Growing up in Ipswich, Queensland, Commander Anthony Russell always had a strong sense of service, joining Navy in 2014 to give back to Australia, after completing his initial nursing qualifications. 

“I was supported by the country to go to university, something I wouldn’t have been able to afford, and I felt a good way to give back would be through service,” he said.

“I had initially planned to do the required service years, then transition to the reserves.”

Now in 2026, and newly promoted, Commander Russell is Commanding Officer of Joint Health Unit in Western Australia, a role he knows comes with significant responsibility to empower those he leads.

This year, the theme for International Nurses Day is ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives’.

Commander Russell is proud to celebrate International Nurses Day and believes that empowering and supporting nurses directly improves patients’ health outcomes and strengthens healthcare systems.

“Empowering nurses improves our sense of purpose and professional satisfaction,” he said.

“It fosters pride, confidence and growth within the workforce, ensuring nursing remains resilient and patient-centred, now and into the future.

“When nurses are trusted to use their full clinical judgement, advanced skills and leadership capacity, patients benefit from timely access to care, early intervention and more holistic treatment.

“This empowerment expands access to health services by allowing nurses to manage complex care, coordinate multidisciplinary teams and lead innovations in patient management.”

'Empowering nurses improves our sense of purpose and professional satisfaction.'

Commander Russell said ADF nurses working at home and on operations have built up strong reputations as caring, hardworking and highly competent clinicians.

“On deployments, if patients recognised us as Australian, they were instantly at ease knowing that an Aussie nurse was looking after them,” he said. 

“We are so well trusted to care for patients amongst our coalition partners, so it was always with a sense of pride that I could tell them that I was an Australian Navy nurse.”

Commander Russell has some words of advice for anyone considering becoming a nurse in the ADF.

“One hundred per cent do it,” he said. 

“It was the best decision of my professional life. The diversity of roles, both clinical and non-clinical. The opportunity for professional growth is unlimited. I have travelled the world, literally, while doing something I love.

“I have had the opportunity to develop deep professional and personal relationships. I have developed such great mates and friendships. I can go anywhere in the country and know I have a friend close by.”

The steady support of family and friends has meant everything.

“I could not do anything in the Navy without the love and support of my husband and my family more broadly. They have been instrumental in my success,” Commander Russell said.

International Nurses Day is celebrated on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered to be the founder of modern-day nursing practices.