The unification of two prestigious colleges

On 30 November 2011, an historic vote took place for The College of Nursing and Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA). At concurrent Extraordinary General Meetings held in separate states, an overwhelmingly positive vote was made by each membership, for the two colleges to unify from 1 July 2012.

The Australian College of Nursing has been established to unify the professional voice of nursing in Australia and will combine the existing strengths of the two former Colleges. From July 2012, the Australian College of Nursing will continue to offer and grow its educational services built on the strength of The College of Nursing’s 63 years of experience in providing postgraduate and CPD education to nurses at all stages of their careers.

You can find information on the new membership fee structure here.

Important Reminder for all Members

To transfer your membership to the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) you must complete and return your signed Transition Form to the College by mail before 1 July 2012. The form was sent to you by mail, however you can download a copy here.

Without your signed Transition Form, under Privacy laws, we cannot transfer your membership to the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). So to be part of nursing’s future, make sure you sign and send back your form to us as soon as possible!

See below for some Frequently Asked Questions on the Unification and Transition Form process, or please call us on 02 9745 7569.

Important: you do not need to make any payments when you return the Transition Approval form: you only need to fill in your personal/professional details, tick the applicable membership category box and sign the form. Members who are due for renewal will receive a separate invoice.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Transition Form and Letter:

Do I need to make any payments when I return the form?
No, this form is your permission to cease membership with RCNA and become a member of Australian College of Nursing. You only pay if you have received a separate renewal notice. Simply fill out, sign and send the form to RCNA.

Will my monthly payments continue?
Yes, and from the payment to be taken on 31 July the payments will be reduced to reflect the new fee.

Can I fax or email my form back?
No legally we must have the original form with your signature returned to us.

What happens if I do not return the form?
We encourage all our members to return their form asap so you can receive all the benefits under the Australian College of Nursing. If you do not return the form when you are due for renewal you will not be given the option to continue with RCNA but will be invited then to join the Australian College of Nursing.

Other Questions?
If you have any membership enquiries please contact the Membership Services Team at membership@rcna.org.au or on freecall 1800 061 660

Transition Form (101 KB)

Frequently Asked Questions About the Unification:

What member benefits will be offered by Australian College of Nursing (ACN)?

Member benefits will remain an integral part of the ACN membership and therefore in the interim all benefits for RCNA and TCoN will be provided. As always benefits will continue to be reviewed and improved according to relevance and need.

What happens if I am a member of both Colleges?

You can continue dual membership of both RCNA and TCoN. Once the colleges have unified and you have notified the colleges you wish to take up membership of ACN you will then hold a single equivalent membership with ACN.

It’s not practical for me to keep/renew my membership with both RCNA and TCoN before the unification. Which one should I stay with?

We suggest you retain your membership with which ever College you see as the more useful or beneficial to you during the unification period.

Will I be able to retain my RCNA membership number?

If you are a current RCNA member you will retain your current number. If you have been an RCNA member in the past we will endeavour to give you your old number if your records are still on the system. All new members who have never been listed with RCNA will be issued with a new membership number.

If I’m a second/third year student do I still have to pay the full $120 new student fee?

If you are a current paying second year diploma student or 3^rd year undergraduate student then you will not be required to pay additional fees.

If you are not currently a paying student you will be required to pay the full amount of $120 irrespective of year level.

Why do I have to consent to join ACN?

As ACN will be a new organisation we have a legal requirement to gain your written permission to cease your current membership with RCNA/TCoN and to commence with ACN. All current members from RCNA and TCoN will receive a letter inviting them to join ACN. This letter must be signed and returned to the relevant College to ensure membership of ACN.

What happens if I do not give permission to join ACN?

Any RCNA or TCoN members who do not provide written permission to join ACN will retain their membership to the former Colleges until their membership lapses. After 1 July 2012 RCNA and TCoN members will be unable to renew their membership to their respective colleges. These members can still provide permission to join ACN at any time.

If I remain with RCNA or TCoN and do not give permission to become an ACN member will I still receive my current member benefits and access after 1July 2012?

It is anticipated that all of your current college benefits will continue until your anniversary. As current practice if there are to be any changes to membership benefits you will be advised as normal.