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The Oak February 2026

Welcome to the February issue of The Oak, the first issue for the year. 2026 is going to be an eventful year with, among other things, the conference in May and the launch of the latest edition of The ACORN Standards.

The full conference program is out now – three full days of innovative, evidence-based, expert presentations including inspiring keynote speakers Sam Bloom and Sophie Scott. Register before 28 February and receive a significant discount. Or register in a group of five or more to receive a 15 per cent discount.

If you’ve already registered, you can now enrol in masterclasses – places are limited and pre-enrolment is required. Expert-led masterclasses will run across all days of the conference and provide a unique opportunity to dive deeper into key perioperative topics, learn from leaders in practice and take practical insights back to your workplace.

The draft Specimen identification, collection and handling standard is currently open for public consultation closing on 25 February. We look forward to receiving your feedback.

Save the date

The ACORN annual general meeting (AGM) will be held on Friday 15 May at 4.30 pm. We will send a formal notice to members in April.

Tracy Kerle

President

 

The public consultation process for shaping the next iteration of the ACORN Standards is drawing to a close. We have been encouraged by the significant and constructive feedback already received and look forward to your engagement with the last few draft standards.

Current drafts open for public consultation:

  • Specimen identification, collection and handling (consultation closing 25 February)
  • Nurse practitioner (consultation closing 12 March)
  • Enrolled nurse (consultation closing 13 March).

Coming soon:

  • Asepsis
  • Preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia.

We warmly invite all members of the multidisciplinary perioperative community, as well as end-point consumers, patients and those with lived experience, to contribute. We encourage you to share your perspective – together, we can ensure these standards are the strongest and most evidence-based they can be.

Thank you to all who are contributing expertise, perspectives and ideas. Together, we are building the most evidence-based and implementable standards ACORN has ever produced.

 

Public consultation for ACORN standards

Specimen identification, collection and handling closing 25 February

ACORN 2026 Conference
14–16 May 2026, Brisbane Convention Centre

Papua New Guinea Perioperative Nurses Society (PNGPNS) Conference
16–17 July 2026, Port Moresby