Graduate Certificate in Australian Nursing (EPIQ)

Have you been a nurse overseas, and want to continue this rewarding career in Australia?

The Graduate Certificate in Australian Nursing is a 6-month pathway for internationally qualified nurses to qualify as a registered nurse in Australia.

This program is offered at our beachside campus at the Gold Coast, in state-of-the-art clinical facilities. You will build on your skills and be oriented to the latest evidence-based nursing practice in Australia, including legal and ethical responsibilities, and have the opportunity to demonstrate your skills in practice in workplace environments.

Graduates will be eligible to register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority as nurses in the Australian healthcare system, and will also have a path to further postgraduate study.

Career Opportunities

The course provides graduates with the opportunity to engage in health leadership and management, education, research opportunities and a broad spectrum of clinical nursing specialties, delivering acute and chronic disease management in clinical settings such as; paediatrics, community and primary health care and education; as a practice nurse in GP clinics, mental health, child and adolescent, aged care, perioperative care, Indigenous health, rural and remote area health care, emergency departments and critical care.

Professional Recognition

This course is fully accredited with Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council and provides the necessary qualification for graduates to be eligible to become a Registered Nurse in Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Professional Placement

Compulsory supervised workplace experiences reflect the current registered nurse standards for practice, major health priorities, and contemporary nursing practices. The eight-week placement enables candidates to consolidate theoretical learning and build upon their professional practice.

Professional experience placements require students to fulfill certain prerequisites prior to attending placement (e.g. a working with children check and National Police Certificate). Prior to applying for a course offered by the School of Health and Human Sciences, please consider the important information regarding these requirements.

Major Areas of Study

The course is responsive to contemporary nursing practices and provides content and clinical experiences in:

Contextual nursing and health: Australian health care system, primary health care, mental health, acute and complex care, chronic disease management, palliative care, aged care, pharmacology, Indigenous studies.

Professional practice: professional, legal and ethical studies, knowledge development and accountability for practice.

Critical thinking and analysis: reflective practice, self-appraisal, professional development, evidence and research for practice.

Coordination of care: leadership and care management, coordination, organization and provision of nursing care of individuals /groups, planning, implementation and evaluation of care, health informatics.

Collaborative and therapeutic practice: establishing, sustaining and concluding professional relationships with individuals/groups. Provision of independent and interdisciplinary health care.

Assessment methods

A variety of assessment methods is used in this course including multiple choice examinations, short answer examinations, essay examinations, case studies, tutorial and workshop presentations, debates, written assignments, simulations and clinical skills testing.

In the clinical settings clinical e-portfolios, reflective exercises, and clinical competency appraisal is required.

For each unit, there are usually two to three assessment items. Students are required to demonstrate an ability to develop and meet the Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia Registered Nurse Standards of Practice, maintain a clinical e-portfolio and complete reflective exercises.

Teaching methods

This course is offered on campus with students completing foundational theory work via intensive workshops before a consolidated professional experience placement. Students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. Online discussion forums support learning throughout the course. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Facts, figures, rankings and awards

Southern Cross University is a progressive, young and connected regional research university, with vibrant campuses in northern New South Wales and the southern Gold Coast. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and many are available in a dynamic online form. Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

Why SCU?

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 20Bold, progressive and just 23 years of age – Southern Cross University is one of the Asia-Pacific’s Top 100 Universities and one of the world’s Top 50 Generation Y Universities .

Our contemporary campuses, with purpose-built state-of-the-art facilities, are located on the east coast of Australia, at the Gold Coast in Queensland, and in Lismore and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. All are unique regions renowned for their natural beauty and ecological diversity, providing living laboratories for learning and creative hubs for artistic endeavour.

Branch campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are operated in collaboration with EduCo on behalf of Southern Cross University. The University also operates The Hotel School Sydney and Melbourne in partnership with Mulpha Australia. We also deliver degrees with collaborators in China, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

We have a large and diverse range of courses available online, offering interactive and immersive learning experiences wherever our students are.

Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

We aim to produce graduates who are career ready, world ready and digitally literate, and who experience an academic environment distinctive for its personal approach.

The University has a strong focus on industry and community collaboration to produce engaged teaching and research outcomes.

This connectivity is seeing Southern Cross University lead the $13.8m national Farming Together Pilot Program, partnering with the Northern Rivers Co-operatives Alliance and the Australian Government. The University has also introduced an important new Centre for Organics Research with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

In the latest Excellence in Research for Australia report, Southern Cross achieved outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 24 research fields. In nine research fields, the University was evaluated at the highest possible classification of 'well above world standard'. This was achieved in the fields of Geochemistry, Oceanography, Environmental Science and Management, Zoology, Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Crop and Pasture Production, Forestry Sciences, Nursing, Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Campuses

Southern Cross University is a vibrant, contemporary Australian university with beautiful campuses on the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour.

Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses (International students)

Southern Cross University's branch campuses at Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth are conveniently located in the central business districts.

Studying at SCU Sydney, Melbourne or Perth gives international students the opportunity to complete undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in three of the world's most liveable cities. Southern Cross University collaborates with EduCo Sydney Branch Pty Ltd for the operation of the SCU Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses.