Entry requirements

To practice safely in Australia, health practitioners, including nurses, must have strong English language skills. This includes being able to communicate effectively with patients and their relatives, collaborate with other health care professionals and keep clear and accurate health records.

The English language skills registration standard is one of the five core standards required under National Law. In preparation for registration, and required by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, all new applicants to study the Diploma of Nursing at TAFE Queensland are to demonstrate English language, as well as literacy and numeracy skills prior to enrolment.

Domestic and International students:

Prior to enrolment, students schooled outside of Australia must provide evidence of a formal English language test result, demonstrating they have achieved the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) minimum requirements as specified in the English language skills.

The assessment must have been completed less than 2 years ago.

Formal English language tests are listed below, with their required outcomes to support enrolment*:-

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - a minimum score of 7.0 overall and in each of the four (4) components
• Occupational English Test (OET) - a minimum score of ‘B’ in each of the four (4) components
• Pearson’s Test of English (PTE) - a minimum score of 65 in each of the four (4) communicative skills
• Test of English as a Foreign Language / Internet-based test (TOEFL-iBT) - a minimum score of 94 overall with a minimum score in each section:
  • 24 for listening
  • 24 for reading
  • 27 for writing
  • 23 for speaking

*Please refer to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for further specific requirements for an accepted test result.

All students will need to complete, prior to enrolment, a Basic Key Skills Builder (bksb) assessment and achieve a competency of at least Exit Level 3 in the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) in both language and numeracy.

This is a requirement in accordance with TAFE Queensland and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC).

Selection criteria

Entry into this course is via a selection process which may include an interview, written application or application through QTAC.

International Students
Students should be a minimum of 18 years of age. Student visa applicants under the age of 18 will be accepted where they demonstrate that they will be accompanied by a parent, legal custodian or a suitable relative who is aged 21 or over. This arrangement requires the approval of the Department of Home Affairs. For more information visit Department of Home Affairs - Welfare Requirements for Student Visa Applicants under 18.

Academic Requirements: Completion of Year 12 (or equivalent). Non school-leavers must have relevant work experience or qualification that indicates likely success of course completion. For more information on the international education achievement levels equivalent to Year 10 and 12.

Placement

Once you’ve successfully completed the theoretical and practical simulation training components in each stage of your course, you will need to successfully undertake a clinical placement in a health care facility or hospital where you will get to use your new skills in the real world. You’ll be required to work shifts determined by your placement provider, and these can include early mornings or late nights, any day of the week, including public holidays. Completing a placement is compulsory, and you will be expected to manage family and work commitments in order to complete your shifts. You will need to successfully undertake a minimum of 400 hours of placement to satisfy AHPRA's requirements for your qualification. You will need a Blue Card and Federal Police Check before you can be allocated placement.

If your police check identifies that you have a criminal history or you are unable to obtain a Blue Card, you may be disqualified from being eligible to undertake placement and assessment, which would affect your course outcomes. If you think this might impact you, please speak to the relevant Vocational Placement Coordinator for further information.

From 1st July 2016, a change to Queensland Health policy will now require students placed in Clinical areas of all Facilities to provide evidence they have been vaccinated for the vaccine preventable diseases of measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and pertussis. This is in addition to the evidence provided for vaccinations against Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis.

Students will not be able to commence their Vocational Placement unless they have provided the required evidence as specified below:

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): Evidence of 2 vaccinations one month apart or positive serology for all 3 diseases
• Hepatitis B: Commence a Hepatitis B course which is 3 injections (0, 1 and 6 months) with positive serology supplied 4-6 weeks following 3rd vaccination or supply evidence of an Age-appropriate Hep B course
• Varicella (Chicken Pox): Evidence of 2 vaccinations one month apart or positive serology
• dTpa (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis) vaccination: Evidence of vaccinations for all 3 diseases within the last 10 years
• Tuberculosis: Mantoux Test or evidence of a plain chest x-ray

Please note: you will be responsible for any costs associated with meeting these requirements.

Resources required

It is recommended that you have access to a reliable internet connection to access TAFE Queensland's online learning system Connect, and a computer with up-to-date software, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader and Adobe Flash Player. This equipment and software is available for use at all TAFE Queensland locations.

You will be provided with a recommended reading list and/or required textbooks during orientation or at the start of each unit. The purchase of these resources may incur additional costs, or you may be able to borrow them from the TAFE Queensland library network.

You may also be required to purchase uniform items, and a nursing kit. These details will be provided after enrolment or during orientation.

Need to know

Registration – during the course of study
Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, all students enrolled in an approved nursing or midwifery course of study must be registered for the duration of study or until they are no longer enrolled in an approved course of study. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, working in partnership with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) maintains this Student Register and reflects the profile of students as advised by Australia’s education providers. The Student Register is not public and, in relation to students, is limited to recording student health impairment matters or criminal convictions of a serious nature. AHPRA has no role to play in the academic progress or conduct of students which continues to be a core responsibility of educational providers. Providing student details to AHPRA is a condition placed upon TAFE Queensland as your education provider, and therefore it is a condition of entry into this course that you consent to the release of your details accordingly. Further information can be found at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website.

Registration – upon completion of study
To register as an Enrolled Nurse through APHRA after graduation, you must be able to demonstrate the completion of five years full-time equivalent education taught and assessed in English. Applicants for registration who cannot provide this evidence will be required to undertake an IELTS (or equivalent) test. Applicants will require a minimum score of seven (7.0) in each of the four (4) components of listening, reading, writing and speaking. Prior to enrolment all students should visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website for further information regarding registration following graduation.

TAFE at Schools - Year 12 students
Gold Coast:
Year 12 students complete 6 out of the 10 units from the Stage 1 (Semester 1) requirements plus 40 hours Vocational Placement.

Vocational Placement is a mandatory assessment to complete the unit requirements. Vocational Placement is allocated during school holidays in the second half of the year, and students must be able to attend their allocated shifts to support a successful outcome. Content is delivered online with practical assessments completed over 4 clinical lab sessions from 8.30am-2.30pm during the second half of the year.

First Aid training is delivered during one of these sessions.

Darling Downs and South West:
Year 12 students complete 4 units from HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing during one year.

Content is delivered face-to-face, including clinical skills in a one week block (5 days) each term during the school year.

TAFE at Schools - Year 11 students
Gold Coast:
Year 11 students complete all 10 units from the Stage 1 (Semester 1) requirements plus 80 hours Vocational Placement across the 2 years of study. Year 11 students may be eligible to continue with Stage 2 (Semester 2) studies upon completion of Year 12 general studies.

Vocational Placement is a mandatory assessment to complete the unit requirements. Vocational Placement is allocated during school holidays in the second half of the year and students must be able to attend their allocated shifts to support a successful outcome. Content is delivered online with practical assessments completed over 8-10 clinical lab days across the 2 years from 8.30am-2.30pm.

First Aid training is delivered during one of these sessions.

Darling Downs and South West:
Year 11 students complete 4 units from HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing during one year.  They will then complete an additional 4 units during year 12. 

Content is delivered face-to-face, including clinical skills in a one week block (5 days) each term during the school year.

Assessment Methods

Skill and knowledge assessments are an essential step in progressing through your course. You may be assessed in a number of ways while you are studying at TAFE Queensland, including observation, written assessment, questioning, portfolios, work samples, third-party feedback, and through recognition of prior learning. Read more about assessment methods.