We request an Extraordinary General Meeting of Australian College of Nursing (ACN) members because of the sacking and termination of the ACN executive.

It is our understanding that Kylie Ward, CEO, and Karoline Dawe, National Partnerships Director were summarily dismissed, and Neil Haynes, COO was pressured into resigning by the ACN Board.

We met with David Plunkett, President and Donna Waters, Vice President ACN Board on Tuesday, 16 April to try to better understand the so-called crisis and the reasons for the executives being “stood down”. We were provided with limited, misleading and conflicting information. 

We have written twice more seeking to meet with the full Board to discuss our concerns, but our last request on 17 June 2024 was ignored, and our concerns were dismissed by the President.

As ACN members, we have the right to understand why the Board took this extreme and egregious action. 

It is also in the best interests of the ACN Board to communicate openly and honestly with members, ensuring the College’s reputation is the priority in all current and future decisions.

As members of ACN, we have no choice but to demand that the Board arrange an Extraordinary General Meeting immediately. 

Facts from several reliable sources

We understand the three executives were mandatorily stood down on 3 April and summarily dismissed or terminated on the 15 May 2024. We believe the ACN Board has:

• significantly misused stewardship responsibilities
• breached due process and natural justice of the three executives
• breached conflicts of interest
• breached duty of care and failed to provide a safe working environment
• publicly humiliated and disrespected terminated executives – leaked the stand downs and terminations to the media outlets
• brought ACN ‘s reputation into disrepute
• not acted in the best interests of the College and its members
  The dismissed and terminated ACN executives were treated “guilty until they could prove their innocence”.

Additionally, we understand the Board has:

• provided misinformation and untruths to ACN members and the public
• contrived allegations
• not substantiated its allegations of financial irregularities
• is unable to substantiate so-called financial irregularities, criminal conduct, or issues despite annual audits by the ACN's independent accountant – Ernst & Young; these Audits were tabled at the AGM, National Nursing Forum in Adelaide in August 2023.

We also understand Kylie Ward, CEO was awarded an annual bonus in July 2023 having achieved all her KPIs in the previous 12 months.

We also note that current and past ACN Board members have chaired governance and finance committees over the past 12-18 months but appears to have done nothing to address or control these supposed financial irregularities at the time, but then took the egregious action to sack and terminate the ACN executive. 

It just doesn’t add up!!!

Due to the extraordinary actions of the ACN Board, we, as members of ACN, request an extraordinary general meeting so the Board can explain its actions and answer members' questions.

Support and share this petition

We ask all ACN members, nurses who are not members of ACN and the public, to support and share this petition calling for an extraordinary general meeting of ACN members. 

ACN members please add your full name and ACN membership number when signing this petition.

Hundreds of nurses and the public have already responded to Kylie’s, Neil’s and Karoline’s sacking in disbelief and horror, as viewed on Facebook and LinkedIn posts from 15 May 2024.

Through our collective action and with your support of this petition, we will seek to redress the gross misjudgment and mismanagement by the ACN Board and ensure the ACN’s reputation is quickly repaired.

Next steps

ACN members will seek an Extraordinary General Meeting in the coming weeks as per the ACN Constitution, to discuss the crisis of confidence in the ACN Board and decide on our collective action. Your attendance and voting will be essential.

We will inform you of the date and time of the Special General Meeting and how you can join the meeting and vote online in the coming days.

We will use Change.org, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to keep you posted.

Concerned ACN members - Kathy Baker AM FACN (DLF), Deb Picone AO FACN (DLF), Julienne Onley FACN (DLF), Alanna Geary FACN, and Greg Rickard OAM FACN.

13 July 2024