National Datasets

Find out more about the data sets that CNSA uses to inform our advocacy for the profession

For more information about the nursing workforce in Australia, there are the following National Datasets:

In 2020, CNSA advocated to incorporate cancer care as a job area that health professionals could nominate in their AHPRA registration. AHPRA, in conjunction with the national boards, is responsible for the national registration process for health professions. The data from this annual registration process, together with data from a workforce survey that is voluntarily completed at the time of registration, forms the National Health Workforce Dataset (NHWDS). 

Our snapshot of the Nursing Workforce in Australia provides a clear overview of key trends in the nursing workforce, helping to identify shifts in workforce demographics, practice settings, and cancer nursing distribution according to cancer cases. We encourage you to explore the insights and use this data to inform discussions about workforce planning and professional development in cancer care.

In 2025, Cancer Australia ran a workshop on 'Understanding the Cancer Workforce' involving participants from government, community organisations, peak bodies and health professional colleges to discuss critical challenges facing the workforce and explore future opportunities to address them. You can learn more about the outcomes of the workshop by reading the report.