ABIC National Aesthetic Nurses Division

Why this Division exists

Aesthetic nursing is one of the fastest-growing clinical workforces in Australia, and one of the most heavily scrutinised. Nurses are delivering care at the intersection of medical risk, patient vulnerability, and rapidly shifting regulatory expectations. At the same time, thousands of small businesses in aesthetics are nurse-led, community-based, and carrying the full weight of compliance, workforce shortages, and reputational pressure.

ABIC formed the National Aesthetic Nurses Division to turn that pressure into structure. 

What we want to achieve for the profession

• Protect safe patient outcomes through practical, evidence-based standards and education

• Create clearer, fairer professional progression routes for advanced practice and endorsement pathways

• Support nurse-led clinics and small businesses with guidance that is workable, not theoretical

• Reduce regulatory confusion by translating complex requirements into clinic-ready systems

• Strengthen public trust through unified messaging, ethical practice, and consistent professionalism

• Ensure aesthetic nursing is treated as a legitimate clinical field, not a category to be dismissed or assumed

The reality we are responding to

• Queensland has issued clear direction on how Schedule 4 cosmetic injectables are regulated under state medicines and poisons law, changing how stock, possession, storage and practitioner control are managed in nurse-led settings

• New South Wales is moving toward tighter regulation of cosmetic injectables, with consultation proposals signalling increased controls and accountability requirements

• Nationally, practitioners are navigating AHPRA and National Boards guidance for non-surgical cosmetic procedures and higher risk advertising rules, alongside TGA advertising compliance expectations

• The combined effect is real operational pressure on nurses, clinics, and prescriber relationships, often without practical infrastructure to support safe, compliant delivery

Our state and federal goals

State-based priorities

• QLD: advocate for a workable model that protects patient safety while supporting viable nurse-led clinic operations and clear prescriber engagement

• NSW: represent aesthetic nurses in consultation and reform processes, and push for safe, practical frameworks that do not unintentionally dismantle access or workforce sustainability

• All states: build a consistent best-practice approach for medicine handling, prescribing workflows, escalation pathways, documentation, supervision, and clinic governance

Federal priorities

• AHPRA and National Boards: advocate for guidance that recognises real-world clinical complexity, clear evidence expectations, and consistent application across jurisdictions

• TGA: support clinics to comply with advertising rules without silencing legitimate patient education, and reduce accidental breaches through practical tools and training

• Health departments and regulators: establish ABIC as a constructive partner in building frameworks that protect patients while supporting ethical practice and workforce growth

What we will do, practically

• Build clinic-ready compliance tools for injectables and higher risk advertising

• Provide model policies and documentation templates that support safe patient outcomes

• Create an education series for nurses seeking advanced practice progression, including how to evidence competence and safe systems

• Host national webinars and briefings whenever major regulatory changes occur

• Represent nurse-led businesses and clinicians in state and federal consultation processes

• Create a national community of nurses who are aligned, informed, and supported

National Aesthetic Nurses Committee
This Division is guided by ABIC’s National Aesthetic Nurses Committee.

Committee leadership:

• Chair: Stefanie Milla, ABIC CEO and Director

• Senior Advisor: Nicky Tzimas, Founder of the CPD Institute of Australia, ABIC Councillor

Who we are looking for:

Senior Advisors

• Highly experienced nurses, nurse practitioners, educators, compliance leaders, and clinical governance contributors

• People who can shape policy positions, frameworks, education priorities, and professional standards

Committee Members

• Clinicians and business owners with strong compliance maturity and a commitment to safe practice

• Professionals who can contribute to state-based working groups, resources, peer support, and education delivery

General ABIC Members

• Nurses and clinics who want to stay ahead of change, access guidance, and strengthen the collective voice of aesthetic nursing

Why joining matters
You can practise perfectly as an individual and still be impacted by decisions made about the profession as a whole. Influence is built through unity, numbers, credibility, and consistency. That is what this Division is designed to deliver.

How to get involved now

• Apply to the National Aesthetic Nurses Committee in the form above (Senior Advisor or Committee Member)

• Join ABIC as a Member to strengthen the national voice for aesthetic nursing
  Use the membership link HERE