 From this first basis, a strong association evolved to meet the needs of members and colleagues in NSW and across Australia.The association as it stands today is separate from a union of nurses in that it maintains a unique group membership for dissemination and networking of relevant topics and seeks to attain further professional acknowledgement of skills, aptitude and education through consultative mechanisms.In addition the organisation does maintain close communication with the NSW Nurses Association, and the New South Wales Department of Health, has representation on invited NSW Nurses and Midwives Board committees and consults with other parties on a needs and enquiry basis, including national organisations such as the National Enrolled Nurse Association (a special interest group of the Australian Nursing Federation) and international organisations including the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.