With health a key election issue, the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) held focus groups with Australian nurses to identify their concerns in primary health care.
The message was loud and clear: nurses are underutilised, undervalued by the health system, and not respected as highly skilled healthcare professionals.
Barriers holding them back
Funding models prevent nurses from working to their full scope of practice. In particular, the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) continues to prioritise general practitioner-led care.
"There are so many things that we could do for patients," said one nurse practitioner from South Australia. "There are so many things that we could offer, but MBS items don't pay for us."
Nurses also report being held back by outdated employer ideas of what they are qualified to do. This was backed up by APNA's 2024 Workforce Survey, which found:
- Nearly one-third of nurses said they rarely or only occasionally worked to their full scope of practice.
- Almost half had asked to take on more complex clinical duties—yet only 21% of those requests were approved.
- More than 50% of nurses reported performing non-clinical tasks like administration and cleaning.
One registered nurse in a general practice in South Australia said they were rostered as a receptionist alongside their nursing duties and did not feel recognised for their skills.
"I'm a nurse. I'm not a doctor's assistant... I'm not a KPI. I'm a person, and I'm a professional. And it just doesn't get seen."
Patients pay the price.
Nurses told APNA that these systemic barriers lead to poorer patient outcomes.
"I've had patients die while waiting to see a general practitioner," said a nurse practitioner from WA.
The nurse practitioner, who sees patients in their homes, is qualified to triage patients, carry out investigations, and refer to other care, but they are blocked from doing so, resulting in less timely patient care.
These barriers are particularly detrimental to patients with complex needs and have had life-limiting implications.
"People with disability are dying 27 years earlier than their non-disabled counterparts, said a registered nurse and NDIS provider from South Australia. "And it's not because of their disability, but because of the way that they are managed."
They say the discriminatory practices their patients experience have led to missed diagnoses and premature death from preventable illnesses.
"If I wasn't taking care of these patients…some of them would die."
Nurses are the solution
Despite having an average of 21 years of experience, too many nurses still feel they're treated as assistants rather than experienced clinicians.
As the largest health workforce in the country, nurses must be supported to work to their full scope of practice, recognised as health care leaders, and respected as skilled health clinicians essential for quality patient care.
Related reading: Nurses are the Solution Campaign
Key Facts:
A total of three focus groups were attended by 20 APNA members, from a wide range of primary health care settings around Australia.
The focus groups were held in early April.
About us:
About APNA
The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) is the peak body and professional membership association for all nurses working outside of a hospital setting in Australia. APNA champions the role of primary health care nurses; to advance professional recognition, ensure workforce sustainability, nurture leadership in health, and optimise the role of nurses in patient-centred care.
APNA is bold, vibrant and future-focused. We reflect the views of our membership and the broader profession by bringing together nurses from across Australia to represent, advocate, promote and celebrate the achievements of nurses in primary health care.
APNA represents a significant and rapidly expanding workforce; primary health care nurses account for around one in eight of the 640,000 registered health professionals in Australia
