7 June 2002

This Mothers' Day is also International Nurses Day

Draft Social Charter to be launched this morning for public comment

The Queensland Nursing Council (ANC) and Queensland Nurses' Union (QNU) held meetings with nursing and community organisations in March to discuss the concept of a social charter for nursing in Queensland.

The QNC and QNU have subsequently compiled a draft social charter document based on the feedback received at these consultations.

This charter is a brief statement of broad principles regarding the role of nurses working with the community.  It encompasses issues such as the invluable contribution that nurses and nursing make to the community as well as the community's expectations with regard to nurses, nursing and the provision of nursing services.  This is a draft document and has been prepared for comment as a starting point for further development of a charter.

The Minister for Health, Hon. Wendy Edmond, has agreed to launch the draft charter today - International Nurses Day, Sunday 12 May 2002.  Following its launch this morning, there will be a period of public consultation on the content and form of the statement.  Once a statement is finalised then community and nursing organisations will be invited to publicly endorse it.

International Nurses Day is celebrated each year on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birthday - 12 May.