First intake graduate
East Grampians Health Service has succeeded in expanding its nursing workforce with the graduation of the first intake of Diploma of Nursing students.
Nursing graduates, trainers, family, friends, East Grampians Health Service staff and special guests, including Australian Catholic University College executive director Shaun Mcdonagh, Member for Ripon Louise Staley and health service board chair Nancy Panter, attended the ceremony.
ACU College’s Diploma of Nursing was an 18-month course, which started in January, 2017.
Working to the philosophy of ‘grow your own’, East Grampians Health Diploma of Nursing students completed the entirety of their training, including clinical placements, on site at the health service, through a partnership with ACU College.
Of the 20 students who graduated, 11 were offered positions through the East Grampians Health Service graduate program, with the remainder taking up positions elsewhere.
The graduate nurses will rotate through different departments of the health service over a period of 12 months as part of the program.
East Grampians Health Service development and improvement director Mario Santilli said the health service and ACU College worked through challenges during 2015 and 2016 to enable the course to start in 2017.
He said the success of the course had been worth the effort.
“We have philosophies of ‘teach and grow’ and ‘grown your own’ at East Grampians Health Service,” he said.
“Six of the trainers who took classes were our own staff who undertook qualifications to teach, expanding and growing the skills of our clinical staff.
“By offering the course locally and attracting local people wanting to become nurses, we are growing our own workforce.
“We are now more likely to retain our workforce, which is crucial to the future of the health service.
“It has proven a success in that 11 of the graduates have taken up positions following the completion of their studies.”
In addition to the support offered by the clinical trainers, the students also received ongoing support from ACU College and in particular course liaison administrator Donna Bradshaw, who worked on site at East Grampians Health Service.
“Donna’s presence was of great benefit to students, as she was able to offer the day-to-day support required, particularly to those students who were new to tertiary education,” Mr Santilli said.
The next Diploma of Nursing course at East Grampians Health Service will start in February, 2019, with recruiting starting in November and December.