FLORENCE Nightingale – the English pioneer of modern nursing – was born on May 12, 1820 in Italy during her family’s travels through Europe.

Later known as the Lady with the Lamp, she was named after the city in which she was born.

In 1853, after training in Germany and Italy, Florence Nightingale returned to England, and the following year the Crimean War broke out.

The Secretary of War, Sidney Herbert, asked Nightingale to manage a group of 38 nurses that could treat wounded soldiers on the battlefields – and a nursing legend was born.

Today, on Florence Nightingale’s birthday, International Nurses Day celebrates nurses worldwide.

Minister for Health Ryan Park thanked nurses for the important role they play in providing compassionate care and clinical expertise in a range of clinical, outpatient, and community settings.

International Nurses Day is an opportunity to shine a light on the incredible dedication nurses show every day in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care to thousands of people across the state.

International Nurses Day is the perfect time to nominate nurses for the Healing Heart Award, as part of the 2025 Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.

The Healing Heart Award recognises a nurse or midwife whose compassion, kindness, professionalism, or other attributes stood out.

Nominations for the Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards are open until 12 June.

People can nominate here: Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards 2025.

The Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards consist of nine awards, including seven local health district and specialty network nominated awards, one consumer-nominated Healing Heart award and one colleague-nominated Healing Heart award.

Mr Park said nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system.

“I want to thank each and every one of them for the vital role they play in our health system,” Mr Park said.

“Their contributions are critical to ensuring safe, effective, and compassionate healthcare, and their commitment is essential to the resilience of the entire health system.

“The care and expertise provided by nurses supports thousands of people across our state every single day, and International Nurses Day is a chance to shine a light on the incredible work they do.”

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation also recognises and celebrates the dedication, skill and compassion of nursing professionals, who deliver quality care when it is needed most across the community.

This year’s theme – Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies – emphasises the need to support the health and well-being of nurses.

ANMF federal secretary Annie Butler said a healthy Australian nursing workforce is critical in building a stronger Australian health system and providing better patient care across the community.

“On this very special day, we stop to recognise the amazing dedication and commitment our nurses have for the people they care for in their communities,” Ms Butler said.

“And we acknowledge that nurses are the foundation of Australia’s system of quality, universal healthcare.

“IND gives us the opportunity to think about why we must place greater emphasis on caring for nurses, looking after their mental health and their workplace environment and safety to allow them to work to their full potential and in turn, lead to better health outcomes.”

The ANMF has implemented programs which better support nurses, including the establishment of the Nurse Midwife Health Program Australia, a free and confidential counselling support service, providing support to improve the health and well-being of nurses, midwives and students.

“The program is one everyday example of how we’ve collaborated with the Government to better support nurses with increased funding and programs which are helping retain our current nursing professionals and recruit more new nurses into the workforce,” Ms Butler said.