively influence policy in relation to nursing and midwifery workforce and health and aged care in general.

Rural and Remote Health

A snapshot of areas in which the ANMF represents nursing and midwifery

• Health Workforce Australia National Rural and Remote Health Workforce Strategy – representation on the Expert Reference Group for developing the Strategy;
• Telehealth - representation on the Australian Government National Telehealth Advisory Group; partner in the Telehealth Nursing and Midwifery Consortia;
• Personally controlled electronic health record (PCEHR) – participation in National e-Health forums; submissions to the Australian Government in relation to the legislative framework; collaborative work with the National e-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) on the implementation;
• Practice Nurse Incentive Program (PNIP) – representation on the Australian Government PNIP Advisory Group for the development and implementation of the new funding model;
• Australian Government funded scholarships for nurses and midwives – represent the interests of our nursing and midwifery members on the scholarship advisory and selection committees; see ACN
• Working Safe in Rural and Remote Australia Project – a unique partnership of health professionals, teachers and police, combining forces to develop a national framework for action for a whole-of-community response to working safely (see details below).

National Rural Health Alliance

The ANMF is one of the 32 national organisations in the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA), working collaboratively to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Australia's rural and remote areas. The Alliance is tireless in lobbying the Australian Government on a range of health care inequities experienced by country people. They have a particular concern for the health and welfare issues of people living in Indigenous communities. The ANMF is represented on the Council through the Senior Federal Professional Officer.

The Alliance provides the ANMF with the opportunity for collegial support and networking whilst undertaking advocacy/lobbying work with other national organisations having common concerns and a shared vested interest in the health and wellbeing of people in rural and remote parts of Australia. Through the NRHA, the ANMF contributes to the discussion and development of broad Government policy to effect health and social change for these communities.