The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in partnership with Edith Cowan University (ECU), Australia, and Jhpiego, organized a two-day roundtable on “Strengthening the Nursing Workforce in India and Australia: Building Collaborative Pathways for a Resilient and Skilled Nursing Workforce Aligned with the SDGs.”
The dialogue aims to deepen bilateral cooperation, share best practices, and build joint strategies to develop a future-ready nursing workforce aligned with Sustainable Development Goals.
Delivering the keynote address, Akanksha Ranjan, Deputy Secretary (Nursing & Dental), highlighted the timely nature of the roundtable, following India’s National Strategic Meeting on nursing reforms. Emphasizing that “nurses are the backbone of healthcare,” she pointed to the global shortfall of 4.5 million nurses and the rising opportunities for ethical and well-governed mobility. She noted that India–Australia collaboration can elevate education standards, expand workforce pathways, and support shared health system priorities.
Dr. Deepika Khakha, Nursing Advisor at the Directorate General of Health Services, underlined that “nurses remain the heartbeat of the healthcare system globally.” She spoke about India’s 3.5-million-strong nursing workforce and the country’s extensive ecosystem of over 5,000 nursing institutes. She highlighted government investments, including plans for 157 new nursing institutions, updated curricula under the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act, 2023, and the importance of faculty development to strengthen future workforce competency.
Representing Australia, Prof. Karen Strickland, Executive Dean at ECU, commended the longstanding partnership between the two nations in nursing education. She stressed the importance of global collaboration in preparing nurses for evolving healthcare demands and emerging technologies.
Dr. Kamlesh Lalchandani, Deputy Country Director of Jhpiego, reaffirmed the organisation’s support for strengthening India’s nursing and midwifery systems. He emphasised the role of evidence-based practice, innovation, and capacity building in shaping a responsive and resilient workforce.
The roundtable identified key areas for further bilateral collaboration, including faculty development, joint research, exchange programmes, and digital learning innovations. Senior government officials, nursing leaders, academic experts, and development partners participated, advancing the shared agenda of modernizing nursing and midwifery education and ensuring a skilled and sustainable workforce for the future.
