About the event

Held the day before the National Nursing Forum, this engaging pre-conference event led by the Law and Regulation Faculty explores the opportunities and risks of social media use in nursing. While social media offers benefits such as connection, community, and the ability to share information widely, it also presents important professional and regulatory considerations for nurses engaging in both personal and professional capacities.

Framed around the theme “When Sparks Turn Into Flames,” this session will provide practical guidance on how nurses can safely and effectively use social media while meeting their professional obligations. Drawing on the expectations outlined by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, the event will examine how online activity is regulated and where boundaries can be tested or crossed.

The event will be delivered in three parts. It will begin with a presentation exploring how social media use by nurses is regulated, common pitfalls, and strategies for maintaining professionalism across platforms, including in education, influencing, and business contexts.

This will be followed by an interactive case discussion featuring real tribunal matters, examining how situations escalated, where professional obligations were breached, and the consequences for the individuals involved.

The final segment will take a deeper dive into a high-profile case, unpacking the legal and regulatory implications, the broader impact on the individuals and the profession, and the importance of maintaining public trust.

This event aims to equip nurses with the knowledge and confidence to navigate social media responsibly, ensuring their online presence aligns with professional standards.

Key Learning Objectives

• Understand the regulatory framework governing nurses’ use of social media and the expectations of professional conduct online.
• Analyse real-world cases to identify risks, consequences, and key lessons in maintaining professional boundaries.
• Apply practical strategies to safely and effectively engage with social media in both personal and professional contexts.

About the speakers

Kate Rowan-Robinson MACN - Medico-legal Advisor, MDA National Chair, ACN Law and Regulation Faculty

Kate is a medico-legal advisor and registered nurse who specialises in health and medical law. Kate has a special interest in the intersection between legislation, regulation, evidence-based practice, and operational delivery, and strives to simplify the complexities of law and professional obligations into practical solutions.