Unpacking the National Nursing Workforce Strategy

Adj Professor Karrie Long, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer Victoria (MPH, Grad Dip Crit Care, BN,RN)

Karrie Long is a visionary nursing leader with more than 30 years' experience driving health innovation across health and the nursing profession to ensure safer and more effective patient care. As Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer she provides strategic clinical and professional leadership and advice to various Ministers, across government and the broader health and hospital sector. Karrie brings with her an expansive knowledge of public health in Australia through her roles as a clinician, digital health designer, researcher, board director and interim Chief Nursing Officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. She has a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Nursing (Rural Critical Care) and a Master of Public Health. She has an adjunct position with Deakin University School of Nursing and Midwifery (Alumnus). Karrie was awarded the Women’s Leadership Scholarship to the London Business School Senior Executive Program 2024 and is a 2022-23 Florence Nightingale Foundation Global Scholar where she was awarded the Inaugural Dame Yvonne Moores Scholarship. Karrie is the current Chair of the Australian Council of Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officers.

Megan Hoffmann undertook her Bachelor of Nursing degree at Latrobe University in Bendigo before moving to Melbourne to complete her graduate nurse program at the Royal Children’s Hospital.  Megan has a Graduate Diploma in Oncology Nursing, Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education, Graduate Certificate in Clinical Redesign and a Masters’ in Health Management.

Megan has worked at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for over 25 years in a variety of roles, including Associate Nurse Unit Manager, Clinical Nurse Educator, Graduate Nurse Program Coordinator, Nursing Workforce and Professional Practice Nurse Coordinator and more recently Director Nursing Workforce.  She has also worked in other health services in Victoria and in the United Kingdom.

Megan has a keen interest in workforce planning and professional nursing practice, especially in the advancing nursing practice area and in her spare time enjoys running and stand-up paddle boarding to discover new places.

Kath Cruickshanks is a Clinical Midwife Specialist and a member of the Late Career Program and the Birth Reflection Midwife team at the RWH.

Kath has worked at The Women's Hospital for over 14 years in all aspects of Maternity Services. Kath has extensive experience in the antenatal clinics and has worked in the Alcohol and Drug Service at the RWH. This work has led Kath to be part of the team that established the birth reflection service in helping women to address their birth trauma following an unexpected outcome.

Leanne Shea is the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at Grampians Health. With over 40 years’ experience in healthcare with half of this time in leadership roles in the public health sector. Leanne is a passionate advocate for clinical excellence, amplifying regional and rural voices in health policy and funding and the wellbeing of the nursing and midwifery workforce. Her career began in paediatric nursing at the Royal Children’s Hospital and has spanned both metropolitan and rural settings, giving her a deep understanding of the challenges and strengths of regional healthcare.

Leanne is known for her grounded leadership, empowering teams, mentoring future leaders, and building resilient, community-focused healthcare workforce and systems.

She also serves as a Board Director for the Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria, supporting mental health and resilience across the profession.