• Standards utilising evidence based practice.
• Professional growth and development.
• Innovation to achieve best patient care outcomes.
• Representation of all States and Territories.
• Influential in health policy.
• Teamwork development locally, nationally and internationally.
  

ACORN Values reflect the organisation's commitment to:

• excellence in perioperative nursing
• operating in a professional and business-like manner
• maintaining ethical behaviour
• encouraging partners in industry and welcoming the opportunity to work with others including university, public and private organisations, health organisations in delivering service to patients
• assisting perioperative nurses to develop their potential.

ACORN's Objectives are to cultivate and maintain the highest principles of perioperative nursing by:

• disseminating information to members on issues of significance;
• providing and facilitating professional development;
• identifying and examining issues and relevant problems;
• advising Commonwealth and State Governments and other authorities on perioperative nursing and related health issues;
• acting as a resource at National and State levels by fulfilling an advisory role and providing a consultative service;
• initiating research to seek solutions to those issues and problems;
• taking action on problems and issues of significance, and
• promoting growth in the organisation.