Canberra’s COVID-19 response workforce will soon be boosted by student nurses, with the ACT Government giving them the green light to dispense COVID-19 vaccinations.
Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith said the government had been working to rapidly expand the territory’s vaccination and testing workforce ahead of expected increases in vaccine supply.
“We have been working closely with the ACT health care sector, unions, professional peak bodies and universities to bring student health practitioners on board to assist in the ACT’s COVID-19 pandemic response,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“We have made changes that allow the Chief Health Officer to make decisions during this public health emergency to allow specific types of student health practitioners to assist our pandemic response workforce.
“The Chief Health Officer is using a staged approach, starting with the addition of enrolled nurses, student nurses and student midwives from today, and considering medical and other student health practitioners to come on board as soon as possible.”
The ACT Government has amended the Medicines Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation (2008) to allow the Chief Health Officer to specify groups of people who will temporarily be able to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
The Minister said the move was an emergency measure that will end after 12 months without a declared COVID-19 public health emergency.
She said the suitability of individuals to be included in the program will be assessed based on their level of study and demonstrated competency.
“They will be inducted, trained and supervised to ensure the ACT community is receiving safe and quality care.”
ANMF ACT Branch Secretary, Matthew Daniel said student nurses and midwives were well place to help in the fight against COVID-19.
“The ANMF ACT Branch is pleased to have reached agreement with the ACT Government on establishing the student role within the nursing and midwifery workforce.”
“An agreement struck between the ANMF ACT Branch and the ACT Government on the introduction of student nurses and midwives will ensure that their contribution is properly recognised through pay and conditions and that the new role reflects the skills and abilities they can bring to the fight against COVID,” he said.
