The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Archive is the repository for the historical documents, both organisational records and donated material, of the organisation. The ACN Archive consists of three major archival collections:

1. The ACN collection, established in July 2012, is housed in Canberra. It uses Archive Manager as a catalogue and search tool. Access to this collection is by arrangement. The ACN collection contains documents and records of the organisation.
2. The Royal College of Nursing Australia (RCNA) collection is also housed in Canberra. The collection includes material from RCNA and its predecessor organisation The College of Nursing Australia. The collection uses the Recall system for storage and the TRIM system for cataloguing and searching. Access to this collection is by arrangement. The RCNA collection contains documents and records of the organisation. It also includes the Burbidge and Slater individual collections.
3. The College of Nursing (TCoN) and its predecessor organisation The NSW College of Nursing collection is housed at both Canberra and Parramatta. This archive was formally established in 1985 from the material that had accumulated since the formation of the college in 1949. The original intent was to maintain a historical record of the college. This intent has been fulfilled and broadened by the volume of donated material. This includes donated personal collections consisting of individual, organisational and institutional items.

The archive networks with other health industry and professional organisations to promote access to the collection, enhance the value of the collection and to ensure best practice. For example: Australian Society of Archivists; Australian and New Zealand Society for the History of Medicine; Nursing History Research Unit University of Sydney; Australian Nursing History Project; Health and Medicine Museum Collections; Lucy Osburn Nightingale Foundation and Museum and Museums Australia Inc. The TCoN collection includes separately catalogued material.