Study Nursing in Victoria and Get Qualified for a Job That Changes Lives

o study your Bachelor of Nursing in Victoria, you must:

• Have completed secondary school, equivalent to Australia’s high school certificate, with units 3 and 4 and at least a 27 in English and units 1 and 2 in maths plus satisfactory completion of two units.

• Meet the institution’s English language requirements, generally around an average of 7.0 IELTS score

• Some institutions also require a bridging course to be completed, or a diploma from a VET/ TAFE

Diploma of Nursing: This two year course gives you the qualification you need to become an enrolled nurse. This Diploma provides foundational knowledge required to work as a nurse in Victoria. This includes learning about infection, biology, medication, physiology, IV injections and general nursing skills.

Bachelor of Nursing: This in depth three year course includes clinical placements, providing valuable job experience. This degree provides the knowledge, ethics, and skills needed to apply to become a registered nurse in Victoria.

Postgraduate studies: Choose your specialisation from:

• Advanced nursing practice

• Cancer and haematology nursing

• Emergency nursing

• Intensive care nursing

• Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

• Mental health nursing

• Primary health care nursing

You can also complete graduate certificates or diplomas, which may be credited towards your master’s degree.

The difference between the Bachelor of Nursing and the Diploma of Nursing is that the diploma does not allow you to become a registered nurse, only an enrolled nurse. An RN can perform more tasks and take control of a patient’s care, while an EN is managed by an RN and has mostly care duties.

The healthcare field is vast, and once you have your diploma or bachelor degree, the future is open for specialisation. It’s also a growing industry with great employment stability now and in the future. The Australian government advises that demand for qualified nurses is on the rise, with an estimated 120,000 shortage of nurses by 2030.

In particular, three areas of nursing are in demand.

Aged care nursing

With an aging population, aged care nursing is in high demand. It’s predicted that by 2057, the number of Australians aged over 65 will double. This puts a huge strain on healthcare infrastructure. While many aged care nurses work in aged care facilities, there are also home nursing options, hospitals, and community clinics. You’ll be involved with medicine administration, patient and family support and education, palliative pain management, day to day caring, and infection control. You can specialise further in aspects such as dementia or palliative care.

Mental health nursing

This sector is predicted to have the biggest worker shortages, particularly in rural or remote regions. Mental health nurses assist their patients in managing mental illness, from minor anxiety attacks through to serious psychiatric disorders. These roles can be found in hospitals, community care clinics, hospitals, and psychiatric hospitals.

Critical care nursing

This fast-paced nursing role provides care to patients who require special care due to serious injuries or illness. This includes trauma, burns, and severe illnesses. These roles are usually found within intensive care departments in hospitals. Demand is greatest in rural and remote regions of Australia.

However, you’re not limited to those three areas; you can also specialise in:

• Midwifery

• Medical hospital nursing

• Emergency care nursing

• Public health nursing

• Oncology nursing

• Paediatric nursing

Melbourne University

The University of Melbourne is ranked 41st in the world. It’s an excellent university, with a well- regarded nursing program. The courses cover a broad range of topics across everything from undergraduate Bachelors in Nursing through to Masters of Advanced Nursing and more specialised Graduate Certificates in subjects such as cancer nursing.

• Master of Advanced Nursing

• Master of Advanced Nursing Practice

• Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (Nurse Practitioner)

• Master of Nursing Science

• Master of Clinical Ultrasound

• Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing

• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound

• Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing (Emergency)

• Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing (Intensive Care)

• Graduate Certificate in Neonatal Intensive Care

• Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice (Acute and Complex Care)

• Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice (Paediatric Intensive Care)

• Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice (Paediatrics)

• Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice (Rural Critical Care)

• Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care

• Graduate Certificate in Primary Care Nursing

• Graduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing

• Graduate Diploma in Clinical Ultrasound

• Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing Practice

• Specialist Certificate in Creativity and Health

• Specialist Certificate in Critical Care Nursing

• Specialist Certificate in Cancer Nursing

• Specialist Certificate in Disaster and Terror Medicine and Health Management

• Specialist Certificate in Neonatal Care

• Specialist Certificate in Nursing Practice (Acute and Complex Care)

• Specialist Certificate in Palliative Care

• Specialist Certificate in Palliative Care - Hume

Monash University

Ranked 55th in the world, Monash University offers Bachelors, honours, and Masters Nursing degrees. It also specialises in their midwifery course options.

• Bachelor of Nursing

• Bachelor of Nursing (honours year)

• Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery (honours)

RMIT University

• The Bachelor of Nursing offered by RMIT University takes place on their Bundoora campus. Their Bachelor of Nursing has theoretical elements which are supported by labs, clinical simulations, and finally real-life clinical practice.

• Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance

• Diploma of Nursing

• Associate Degree in Health Sciences

• Bachelor of Nursing

• Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Health Nursing

• Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

• Master of Mental Health Nursing

• Master of Science (Laboratory and Clinical Science)

• Master of Science (Nursing)

• PhD (Nursing)

ACU

The Bachelor of Nursing courses at ACU gives specialised options across some of their campuses including Melbourne. These courses include specialisation in paramedicine and business administration, as well as the more generic nursing for enrolled nurses.

• Bachelor of Nursing

• Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurses)Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Business Administration

• Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Paramedicine

• Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)

• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing

• Graduate Certificate in Mental Health

• Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

• Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nursing

• Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

• Master of Clinical Nursing

• Master of Mental Health Nursing

Deakin University

With a focus on creating graduates that are ready to work, with vast experience from clinical placements from the first year onwards. Clinical simulators allow students to practice their skills in a no-stress environment.

• Bachelor of Nursing

• Bachelor of Nursing (Clinical Leadership)

• Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)

• Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery

• Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion

• Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Psychological Science

• Graduate Diploma of Midwifery

• Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education

• Master of Nursing Practice

• Master of Nursing

• Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing)

Contact IDP for more information

Contact IDP today for advice, support, and guidance in your application for nursing courses in Victoria.