AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

A.C.T. NURSES REGISTRATION ORDINANCE

AMENDING ORDINANCE

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

No. 8 of 1960

	Nursing aids are ancillary personnel whose role in hospitals is to relieve highly skilled nurses of many tasks which do not require a fully qualified nurse’s skill and training.  The Ordinance has until now required that a person must undergo for a period of two years an approved course of training, and pass the necessary examinations, before being entitled to apply to the Nurses Registration Board for enrolment as a nursing aid.  The provision for a two-year course was originally in line with the training requirements in New South Wales, but that State has passed legislation reducing the required course of training to one year, which is the period stipulated in most States.  The amendment brings the A.C.T. requirements again into line with the New South Wales provision.

(Donald A. Cameron)
Minister for Health