Introducing TAFE Queensland’s first-ever Bachelor of Nursing

With more than 27 years of experience delivering nursing education across Queensland, Karen Dickinson, General Manager of TAFE Queensland on the Gold Coast, said it is a pivotal moment for the state’s largest and most trusted vocational education and training provider.

"The need for skilled healthcare professionals has never been more critical,” Ms Dickinson said. 

“Jobs Queensland predicts that employment opportunities across the state for Registered Nurses (RNs) are expected to increase by 14.5 per cent – more than 10,000 new jobs – by 2026.

“Our first ever Bachelor of Nursing is a great example of TAFE Queensland’s ability to progress our training products and services to advance the many industries we support and communities we serve.

“Most importantly, it will provide more higher education pathways than ever before for aspiring RNs and offer a seamless career pathway for eligible Diploma of Nursing graduates – many of whom are already working in Queensland’s health industry,” she said.

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, in November 2023, 94.5 per cent of Diploma of Nursing graduates across Australia were employed after training.

“The majority of TAFE Queensland nursing graduates are already working in industry as Enrolled Nurses (ENs), so the flexible delivery of the degree will enable them to continue to earn while they learn,” Ms Dickinson said. 

“Excitingly, eligible Diploma of Nursing graduates will receive one year of credit, allowing them to directly enter the second year of the degree while working as an EN.

“Designed by experienced nurses, the Bachelor of Nursing focuses on delivering future-focused, hands-on, and community-centred learning experiences,” she said.

TAFE Queensland’s Director of Faculty (Health and Nursing) on the Gold Coast, Deb Blow, said the curriculum is tailored to equip students with the skills and knowledge required for a successful career as a RN.

"A Bachelor of Nursing serves as the foundational requirement to practice as a RN in Australia, however our Bachelor goes the extra mile in nurturing well-rounded, empathetic healthcare professionals equipped to make a real difference in the lives of patients and their communities,” Ms Blow said.

"Through our diploma to degree pathway, we're fostering an environment where students can seamlessly continue their educational journey within TAFE Queensland – a trusted and familiar setting where they receive the support they need to pursue their nursing ambitions.

“The Bachelor will be offered flexibly, allowing students to study online and at the state-of-the-art clinical labs at the South Bank campus in Brisbane and the Southport campus on the Gold Coast,” she said.

TAFE Queensland’s Bachelor of Nursing is accredited by both the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council. It is also approved and registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.