Sunraysia will welcome seven new Enrolled Nurses to the workforce this month with SuniTAFE’s most recent Diploma of Nursing students having officially completed their qualification.

SuniTAFE Diploma of Nursing teacher Michelle Dent said all seven Mildura campus students have already found employment and will somewhat assist with the regional nursing shortage.

“The Diploma of Nursing is a fantastic qualification to obtain with students almost guaranteed to find employment within the industry,” she said.

“All seven of our graduate students this year have already found jobs; five will be working as Enrolled Nurses with four of those in aged care facilities and the fifth in a GP clinic, while studying their undergraduate nursing degree. Another two will be completing EN Graduate years, one of which will be at the Mildura Base Public Hospital and the other in Swan Hill.

“Not only are they guaranteed a job at the end of it but it’s an excellent pathway for those wanting to continue their study while also being able to already work in the industry and perfect their skills at the same time.”
The Diploma of Nursing is delivered full time over two years with students required to attend classes onsite three days per week, as well as complete approximately 250 hours of self-directed learning outside of scheduled classes via an online learning platform. Students will also undertake 440 hours of placement.
“It’s a big two years to complete the Diploma and it is an amazing achievement that our students should be very proud of,” Mrs Dent said.

Among the recent graduates, is mother of four Sarah Wadsworth, who not only just completed her Diploma of Nursing but has also been studying paramedical science and emergency health care through the Australian Paramedical College.

“I have always wanted to be a nurse and then after having a child with complex medical needs and seeing just how great the nurses were with him, I knew this was something I wanted to do,” she said.
“It’s been a really full on few years, but the teachers have been amazing and even when I took 12 months off for personal reasons, Education Business Manager and Head of Nursing Julie Wilson and the staff fully supported me and made sure I was ready to get back into it when I returned.”

Mrs Wadsworth has secured employment at the Mildura Base Public Hospital for her Graduate Nursing Program, where she will work in Ward 6; paediatrics and surgical.

“I like the mix of getting to work with both children and adults, so I am excited to get started,” she said.
Mrs Wadsworth hasn’t decided exactly where she hopes her career takes her next, however returning to SuniTAFE to teach nursing is something that sparks her interest.

For more information on completing the (HLT54115) Diploma of Nursing visit https://www.sunitafe.edu.au/courses/health-and-community/hlt54115-diploma-of-nursing/