I am interested in being engaged in political rallies and activities – what do I need to consider?

When engaging in political activities, it is important to consider your obligations as an employee, and professionally as a nurse or a midwife. From an employee perspective, you must ensure you don’t breach any relevant workplace code of conduct (for example, don’t wear work uniform to a protest or rally and don’t identify your workplace to the media).

From a professional perspective, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) professional standards outline the practice and behaviour expectations of all nurses and midwives.

These professional standards outline that nurses and midwives should promote health and wellbeing and understand and apply the principles of public health. Nurses and midwives should also participate in health advocacy for community and population health in a way that addresses health inequality. Nurses and midwives must not participate in unlawful behaviour and understand that unlawful behaviour may be viewed as unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct and have implications for their registration.