Nursing/Midwifery Transition to Professional Practice programs (also known as Graduate programs) are for nurses and midwives who have successfully completed their undergraduate qualifications, have registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of South Australia (nmbSA) and are commencing their first year of professional practice.  

The Transition to Professional Practice (TTPP) Framework Guidelines states:

Transition to Professional Practice aims to facilitate a supportive environment to enable new graduates to undertake a process of:
• developing positive attributes and attitudes to work;
• skill consolidation;
• building clinical confidence and
• defining their professional responsibilities and boundaries.

Programs are run by most public and some private hospitals within the metropolitan area. In the rural setting, programs are generally run through a regional health service and can be undertaken at one or a combination of hospitals depending on regional arrangements. 

The programs vary in length (6-12 months) and content, however, all include a theoretical and clinical practice component. Graduates are employed by the health unit/service and work on a rotating roster while completing the program. Some mental health facilities may offer graduate nurses the opportunity to undertake a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing during their clinical placement.

TTPP programs are generally advertised towards the end of the academic year in newspapers and nursing publications.

Country Health SA Transition to Practice Programs

Course information for the Country Health SA (CHSA) Transition to Practice Program for Nurses and Midwives:
Registered Midwife Course Information
Registered Nurse Course Information
CHSA Declaration for Employment Form
CHSA Application form

The following Country Health SA regional units are offering Transition to Practice Program for nurses and midwives:
Adelaide Hills, Coorong, Mallee and Kangaroo Island
Clare, Barossa Valley and Yorke Peninsula
Eastern Eyre Peninsula
Gawler - Registered Midwife
Mid North - Registered Midwife
Mid North - Registered Nurse
Murray Bridge and Mount Barker
Port Augusta
Port Lincoln
Riverland
South East
Western Eyre Peninsula
Whyalla - Registered Midwife
Whyalla - Registered Nurse

Transition to Practice Program for Mental Health Nurses

The Transition to Practice Program for Mental Health Nurses is designed to provide clear explanation of the roles and responsibilities of the mental health service, the transitioning nurse and key personnel who are pivotal to the success of the program.

Applications have closed for 2010.