15 June 2004

The first Bachelor of Nursing students to complete their award through the collaborative Charles Darwin University and Centre for Remote Health educational program graduated at the Alice Springs Campus graduation ceremony held last Friday night.

"Up until this year the Alice Springs Hospital has needed to recruit staff from interstate due to the lack of an education program for home grown nurses," said the University's Head of the School of Health Sciences, Dr Mary Morris.

Of the 144 Bachelor of Nursing students who graduated from Charles Darwin University this year five students have been trained in Alice Springs.

Since 1998, Charles Darwin University has provided external programs in nursing for rural and remote areas and began the collaboration with the Centre in 2002. As part of a formal agreement with the NT Health Department and Charles Darwin University, the Centre for Remote Health facilitates the learning outcomes through tutorials and clinical teaching blocks for external nursing students in Alice Springs in conjunction with staff from Charles Darwin.

The Centre, in conjunction with Alice Springs Hospital provides local clinical teaching and placement in the Alice Springs region. The nursing program is also supported by a dedicated clinical laboratory located at the Alice Springs Hospital for the training of undergraduate nursing students.

Dr Morris said that as the program matures, more locally trained nursing students are anticipated to graduate through the University's internal and external educational programs

"The expansion of Health programs in Alice Springs will soon see the graduation of local Enrolled nurses as well as nurses in the specialty areas of renal, mental health, midwifery and palliative care."

Charles Darwin University currently has 43 students in Alice Springs enrolled at various stages in the Bachelor of Nursing including some Indigenous students who are expected to complete their studies next year.

In addition to the Bachelor of Nursing, students are now able to enrol in the Certificate lV Enrolled Nursing program through Charles Darwin Alice Springs. Mid year enrolment is happening now and students interested in pursuing a career in nursing are encouraged to contact the co-ordinator, Patricia Lithgow, on 08 8946 6257.