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Nursing and midwifery can be highly rewarding careers as they offer an enormous
variety of settings for employment and an extensive choice of areas for specialisation
and advancement. The South Australian Department of Health and Aboriginal communities
are encouraging more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to take up
nursing and midwifery as a career. To make this possible, the universities,
TAFE SA, health units and the Department of Health are offering education
and employment opportunities.
How to Become an Enrolled Nurse
There are a number of programs which have been developed for Aboriginal students
to assist in obtaining the Diploma of Nursing (Pre-Enrolment). These include:
- Indigenous Enrolled Nurse Program which has been established to ensure
Aboriginal students receive culturally appropriate training. The Indigenous
Enrolled Nursing Program is being conducted at Pika Wiya Learning Centre
by Spencer TAFE SA.
- South Australia Rural and Remote Nursing Cadetship Program offers the
opportunity for rural and remote healthcare units to locally employ a Nursing
Cadet for a period of 18 months. During the 18 month period the Nursing Cadet
will undertake a TAFE SA Diploma of Nursing (Pre-Enrolment) and be employed
by the local health unit for 15 hours per week. For further information contact Spencer TAFE SA, Port Pirie Campus.
- VET in Schools – Pathway to Nursing for Rural and Remote Secondary
School Students allows students in Year 11 and 12 to complete the Community
Services Training Package, Certificate III in Community Services (Aged Care),
as part of their SACE certificate which on completion will enable students
to apply for the Diploma of Nursing (Pre-Enrolment).
Course and Application Information
Diploma in Nursing (Pre-Enrolment) is offered by various providers. For further information regarding entry requirements:
Applications for Diploma of Nursing (Pre-Enrolment) are processed through the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) for enrolment to TAFE SA campuses, or the Enrolled Nurse Coordinator at the Hospital or RTO who is accredited to conduct the program.
Note: You will need to check the relevant details for TAFE SA or the training provider of your choice as there may be slight variation in relation to application requirements.
How to Become a Registered Nurse
To become a registered nurse it is necessary to complete a Bachelor of Nursing. The program is usually studied full time over three years (or the equivalent part time). For further information click here.
How to Become a Registered Midwife
To become a Registered Midwife it is necessary to complete a Bachelor of Midwifery. The Bachelor of Midwifery can be studied either as a first degree or post registration/professional entry. The first degree program is studied full time over three years (or the equivalent part time). The post registration/professional entry degree program is studied full time over one year (or the equivalent part time). To be eligible for entry to the post registration/professional entry degree program applicants must be a Registered Nurse and hold a current practising certificate. For further information click here.
Course and Application Information
Applications for the above programs are processed through the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC).
The opportunity exists at both Universities for students to apply via the Indigenous Admissions Scheme or similar. This recognises that Indigenous Australians may not have had the opportunity to apply through traditional methods. The requirements and process for application vary at each university and can be found by contacting the support units listed below.
Note: You will need to check the relevant details for the University of your choice as there may be slight variation in relation to application and entry requirements.
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER SUPPORTS
Information regarding alternative entry programmes is available through the Aboriginal Education Centres at each of the relevant universities. For further information visit/contact the following sites:
To increase the number of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives within the public sector workforce and improve health service delivery to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities
using a framework of cultural respect the Nursing and Midwifery Office has appointed Mr Shane Mohor. Shane is an Aboriginal registered nurse who has experience in many different clinical areas which include metropolitan acute and rural/remote area nursing.
For further information, advice and support please contact the Nursing and Midwifery Office.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarships Available
Department of Health Scholarships
The Department of Health is committed to increasing the numbers of professionally qualified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples employed in the SA Public Health System, particular in service delivery areas such as Nursing and Midwifery. Scholarships are available to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students undertaking undergraduate/post-graduate studies at a South Australian University.
For further information contact the Aboriginal Health Division, Career Adviser Nursing, Medicine & Allied Health on (08) 8226 6344.
RCNA Remote and Rural Undergraduate Nurse Scheme
Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) currently administers at least 10 Australian Government Funded Scholarship Schemes to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples. These are mostly targeted to nurses or nursing students who are living in rural and remote areas of Australia. Preference is normally given to those applicants who undertake to both study and complete clinical experiences in regional, rural and/or remote areas.
Click here for further information from the RCNA
Further Scholarships
For other scholarships available, please contact the Universities listed above or the Aboriginal Health Division.
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