Under the new arrangement, 25 enrolled nurses from four hospitals in Moira Shire, north-eastern Victoria, will be able to upgrade their qualification to a full Bachelor of Nursing degree on a part-time basis over the next four years. Enrolled nurses who have completed TAFE qualifications will receive five subject credits towards the degree.

Director of Nursing at Nathalia District Hospital in Moira Shire, Leigh Giffard said the four hospitals have formed an alliance to assist and support the students through their studies. The hospitals will also assist students by offering interest free loans to allow them to become full fee paying students and cover the cost of books and other expenses. The alliance has employed a clinical facilitator to provide additional tutorials.

CSU is running nine residential schools over the period of the degree. Although the first has been held at its Bathurst Campus in Central West NSW to provide orientation and an insight into university life, the following eight will be conducted in the Moira Shire.

“This is of enormous benefit to the students,” said Ms Giffard. “Our nurses cannot afford to travel away from the area on a regular basis because of their jobs and family commitments.

“We are delighted with the flexibility of the course which CSU has presented to us. If we don’t have staff in our hospitals we cannot open the doors, and no institution in Victoria could provide us with a program that met our needs,” she said.

The Bachelor of Nursing degree by distance education is fully supported by the NSW Nurses Registration Board. The Victorian Nurses Board has also been approached for accreditation. 

Head of School of Nursing and Health Science Dr Jan Allan described the course as particularly important for “disadvantaged” enrolled nurses. 

“These are nurses who live and work in rural and remote locations and, who by virtue of their work and personal responsibilities, cannot study full time on campus. The course is vital to providing quality professional health care in regional and rural Australia,” she added.