Fertility Nurses of Australasia (FNA) offers support to nurses working in the field of infertility enabling them to network with their peers and gain access to education.
FNA History
The first Australian IVF program was set up in 1971 in Melbourne by Carl Wood, John Leeton, Alan Trounson and others who were supported by a team of nurses whose additional roles were managing donor sperm programs and assisting with early research studies.
The 80’s saw great progress with the birth of the first Australian IVF baby in 1980, and the formation of the FSA with the first annual meeting in 1982, yet there was still little formal communication or networking between ART nurses.
In 1990, the “Nurses Special Interest Group” (NSIG) was created and had their inaugural meeting at the FSA conference in Perth. This committee, comprised of a representative from each state with Heather Denholm as Chairperson, offered support to assist ART nurses to attend conferences and other educational activities, and to engage in research.
In 1997, a vote was taken at the NSIG nurses workshop to formalize the name to ‘Fertility Nurses of Australasia” (FNA).
FNA Policy & Procedures
Download the FNA policies and procedures document here
FNA Mission & Goals
- To promote and consolidate fertility nurse education throughout Australia and New Zealand and provide one Continuing Professional Development (CPD) point per hour of registration as required by the National Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia.
- To promote networking, communication and cohesiveness between nurses working in reproductive health at a local, national and international level.
- To support nursing based research and encourage nurses to present at local meetings, national and international conferences.
- Providing subsidised return airfare for the FNA Committee to attend the executive meetings at the Mid-year Workshop and annual FSA Scientific Meeting.
- Organising and hosting nurses’ workshops at FSA and Mid-year meetings.
- Continue networking and communication with one phone link-up per year as well as two “Face to Face” meetings for the FNA Committee and reporting of business back to the FNA membership.
- To publish an FNA newsletter and contribute to FSA newsletter, as well as other relevant publications.
- To elect a nurse representative for FSA Council and RTAC.
- To maintain a current register of FNA members for all ART units in Australia.
- To support and encourage FSA membership and to increase nurse representation at FSA Annual General Meetings.
- To set protocols for nursing standards for RTAC.
- To continue developing the role of fertility nurses in Australia and New Zealand.
- To liaise with ACCESS.
- To liaise and network with other relevant special interest nurse groups and international fertility nurse groups and individuals with a special interest in Reproductive Health.
- To welcome and support fertility nurses to enhance FNA’s networking capacity.
FNA Membership
Benefits of FNA Membership
- Maintaining a register of nursing staff for all units in Australia and NZ.
- Electing a nurse representative for RTAC and FSA Council.
- Networking between nurses in Australia, NZ and overseas.
- Access to our website based Newsletter.
- Ability to contribute an article to the newsletter.
- Two national workshops per year.
- Heavily discounted registration to these workshops.
- Free or heavily discounted access to local educational events, throughout the year.
- Encourage and promote the art and science of fertility nursing.
- Provides financial support for Nurses to attend conferences and FNA workshops
FNA Membership Fees
FNA membership is $65.00 incl GST per annum. Membership is for the calendar year. To join FSANZ and FNA click here