ACNN is proud to be hosting the Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN) Conference in Darwin from 25-28 August 2026. ACNN will not hold a National Conference in 2025. Instead, ACNN Branches and Special Interest Groups will be hosting 1.5 to 2 day events on the Gold Coast, in Geelong and in the Hunter Valley.
Queensland
'Babies by the Beach'
Crowne Plaza, Surfers Paradise
5-6 June 2025.
Preliminary programme and pricing HERE
Registrations opens Monday 24 February
Victoria
'Babies by the Bay'
Rydges Geelong.
24-25 July 2025.
Preliminary programme and pricing HERE
Registrations opens Monday 24 February
New South Wales
'Nurses in the Vines' & 'Babies in the Bush'
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley in Lovedale
25-26 September 2025.
Day 1 (Thursday) - 'Nurses in the Vines' seminar
Day 2 (Friday) - 'Babies in the Bush' symposium proudly sponsored by the Tori Finnane Foundation.
Details and registration coming soon.
'Nurses in the Vines' seminar
This seminar has a focus on professional development and leadership in neonatal nursing.
Session highlights include:
3-hour Navigating Challenging Communication Workshop - limited to 40 participants.
This workshop equips nurses with essential skills and strategies to manage difficult conversations effectively. Participants will explore
common challenging communication scenarios, such as high-stress interactions with patients, families, and colleagues, and
learn techniques to handle these situations with empathy, assertiveness, and clarity. Participants will learn how to apply structured
communication frameworks to facilitate clear, respectful dialogue in critical moments. Additionally, the workshop emphasises emotional
intelligence and self-awareness, helping participants stay composed under pressure and build trust within their teams. By fostering a
culture of psychological safety, participants will leave with the tools needed to promote open, constructive communication and enhance team
dynamics in their healthcare environments.
Developing a professional portfolio with reflective practice for nurses
This presentation will guide nurses in developing a professional portfolio that not only showcases their
skills, competencies, and achievements but also highlights their commitment to growth through reflective practice. Participants will learn
the importance of a well-organised portfolio as a tool for career advancement, as well as the essential components it should include—such as
clinical skills documentation, certifications, and continuing education. The presentation will emphasize reflective practice as a key
element, allowing nurses to demonstrate critical thinking, self-awareness, and the lessons learned from their experiences. By the end,
participants will be equipped to create a dynamic portfolio that captures their professional journey and supports their ongoing development
in nursing.
Neonatal Standards Version 5 release + companion toolkit
This session will provide an overview of these Standards for Practice specifically for registered nurses
and/or registered midwives who work in a clinical or non-clinical capacity in contributing to the care of neonates and their families
within inpatient and post-discharge contexts. The standards inform professional practice, professional development and capability for all
neonatal nurses in the provision of safe, high quality clinical care and are inclusive of, but not limited to, direct clinical care,
education, leadership, management and research. Each standard includes criteria that aid individual neonatal nurses in identifying and
developing their scope of practice in the context of current roles and responsibilities. This session will also present the use of a Holistic
Assessment Tool
as an approach to assessing nurse knowledge and performance involving observing the neonatal nurse's overall role performance. This
includes observing and assessing their communication, ethics, technical skills, cultural awareness, attitudes, knowledge, professional
behaviors, clinical decision making, and critical thinking.
Check out other 2025 Events under the events tab.
Inquiries for upcoming events
Please contact the conference committee at conference@acnn.org.au
Photography
Photographers will be taking photos throughout the conference at sessions, social events, around the exhibition area, as well as during
informal gatherings. These photographs may be used by the hosts in publications for promotional material or for other purposes.
Should you expressly wish not to have your photograph used, please contact the conference organiser, Abercrombie Management: acnn@abercrombiemanagement.com.au
Privacy Policy
For the National Conference and some Branch events, a delegate list is generated and made available for parties directly related to the
Event including the Local Organising Committee, venues and sponsors (subject to conditions). ACNN supports the National Privacy Principles
contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), as amended.
Sponsorship and Exhibitors
ACNN promotes and supports breastfeeding for newborns. As health professionals, neonatal nurses must provide consistent, objective advice
to mothers on supplying breastmilk as the best available nutrition for their infant and also on breastmilk substitutes where these are
required.
ACNN complies with the MAIF Agreement in relation to trade exhibition at ACNN events by companies marketing infant formula. ACNN accepts further sponsorship in the form of unrestricted education grants as set out in International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) Minimising Commercial Influence on Education Policy.
Our full position statement is available to view here.
An annual conference for neonatal nurses has been held since 1997, starting with the Association of Neonatal Nurses of NSW (ANN) then nationally from 2002 under the name of the Australian Neonatal Nurses Association (ANNA) until the association became a College in 2006.
The annual conference of the College rotates between the states and territories of Australia.
-
2026 - Joint ACNN and COINN conference, Darwin. 25-28th August.
-
2025 - 2025 Seminar Series - Qld, Vic and NSW coming soon.
-
2024 - Melbourne, Victoria
-
2023 - Adelaide, South Australia
-
2022 - Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
-
2021 - Virtual conference
-
2020 - Virtual conference
-
2019 - Visiting Scholar Tour + COINN, Auckland, NZ
-
2018 - Launceston, Tasmania
-
2017 - Fraser Island, Queensland
-
2016 - Melbourne, Victoria
-
2015 - Sydney, New South Wales
-
2014 - Adelaide, South Australia
-
2013 - Townsville, Queensland
-
2012 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales
-
2011 - Hobart, Tasmania
-
2010 - Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
-
2009 - Darwin, Northern Territory
-
2008 - Gold Coast, Queensland
-
2007 - Melbourne, Victoria
- 2006 - Perth, Western Australia