12 May 2025
Local healthcare education expert Jayne Hunt has recently taken the helm of SuniTAFE’s Nursing department as Education Delivery Manager with the objective of growing the Mallee region’s workforce from the foundation up.
In this context, the foundation is the Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121), because not only is it the quickest path a student can take to then secure work as a nurse, but it also teaches a broad skillset that makes graduates workplace-ready for a wide range of professional contexts.
Jayne has worked in nursing education for 16 years across hospitals and community health providers, including Mildura Base Public Hospital and Sunraysia Community Health Services. She has also taught for many years at both SuniTAFE and La Trobe University.
Jayne has assembled a team of 11 nurses across both Mildura and Swan Hill campuses, all with diverse experience and specialties, including emergency, intensive care, paediatrics, and mental health.
Many of these teachers are still working in their clinical areas as well as teaching and are well equipped to train the next generation of nurses.
“We have a huge demand for nurses in the region, both in Mildura and Swan Hill,” Jayne said.
“There aren’t many people moving to these regions so it’s important that we target locals and we train our own workforce, and by ensuring we do that well here at SuniTAFE, we’re putting people out in the workforce who will care for myself and my family, or you and your family.
“We’re training them well and we’ll make sure they are confident when they go into the workforce.”
SuniTAFE is proud to have dedicated nursing labs at both campuses which allow students to practice their skills on any given day.
“We’ve got world class facilities here at SuniTAFE,” Jayne said.
“We are constantly updating our facilities to be in line with what’s happening out in the workforce. For example, we’ve recently updated our IV pumps to be consistent with what’s happening in hospitals in Mildura and Swan Hill.
“We’ve got simulator manikins that we can use to simulate a deteriorating patient, like what you would see out on placement. We have a medication room and a bathroom where we can practice hygiene. We really just want our students to practice all of the procedures that are done in the hospital.”
SuniTAFE’s Diploma of Nursing is focused on being accessible to accommodate the needs of all aspiring nurses and to alleviate common barriers to pursuing education. Not only are 100% of nursing enrolments covered by FREE TAFE, but the lesson delivery modes have also been designed to accommodate busy schedules.
“FREE TAFE is great because it is designed for people who want to become nurses but the cost has always been the barrier,” Jayne said.
“But now they’re able to achieve their dream of becoming a nurse because they have been able to study full time without the pressure of having to find a way to pay for it.
“We also have a lot of mature aged students studying our course, we’ve made sure we have a consistent three days a week when they’re on campus with the rest being self-directed off-campus learning. This means they can book their childcare or arrange their other employment around their study and know that this won’t ever change.
“The added benefit of SuniTAFE’s student support and learning support programs has really helped to ensure that we retain students across the two years through to graduation.”
Education can have a transformative impact both on an individual and their community. Jayne sees this impact on her students and the towns they serve.
“The most rewarding part of my job is changing people's lives. Our students come to study and then obtain employment or move on to higher education, and it’s very affirming to see our students be successful in either path that they choose,” she said.
“More than this, the VET sector is training people to be work ready in industries of need, and nursing as a need in Victoria is almost in crisis mode with the lack of nurses coming to the profession.
“So, the impact of us putting nurses into position where they are caring for people in Victoria is so important.”
Do you have a passion for caring for others and want to make a difference? Check out SuniTAFE’s Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121), and you could be working as an Enrolled Nurse within two years.