ACN began operating on 1 July 2012 and continues to build on the strength of its two predecessor organisations: the Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) and The College of Nursing (TCoN), both of whom have represented the nursing profession since 1949. ACN is a public company limited by guarantee and a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission.

Our purpose is to enhance health care for the Australian community by advancing the nursing profession, developing the knowledge and skills of nurses, nurturing their leadership skills and supporting them to be the best nurse that they can be. All nurses can be leaders, regardless of their job title or position. Leadership is a mindset and a set of actions, commitments and beliefs that produce results. Nurse leaders and nurses with leadership skills are needed at every level of the health and aged care systems, to inform and shape the strategic direction and drive the necessary changes.

ACN recognises the importance of nurse leadership and the need to develop a nurse’s leadership skills. Our aim is to enhance the leadership skills and expertise of nurses throughout their career, to enable them to contribute to the policy, practice and delivery of health services and aged care.

Our mission is to “advance nurse leadership to enhance health care”. There are four key ways that we do this:

1. ACN ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF THE NURSING PROFESSION

As a professional nursing organisation, we advocate at state and federal levels with Ministers and Health Departments and provide valuable insight and recommendations from a nursing perspective.

2. THE EXPERTISE OF ACN’S MEMBERS HELPS TO SHAPE HEALTH CARE AND AGED CARE POLICIES

We provide a collective voice for the nursing profession by utilising our members' experience and knowledge to provide input into health and aged care debate and policy. We provide opportunities for our members to shape our position statements about important aspects of nursing, aged care and health care delivery to all Australians.

3. ACN IS A LEADING MEMBER ORGANISATION FOR ASPIRING AND EXISTING NURSE LEADERS

As a nursing member organisation, we provide networking opportunities for our members so they can develop their professional potential and leadership skills and raise their profile. We are an information hub for our members and offer them a number of convenient and valuable tools including career development, leadership skills development, networking and library services.

4. ACN IS AN ACCREDITED HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDER FOR QUALIFIED NURSES

As an educational organisation, our postgraduate, continuing professional development (CPD) and training courses are renowned for equipping nurses with further knowledge of their chosen specialty and extending their clinical skills. We specialise in nurse leadership education, courses and workshops. ACN also develops bespoke customised education courses to meet organisational training needs.