SCU GIVES NURSING A BOOST
A group of international nurses have become the first to receive an innovative and practical new graduate certificate from SCU
SOUTHERN Cross University is the first in Australia to offer a graduate certificate in Australian nursing, with the first cohort of internationally qualified registered nurses having completed the 12-week course.
The first intake at the Gold Coast campus in November coincided with the Queensland Government’s international education and training strategy to advance Queensland 20162026.
The Government has committed $25.3 million over five years to promote Queensland internationally, enhance the student experience, grow the regions and connect industry.
Course co-ordinator and senior lecturer Dr Christina Aggar from the School of Health and Human Sciences said the first cohort has completed the graduate certificate program, with the majority of students securing employment.
“The need for nurses in Australia and around the world is continuing to grow, with trends showing there is going to be a shortage of nurses by 2020,” Dr Aggar said.
“The nursing workforce in Australia is ageing, with more than 50 per cent of employed nurses in primary health care now older than 50. There is a shortage of nurses working in aged care and chronic disease management, particularly in regional and rural areas. So this program is a great opportunity to address some of those gaps in our healthcare system.
“Southern Cross University is very well placed to provide this education to international registered nurses with state-ofthe-art facilities, teaching and industry collaborations. The Gold Coast campus location is particularly attractive.”
Entry requirements include an undergraduate nursing degree equivalent, English test, criminal record check, immunisation requirements and visa certificates. International registered nurses are assessed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA), which also certifies graduates with their Australian registration after course completion – a new Australian regulation for nurses trained internationally.
“Our first cohort came from countries including India, Philippines, Netherlands, UK and China with varying knowledge and levels of experience. Many of the students were learning new communication and leadership skills, particularly during their eight-week supervised clinical placement at Tweed Hospital,” Dr Aggar said.
“One of the great collaborations as a result of the initiative was having Bupa contact us interested in these particular graduates. Some have secured employment there with visa support and their relocation expenses covered.”
Course graduate Maria Advincula, 27, from the Philippines, secured employment at Bupa Aged Care at New Farm.
“I really admire how Southern Cross University has taken care of us from enrolment, throughout the course and helping us secure work at the end, which is what I appreciate most,” she said.
“I wanted to come to Australia as it is a multicultural country not too far from home with first-world health standards. Southern Cross Uni offered this course in such a perfect location. I feel very lucky to be part of the first cohort in Australia.
“The course trained us in medication and manual handling and helped us be aware of Australian culture in the healthcare setting, including indigenous culture and multiculturalism.
“The practical clinical setting helped a lot too, especially as most of us had finished our nursing education more than four years ago – for the last five years I had been working in a surgery clinic in the Philippines.
“I highly recommend the course and have friends applying for an upcoming intake.”