In a move that's sending ripples through Australia's healthcare sector, Shaye Candish, the influential General Secretary of the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association, has revealed she will be stepping down from her leadership role.
The announcement came as Candish cited pressing family reasons behind her decision to resign, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing high-profile professional responsibilities with personal commitments.
During her tenure, Candish emerged as one of the most vocal advocates for nurses and midwives across the state, leading numerous campaigns for better working conditions, improved patient safety, and fairer wages for healthcare professionals.
Her leadership coincided with some of the most challenging periods in recent healthcare history, including the COVID-19 pandemic that placed unprecedented pressure on nursing staff and hospital systems throughout New South Wales.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association has confirmed it will immediately begin the process of finding Candish's successor, ensuring continuity in the union's important work representing over 76,000 members across the state's healthcare system.
Union officials have praised Candish's dedication and significant contributions to advancing the nursing profession, noting her strategic approach to industrial relations and her unwavering commitment to member advocacy.
While Candish's specific future plans remain undisclosed, her departure marks a significant moment of transition for one of Australia's most prominent healthcare unions at a time when nursing workforce issues remain at the forefront of public health discussions.
