Diploma of Nursing

The Diploma of Nursing is an 18-month qualification that gets you ready to work as an enrolled nurse in Australia. You'll study anatomy and physiology, how to assess a patient, give medications, dress wounds, and follow infection control. Mental health, aged care and acute care settings all come up, because enrolled nurses work across all of them. You'll also learn the legal and ethical side of nursing in Australia, including the standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each with a set number of credit points. This one runs for 1.5 years, usually across three or four study periods. You'll do theory units and then supervised clinical placements in hospitals, aged care homes and community health services. Placements are a big part of the course, you can't graduate without them. Some providers expect you to be available for shift work during placement, including nights and weekends.

What you'll learn

By the end, you'll be able to take observations, administer medications under supervision, assist with daily living, and communicate with patients, families and other health professionals. You'll know how to keep accurate records and work safely within your scope of practice. The course also covers cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, which is a requirement for nursing registration in Australia.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers, career changers and people already working in health care who want to become an enrolled nurse. It's also a pathway to a Bachelor of Nursing if you want to go on to become a registered nurse later. International students need to meet English requirements, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is common for undergraduate and coursework postgraduate courses, but nursing usually asks for 7.0–7.5. Check the official page for the exact score this provider accepts. While you study, your student visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight. After you finish, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 110190G.

• Enrolled Nurse, hospitals, aged care facilities, community health centres, general practices and mental health services across Australia.
• Aged Care Nurse, residential aged care homes and home care providers, a growing sector with an ageing population.
• Community Health Nurse, Aboriginal community controlled health organisations, local councils and not-for-profit clinics.
• Hospital Enrolled Nurse, public and private hospitals in medical, surgical, rehabilitation and palliative care wards.
• Mental Health Enrolled Nurse, psychiatric units, community mental health teams and day programmes.
• Pathway to Registered Nurse, many enrolled nurses go on to study a Bachelor of Nursing and register with AHPRA as a registered nurse.