The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM) was established following the National Forum of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives in 1997. The Forum brought together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives from across the country who identified the need for a national body to provide leadership, advocacy, and a collective voice within the nursing and midwifery professions.¹ Alex Zurawski, Member Engagement & Comms Coordinator, Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, 2026

Since their establishment, CATSINaM has grown from a member-led network into the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives. As the organisation’s scope has expanded, their governance has evolved to support work across workforce development, policy, education, and cultural safety. This has included the formalisation of a Board of Directors, member‑endorsed constitutional reform, and the establishment of advisory structures that reflect Indigenous governance alongside contemporary corporate governance practice.

CATSINaM is governed by a skills‑based Board of Directors that are accountable to members. The Board provides strategic direction, oversees organisational performance and compliance, and upholds the organisation’s responsibilities to members and communities. Governance arrangements are set out in the constitution, which has been reviewed and modernised over time to ensure it remains effective and fit for purpose.

CATSINaM currently has nine directors on its Board. Under the Constitution, directors are elected for three-year terms and can serve up to three consecutive terms (up to nine years) before they must take a two-year break before standing for election again.³Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, Constitution as at 30 November 2023. Canberra: CATSINaM Ltd, 2023, Accessed June, 2026, [link] Board directors are elected by members or appointed in accordance with the constitution.This approach supports a balance of lived experience, professional expertise, and diverse skills across nursing, midwifery, leadership, and governance. All Board directors are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, making CATSINaM a community-controlled organisation.⁴Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, Governance, accessed May 2026, [link]

CATSINaM’s work is funded through a mix of government investment, partnerships, commissioned projects, and program delivery. Sustainability is supported through strategic planning, diversification of income sources, and strong partnership governance. These approaches help protect the organisation’s independence, cultural integrity, and long‑term capacity to deliver for members and communities.

Member voice is central to CATSINaM’s governance. Members contribute to decision‑making through Annual General Meetings, national and regional congresses, consultations, and policy forums, supported by regular communication and reporting. These mechanisms ensure accountability and help align organisational priorities with the experiences and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives.

Additionally, CATSINaM seeks to build the governance capabilities of members through a regular Governance & Leadership program. The aim of this is to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives to build their skills to move into leadership roles. A highlight of the program is a games-based learning experience, developed in partnership with Boho Games, titled Board On Board, giving participants a taste of Board decision-making processes in the context of an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation.

A legacy priority for CATSINaM is improving the education and preparation of Australia’s nurses and midwives regarding cultural safety, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s’ health. The Leaders in Indigenous Nursing and Midwifery Education Network (LINMEN), operating under CATSINaM’s governance framework, provides a platform for leadership, collaboration and knowledge sharing among nursing and midwifery educators.

LINMEN is convened by a Director and supported by an Advisory Group that provides strategic advice on the network’s direction. While the Advisory Group informs priorities and activities, formal governance and decision-making remain with CATSINaM. LINMEN functions as a community of practice, providing a forum for members to come together to discuss key issues relating to nursing and midwifery education, cultural safety, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

LINMEN is committed to fostering a respectful and culturally safe community that supports the professional growth of educators and advances high-quality teaching and learning in cultural safety and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.⁵Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, LINMEN Leaders in Indigenous Nursing & Midwifery Education Network Road Map 2023-2028, [link] The network aligns with the CATSINaM Strategic Plan and is supported through Board oversight, executive leadership, and internal reporting processes.

LINMEN’s strategic priorities are to nurture a community of practice for Cultural Safety and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health educators, lead the development and implementation of education and training resources; and support CATSINaM’s leadership in driving nursing and midwifery education reform.⁶Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, LINMEN Leaders in Indigenous Nursing & Midwifery Education Network Road Map 2023-2028, 10 [link]Through this work, LINMEN has contributed to education reform by reviewing the Health Curriculum Framework, Clinical Practice Guidelines, and the wellbeing needs of educators. Members have also published scholarly articles and delivered conference presentations across Australia.

Cultural governance is a core strength of CATSINaM. The CATSINaM Elders’ Circle provides cultural authority, collective knowledge, and advice to the Board and CEO. While the Circle is not a decision‑making body, it plays an essential advisory role in strengthening cultural integrity, ethical leadership, and accountability to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being, and doing.

Established under the organisation’s constitutional powers, the Elders’ Circle supports strategic reflection, intergenerational learning, and culturally informed decision‑making across the organisation.

CATSINaM’s Elders Circle is guided by the Eldership Principles Framework, which provides the principles that shape their work and decision-making.⁷Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, Elder’s Circle, Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, accessed May 2026, [link]These principles help create an environment where participation is active, respected and meaningful:

• Respect for Wisdom and Experience
• Inclusivity and Diversity
• Recognition and Appreciation
• Empowerment through Engagement
• Health and Well-being Focus
• Learnings through the Generations
• Transparency and Communication
• Ethics and Integrity
• Continuous Learning and Adaptation
• Accessibility⁸Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, Elders Circle- Framework Principles, [link]

CATSINaM’s governance is guided by values of respect, relational accountability, collective leadership, and responsibility to future generations. Strong Indigenous governance, as practised by CATSINaM, brings together community authority and corporate governance, Eldership and lived experience alongside technical expertise, and prioritises long‑term community wellbeing over short‑term outcomes. CATSINaM recognises the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with communities across the continent holding customs and traditions that are both shared and distinct. The organisation creates space in its work for open dialogue and yarning to navigate these differences constructively and respectfully.

Murra Mullangari, CATSINaM’s accredited online professional practice course, is an example of CATSINaM’s Stewardship of the concept and practice of cultural safety in Australian nursing and midwifery. Based on the Māori concept of Kawa Whakaruruhau, cultural safety was gifted to Australian nursing and midwifery by its founder, Māori nurse educator, Dr Irihapeti Ramsden. Dr Ramsden, in her keynote address to CATSINaM members, encouraged CATSINaM to use her work to benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

CATSINaM recognises a relational duty to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to advance the nursing and midwifery professions in ways that better serve their communities, while also honouring the gift shared by Dr Ramsden.

The course has strengthened understanding of cultural safety across the nursing and midwifery workforce, supporting safer care environments and reinforcing the professional leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives. Cultural safety remains essential for improving care experiences, workforce retention, and health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

CATSINaM’s commitment to strong Indigenous governance is reflected in member‑endorsed constitutional reform, the establishment of the Elders’ Circle, the development of national leadership networks, and partnerships that respect Indigenous leadership and cultural authority. Together, these demonstrate an organisation governed not only for compliance, but for culture, community, and long‑term impact.⁹ Alex Zurawski, Member Engagement & Comms Coordinator, Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, 2026.