Key Highlights
- TAFE NSW Kingscliff graduates ready to boost regional health workforce.
- Diploma of Nursing program combines clinical placements and classroom learning.
- 18-month program trains students with skills for high-quality patient care.
- New graduates contribute to addressing nursing shortfall in Australia.
TAFE NSW Nursing Graduates Ready to Strengthen Northern Rivers Health Services
The TAFE NSW Kingscliff campus has seen a new generation of nurses graduate with the Diploma of Nursing, setting them up to bolster local health services in the Northern Rivers region. This timely graduation comes as Australia is projected to face a significant shortage of over 70,000 nurses by 2035.
Strategic Training and Placement
The program’s 18-month duration includes over 400 hours of clinical placement, classroom instruction, and simulation-based learning. This holistic approach prepares graduates to deliver high-quality patient care upon entering the workforce. The hands-on experience at Tweed Valley Hospital, coupled with the state-of-the-art Learning, Development and Research (LDR) Building, ensures that students are well-equipped for real-world challenges.
Boosting Regional Workforce
TAFE NSW Head Teacher of Allied Health and Nursing, Danita Wetterling, emphasized the importance of local training pathways in addressing workforce demands. “Access to the Learning, Development and Research Hub at Tweed Valley Hospital strengthens TAFE NSW’s ability to prepare students for roles in local industry,” she stated.
According to Wetterling, graduates are job-ready from day one, with many already securing positions as enrolled nurses at Tweed Valley Hospital and local home-care providers. This direct impact on the regional health sector highlights the value of locally trained professionals in meeting community needs.
Collaborative Education Model
The LDR Building is part of the Northern NSW Academic Health Alliance, a partnership between TAFE NSW, Griffith University, Southern Cross University, Bond University, and the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD). This collaboration ensures an integrated clinical education model that links vocational and higher education with real-world hospital practice. The goal is to address local workforce demands by providing students with a comprehensive learning environment.
For 23-year-old graduate Carter Smith, the practical placements were crucial in building his confidence. “Most of our placements were right across the road at Tweed Valley Hospital,” he explained. “Everything we learned in the simulation labs clicked into place. Our class was tight, and the teachers were always there to support us — we never felt alone.”
As Tweed Valley Hospital continues to expand as part of a major regional health investment in NSW history, locally trained nurses will play a crucial role in ensuring communities receive the care they deserve.
