Diploma of Nursing

Entry Requirements

1. Must be 18 years of age or over as at the 30th of April in the year you are applying - Mature age or Year 12 entry
2. 2. Provide proof of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English Language Skills Registration Standards requirements prior to enrolment into the Diploma of Nursing (see below)
3. Meet NMBA Criminal History Registration Standard
4. Prospective student's need to complete an online application form
5. Minimum ACSF level 4 in all levels
6. Attend and be successful in a group (4 applicants per group) interview.
7. Provide Police Check in each year of placement without disclosures (convictions or non convictions)
8. Provide a Working with Children's Check without disclosures
9. Must be able to attend the full time course 3-4 days per week or part time 2-3 days per week, on campus as per the timetable
10. Must complete vaccination protocol including COVID 19 Vaccinations/boosters
11. Must meet the inherent requirements of the nursing industry including being physically fit as clinical simulation and placement require a certain degree of physical fitness where the student will be standing for long periods, bending and using manual handling equipment

As per proof of the English language requirements, students must meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) English Language Skills Registration Standards PRIOR to admission into the Diploma of Nursing. Please review the NMBA English Language Skills Registration Standard here

English Language Skills must be demonstrated in ONE of the following ways:

1. IF ENGLISH IS YOUR PRIMARY LANGUAGE: the student will need to provide evidence of 6 years of schooling conducted and assessed in English, with a minimum of 2 years at a secondary level, from the approved countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa , United Kingdom, United States of America).
   The evidence can be school reports, a letter from your school for the 6 years of schooling, or a letter from the education department stating your 6 years of schooling, or a combination of the evidence.
2. IF ENGLISH IS YOUR SECOND LANGUAGE: you must successfully complete an English Language Skills test to the specified levels. These tests must be completed no less than 2 years prior to enrolment

ELS APPROVED TESTS:

NOTE: accept test results must be:

• i. from one test sitting, or
• ii. a maximum of two test sittings in a six month period only with the following results:

Demonstrated achievement of the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests:

a. IELTS (academic module) with a minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

• you achieve a minimum overall score of 7 in each sitting, and
• you achieve a minimum score of 7 in each component across the two sittings, and
• no score in any component of the test is below 6.5

b. OET with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

NOTE: accept test results:

• you are tested in all four components in each sitting, and
• you achieve a minimum score of B in each component across the two sittings, and
• no score in any component of the test is below C.

c. PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

NOTE: accept test results:

• a minimum overall score of 65 is achieved in each sitting, and
• you achieve a minimum score of 65 in each of the communicative skills across the two sittings, and
• no score in any of the communicative skills is below 58

d. TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test:

• 24 for listening,
• 24 for reading,
• 27 for writing, and
• 23 for speaking.

ELS evidence is ONLY accepted from the following

1. School reports or transcripts,
2. Letter from school attended
3. Letter from Education Department
   Students must meet the NMBA Criminal History Registration standard to be registered at course completion. This can be reviewed here

Any condition that prevents the student from being able to perform in the role of a nursing student and subsequent nurse. This includes being unable to be on their feet for long periods to provide patient care and work in the job role. A Police Check or Working With Children Check that have disclosable outcomes.

Online requirement

• Basic word processing skills
• Access to computer and internet connection
• Ability to attend scheduled clinical placements.

Course Cost

VET Student Loans

VET Student Loans are available to assist eligible students studying higher level vocational education and training (VET) qualifications to pay their tuition fees. Higher level VET qualifications are at those at a Diploma level and above. VET Student loans are capped at a maximum for each approved course of study and the amount of the loan cannot be greater than your remaining FEE-HELP balance. If eligible for a student loan, you can access up to $16,788.00 to help cover the tuition fees for this course. For more information about VET Student Loans and eligibility requirements, please click here.

Help with Fees

• Fees and Fee Assistance
• Payment Plans
• Scholarships
• Student Support Services

Specialist Course Information

Placement

Placement break down for the full time program includes:

• 2 weeks Aged care - completed in semester 1 - (80 hours )
• 3 weeks Acute (120 hours) and 1 week Community (40 hours)in semester 2
• 2 weeks Mental Health (80 hours)  and 2 weeks IV / Medications (80 hours) in semester 3

Placement break down for the part time program includes:

• 2 weeks Age care (80 hours) toward the end of the 1st semester
• 3 weeks Sub-acute / Medications (120 hours) toward the end of the 2nd semester
• 1 Week community (40 hours) health toward the middle of the 3rd semester
• 2 weeks Mental Heath (80 hours) toward middle to end of the 3rd semester
• 2 weeks Acute / Medication /IV (80 hours) toward the end of the 4th semester

This totals 10 weeks full time of a minimum of 400 mandatory placement hours, where the student will be working morning or afternoon shifts (of 8 hours duration) rostered between Monday to Sunday. The student will be fully supervised and supported when caring for patients over the course of the clinical placement. Practical placement will be arranged by the TAFE Gippsland placement co-coordinator
Travel will be required to attend the allocated placements which occur across the wider Gippsland region. Discounted accommodation may be available, through the placement facilities, for students attending placements, who are required to travel distances to placement.

Days of the week:

Monday to Sunday including 10 x eight-hour days and a maximum of 80 hours across a fortnight, consisting of morning (07:00-15:30) or afternoon (13:00-21:30) shifts. This will depend on rosters supplied by the Health Care Facility providing the placement.

Students must be able to attend clinical placement when scheduled and as per the facility roster.

Time of the year (estimate):

Placement break down for the full time program includes:

• 2 weeks Aged care - towards the end of Semester 1 (week 16-18)
• 3 weeks Acute and 1 week Community towards the end of semester 2 (week 36-40)
• 2 weeks Mental Health and 2 weeks IV / Medications  towards the end of semester 3 (week  56-60)

Placement break down for the part time program includes:

• 2 weeks Age care (80 hours) toward the end of the 1st semester
• 3 weeks Sub-acute / Medications (120 hours) toward the end of the 2nd semester
• 1 Week community (40 hours) health toward the middle of the 3rd semester
• 2 weeks Mental Heath (80 hours) toward middle to end of the 3rd semester
• 2 weeks Acute / Medication /IV (80 hours) toward the end of the 4th semester

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Varicella
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella
• Polio
• Hep B
• Flu Vax (Vaccine to be dated in the year of placement)
• COVID-19 Vaccinations / boosters
• mask fit testing

NOTE: A clear police and WWCC check is required for clinical placements

Pathway to Industry Licence

Application for registration as an Enrolled Nurse -(AHPRA) Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Online applications for registration as a nurse and/or midwife are available to:

1. Students can apply to AHPRA for their nursing registration when they are due to complete the approved nursing course within the next six weeks in an Australian-approved program of study, or
2. Graduates that have completed an Australian-approved program of study within the last two years.

To commence your application for registration to become a registered Enrolled Nurse click on this link and click apply online.

Material and Equipment supplied by students

Not Applicable

Student Services

Support is available for students at every stage of the study journey. Please speak to any of our friendly reception or teaching staff.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Many TAFE Gippsland courses offer Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Click to learn more about RPL and how it can benefit you.

Sample course units

HLTINF006 Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control

HLTENN057 Contribute to the nursing care of a person with diabetes

CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people

CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety

HLTAAP002 Confirm physical health status

HLTINF001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures

HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct client care

HLTAAP003 Analyse and respond to client health information

CHCPOL003 Research and apply evidence to practice

CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice

CHCAGE005 Provide support to people living with dementia

BSBPEF202 Plan and apply time management

HLTAID011 Provide First Aid

HLTENN035 Practise nursing within the Australian health care system

HLTENN036 Apply communication skills in nursing practice

HLTENN037 Perform clinical assessment and contribute to planning nursing care

HLTENN038 Implement, monitor and evaluate nursing care

HLTENN039 Apply principles of wound management

HLTENN040 Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy

HLTENN041 Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice

HLTENN042 Implement and monitor care for a person with mental health conditions

HLTENN043 Implement and monitor care for a person with acute health conditions

HLTENN044 Implement and monitor care for a person with chronic health conditions

HLTENN045 Implement and monitor care of the older person

HLTENN047 Apply nursing practice in the primary health care setting

HLTENN068 Provide end of life care and a palliative approach in nursing practice

Assessment

Practical experiences, practical demonstrations in simulated work conditions, journals, oral presentations, presentations to audiences, case studies, projects, group projects, group discussions, written essays, examinations, problem solving, documents/folios