| Australia is
an exciting, vibrant, warm and welcoming environment
in which to live and study. The standard of living
is high, cost of living is lower, plus tuition fees
and personal safety are more than comparable with
other international study destinations. This makes
Australia an ideal place to pursue further professional
development.
 Australian
universities offer overseas nursing students a
variety of different study options, and opportunities
not available anywhere else in the world. Qualifications
from Australian universities are recognised worldwide,
and respected for their academic excellence. An
additional benefit of studying in Australia is
the opportunity to combine professional study
and development with recreational activities associated
with the Australian climate, outdoor lifestyle
and multicultural environment.
Historically, nursing in Australia began its
transition to the university education sector
25 years ago. Subsequently, all states of Australia
implemented nursing education courses in tertiary
institutions. Since then, it has become a country
at the cutting edge of professional nursing education
and scholarship. Nursing education at all levels
in Australia is acknowledged worldwide as being
comprehensive, challenging, dynamic and of high
academic standard.
All Schools of Nursing in Australia have developed
curricula, from undergraduate preregistration
programs through to postgraduate and doctoral
studies. Integrated within these study programs
is the opportunity to complete study abroad units
and certified continuing education packages that
target specific areas of professional practice.
Numerous postgraduate study courses are available
throughout Australia, designed to meet the changing
health-care environment, and the greater complexity
of the registered nurse's role in the provision
of health care. The courses aim to develop advanced
practitioners in nursing specialities; areas of
focus include management, education, health promotion,
research and a variety of clinical specialities.
Students are provided with opportunities to expand
their knowledge base, to increase their understanding
of international health, and to gain expertise
and experience allowing them to practise as advanced
health professionals on a worldwide basis. As
postgraduate courses also include research design,
preparation and thesis writing, students are also
well placed to pursue further studies at Master
and Doctoral levels. Health management and administration
courses include: strategic planning, quality improvement,
nursing management, human resource management,
financial management, and patient classification
systems. This content facilitates the development
of expertise in health management principles and
practices that can be utilised across any health
care environment.
Masters and doctoral studies provide opportunity
for students to research in greater depth specific
health administration and management concepts
relevant to their own specific areas. Postgraduate
courses in nursing education include generic educational
units, such as staff development, reflective practice,
curriculum design, and effective teaching and
learning. Health education and promotion provides
avenues for students to pursue courses specifically
targeted at health counselling, behavioural health
science, substance abuse management, mental health,
and women's and men's health. Clinical speciality
areas offer opportunities to those nurses wishing
to advance their competencies and knowledge in
clinically-based practice areas. Universities
in Australia have developed postgraduate courses
in clinical areas such as midwifery, neonates,
paediatrics, critical care, nephrology, mental
health, emergency, neurosciences, orthopaedics,
oncology, spinal injuries, operating room, respiratory
and cardiothoracic nursing.
Many universities have structured their courses
on a collaborative teaching model with major public
and private hospitals, enabling them to offer
dynamic postgraduate courses in clinical nursing.
With the strong involvement of the clinical areas,
the courses are academically rigorous, relevant
and practical to the reality of the changing health
care environments in which we work all today.
English study programs can be undertaken prior
to commencing full-time postgraduate study, if
needed to meet entry requirements. Additional
English language study can then be incorporated
into your program to support the progress of your
study.
You will find Australians come from many different
ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and this assists
international students to integrate into the cultural
environment of all cities and universities. Many
universities in Australia have high numbers of
international students, and therefore have resources
and facilities on campus designed to ensure that
all students have the opportunity to fulfil learning
needs and maximise learning opportunities.
Australia has a great deal to offer international
nursing students. Whether you choose to study
in Australia because of its academic rigor, or
as an opportunity to travel to a new and exciting
country, you will not be disappointed by the diverse
courses which are offered, and the range of experience
these study opportunities will provide.
Author
Department of Health
Sciences
Curtin University
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