- Charles Sturt University in Bathurst will host TAFE NSW Diploma of Nursing and TVET secondary students on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October to experience its nursing facilities and courses
- Students will tour the nursing simulation area and laboratories, and experience practical hands-on demonstrations with course experts
Charles Sturt University will host TAFE NSW and secondary school students to experience hands-on nursing facilities and course offerings in Bathurst this week to address healthcare shortage in regional Australia.
To expand the regional pipeline of nurses, Charles Sturt has partnered with TAFE NSW to engage both Diploma of Nursing students and TVET secondary school students from the Bathurst region.
Visiting students will tour the University’s nursing facilities, participate in practical demonstrations and connect with academic staff on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October.
This visit highlights the pathway for these students into the Charles Sturt Bachelor of Nursing and into regional Australia’s healthcare workforce.
According to an Australian Government study, Australia faces a projected shortfall of more than 70,000 nurses by 2035, with regional, rural and remote communities expected to be most affected.
In 2025, Charles Sturt welcomed more than 8,500 new students, with the Bachelor of Nursing being the most popular undergraduate course for on-campus students. Charles Sturt has 38 new students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing on-campus at Bathurst in 2025 as well as more than 800 enrolled online through Bathurst.
Head of School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, Professor Kerryn Butler-Henderson, said Charles Sturt continues to be a leader in regional education, helping shape the future of healthcare in western NSW and across regional Australia.
“Our goal is to build a sustainable, skilled healthcare workforce for Dubbo and the wider region,” Professor Butler-Henderson said.
“By partnering with TAFE and other stakeholders, we’re creating real opportunities for students and real solutions for regional healthcare.
“Our Bathurst campus offers state-of-the-art nursing simulation labs and clinical training facilities which ensure our graduates have the skills and knowledge to make an impact in the modern healthcare system.”
The TVETS Year 11 students from secondary schools in the region will visit facilities on the Bathurst campus from 9.30am to 12pm on Wednesday 15 October.
The TAFE Diploma of Nursing students will visit facilities at the Bathurst campus from 9.30am to 12pm on Thursday 16 October 2025.
Students studying nursing at Charles Sturt may also be eligible for the NSW Tertiary Health Study Subsidy, offering up to $12,000 in support for those who commit to working with NSW Health after graduation.
The leading causes of death in regional Australia largely mirror national trends but are often exacerbated by limited access to healthcare services and higher rates of chronic disease.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and the National Rural Health Alliance, the most prevalent chronic conditions in regional communities include coronary heart disease, dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease), anxiety and depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes.
Charles Sturt’s collaboration with TAFE NSW, Local Health Districts, government and private providers is designed to combat this crisis by training students to practice as registered nurses in regional areas upon graduation.
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