MEDIA RELEASE

EXTRA PLACES FOR NURSING ACROSS AUSTRALIA

19 September, 2003 MIN 466/03

More Australian students will be able to study nursing at universities across all States from next year if the Government’s higher education reform package is passed this year.

Under Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Future, funding of $17.1 million over the next four years will provide an additional 210 nursing places in regional university campuses, rising to 574 places by 2007.

The National Review of Nursing Education reported last year that there were significant issues facing the nursing profession, including the need for more university places. It also identified a range of issues relating to nursing education and training in regional areas.

Nursing shortages, particularly in regional hospitals, have been identified in many parts of Australia.

New university places will be distributed to regional campuses of universities in New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia.

The National Review of Nursing Education also said that while nursing places were important, they would not alone solve the issues facing the nursing profession. The report said:

"There needs to be a major investment in retention of the existing workforce, recruitment of nurses not currently employed in nursing, and recruitment from overseas. All the evidence suggests that it will be impossible to meet the demands for nursing services by focusing on new graduates alone. The most crucial factor in ensuring an adequate supply of nurses for the future will be to retain as many of those nurses currently employed as possible, particularly those in the earlier years of their careers."

The Australian Government is doing its part to help address the current nursing shortage through the allocation of these new places, and the anticipated allocations in 2005, however the States and Territories also need to examine pay and conditions for our nurses.

The vibrant future of Australia’s universities will be assured if the Parliament passes the Government’s $1.5 billion dollar higher education reform package, which includes:

• an additional $404 million in base funding for universities;

• $122 million over four years to support regional campuses;

• $121 million in additional funding to support the practical component of teaching and nursing programmes;

• approximately 25,000 fully-funded places to replace marginally-funded places;

• more than 6,500 new fully-funded places for universities over the next five years, including for medicine, teaching and nursing;

• $161 million in scholarships to assist students with their education and accommodation costs;

• $188 million to support teaching and learning in universities, including a National Institute for Learning and Teaching;

• two new loan schemes to assist those students who choose to pay the full cost of their education, and those wanting to spend a semester or two studying overseas;

• $22 million to support a range of equity initiatives, including funding for indigenous students, students with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds;

• $27 million per year to support workplace productivity in universities; and

• $36 million to support collaboration and structural reform.

There are particular areas across Australia experiencing rapid growth and strong demand for university places, including the Mandurah/Peel district in Western Australia, the Gold Coast in Queensland, some parts of Victoria and Western Sydney in New South Wales. I have invited the States and Territories to give me advice on the distribution of university places.

Media Contact:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Yaron Finkelstein 0414 927 663
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Monique Gonczarek 0412 738 087

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