The Australasian Trained Nurses’ Association was first established in Sydney in 1899 as a professional association. Branches were formed in other States: Tasmania joined in 1908 with a membership of about 50, which also included some doctors.

In 1924 the Australian Nursing Federation was formed as an unincorporated association comprising the ATNA, its State branches and the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses’ Association (RVTNA). This national nursing organisation of ATNA branches and ANF operated until the 1950s.

Operated as an independent nurses union between 1944 and 1952, when its responsibilities passed to the Australian United Nurses Association (AUNA). In 1947 the TNU voted to go out of existence to allow the Trained Nurses Guild (TNG) to take over industrial functions at a State level. The Trained Nurses Guild was registered by a group of Victorian nurses under federal industrial legislation in 1922. In 1945 the TNG applied for a federal award and in 1949 changed its name to the Australian United Nurses Association to facilitate amalgamation with ANF to form a national nursing organisation. Amalgamation did not occur until 1970.

Meetings between the ANF and the AUNA had been ongoing with no agreement to amalgamate into one body. In 1953 an application was made by the AUNA for a change of name to the Australian Nursing Federation, Employees Section (ANFES). State branches were requested to set up “Employee Sections” and in Tasmania a sub committee was established to deal with State Awards with the sub committee effectively becoming ANFES.

The “Royal” prefix was granted to the ANF in 1955 (during a visit by Queen Elizabeth II) and became known as the Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF). During a Federal Council meeting of RANF in Hobart in 1970 agreement was finally reached for the amalgamation of the RANF with ANFES to form one national nursing organisation known as the RANF. The amalgamated national organisation continued to carry out the functions of both bodies; industrial, professional and educational improvement and recognition for nurses. At the meeting of RANF Federal Council in September 1987 there was agreement for the removal of “Royal” from its title and it became ANF.

All of the organisations that have evolved into today’s ANMF have achieved a great deal toward the acknowledgement of the nursing profession and legislation for improvements in nursing and our health system. Today the ANMF Tasmanian Branch cover not only nurses, but have expanded to include midwives and care workers as part of the nursing team. We now service over 8,000 members across the state.

HERC is a Skills Tasmania endorsed Registered Training Organisation (RTO 40736). Established in 2013, it is the initiative of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch. The purpose-built education space provides accessible, high-quality training for health professionals. In addition to providing nursing qualifications, HERC also offers a wide range of continued professional development (CPD) opportunities. You can learn more about HERC and view the CPD sessions in your area.