The University of Notre Dame Australia welcomes a decision by the State Government to increase financial support for former nurses who are seeking to re-join the health workforce.
In order to re-register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, former nurses and overseas trained nurses are required to complete a three-month intensive re-entry to practice course that is designed to bring their skills back up to speed.
Notre Dame is currently the only provider of that training in WA.
Health Minister Amber Jade Sanderson recently announced that the full cost of the course would now be covered by the Government for nurses who agreed to join the State health system on completion of the re-entry program.
Previously, 50 per cent of the course fees had been met by the Government.
National Head of School at Notre Dame’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Karen Clark-Burg, congratulated the Health Minister for the decision, which she believed would encourage more nurses back into the job.
“There’s a range of reasons why people may have left the health sector, including to start a family or to travel, and the cost of updating their skills can be a barrier to coming back into the profession,” Professor Clark-Burg said.
“I congratulate the Health Minister on her decision, which is an important incentive given the current challenges all sectors of the Australian economy are experiencing when it comes to attracting staff.”
The re-entry program is run four times a year by Notre Dame and around 150 nurses are expected to complete the course this year.