International Nurses Day
Ms CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (10:31): I, like Mr Atkinson, would like to recognise International Nurses Day. International Nurses Day is on this day, 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. Florence Nightingale lived to a ripe old age of something like 90 years and was an extraordinary nurse who really paved the way for modern nursing in those times. As Mr Atkinson said, in the last two years there have been extraordinary efforts from so many nurses across the system. Whether it is in hospital, whether it is in the community or whether it is in GP clinics, all nurses have put enormous effort into serving the community and assisting patients right across our healthcare system. It is a wonderful recognition, and I know that those friends of mine who are nurses and midwives who have been working throughout this period know how difficult it is. I have been hearing firsthand from so many of them and even from their daughters who have also taken up the great vocation of nursing. It has been tremendous for me to hear from them to understand exactly the challenges. I really want to pay tribute to every single nurse not only in Victoria but right around the country and right around the world. It is International Nurses Day, and I think the entire chamber would also welcome the congratulations for and recognition of the work that they have done.