History has been made with the election of two Aboriginal members to the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association’s (NSWNMA) Council.

Mathew Grant, a mental health nurse from Western NSW, and Rebekah Henderson, a midwife working in Western Sydney, were elected unopposed to the Association’s prime governance and decision-making body.

The election was pursuant to changes to the NSWNMA Rules, which were passed at the 2023 Annual Conference. The rule changes endorsed the election of two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members to sit on the Association’s Council, as well as the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Member Circle.

The Member Circle operates as a branch of the NSWNMA and can elect delegates to the NSWNMA’s Committee of Delegates and Annual Conference.

Both the newly-appointed Council positions and the Member Circle have been formed to provide a platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives to raise ideas or concerns to the Association in a culturally safe environment.

Mathew and Rebekah will be joined on Council by three new Councillors, filling vacancies resulting from recent resignations. These new Councillors are aged care nurse Lanelle Bailey, private sector nurse and Northern Beaches Hospital Branch President Sheridan Brady, and emergency nurse and Sutherland Hospital Branch official Colette Duff.