University welcomes nurses back on campus

INTERNATIONAL nurses will return to training on the Gold Coast as borders open to the world this month.

Southern Cross University is celebrating the first round of international students back on campus, with 36 international nurses now part-way through their training as registered nurses in Australia.

The university will welcome the first full international cohort this month when borders open on February 21.

Filipino student Ross Unlagada booked his ticket to the Gold Coast as soon as the border announcement was made.

“In the Philippines, I was working in an adult intensive care unit at the country’s biggest tertiary government hospital,” he said. “The past two years working as a Covid ICU nurse was very physically and mentally taxing, but I think it has prepared me well to work here in Australia.

“SCU has been so helpful and supportive, and I’m enjoying getting to know the other nurses who have arrived from around the world, from India, Samoa, Philippines.”

SCU has already seen a growth in student enrolments from the Philippines, Brazil, Colombia and Japan.