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Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching (Birth to 5 Years) / Bachelor of Nursing BEarlyChildTeach(Bth-5yrs)BNurs

Intakes to this course are currently suspended and there are no new enrolments at this stage. Please monitor this site for updates as this course is under review and may be offered again in 2011.
Prospective students may be interested in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) or should contact info.csu for further information.
Continuing students should consult the Handbook from the year of their enrolment for information about this course.

CSU’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching (Birth to 5 Years) / Bachelor of Nursing is an integrated course leading to the award of two degrees. Graduates are equipped to practise in the fields of early childhood education and health care.

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About the course

Although qualified for employment anywhere in Australia, many graduates will be particularly well suited for appointment in rural areas because the clinical and practical sessions of the course will have been undertaken in such settings. Graduates will be valued because they will be multi-skilled in fields where there are noted shortages.

Where it will take you

Graduates find employment teaching in pre-schools, childcare centres, and other children’s services, nursing in a wide range of clinical areas, and combined teaching/nursing in these and other community services.

Your course is recognised by industry

The Bachelor of Nursing degree is accredited by the Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW (NMB NSW), and the Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching (Birth to 5 years) degree is recognised by the NSW Department of Community Services as providing three-year trained teacher status. In designing the double degree program, consultations with these two accrediting bodies have been undertaken to ensure that the Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching (Birth to 5 years) and the Bachelor of Nursing satisfy the accreditation requirements of each separate degree.

Practical experience

The course provides opportunities for a variety of placements in early childhood education and care settings, and nursing practice in hospitals and other health care agencies. Placements will be available in both urban and rural settings.

Graduation requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 256 points (29 subjects). Students will graduate from the Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching (Birth - 5 Years) / Bachelor of Nursing with the award BEarlyChildTeach(Bth-5yrs)BNurs.

Clinical requirements

Refer to the Clinical requirements section for information on:

Please note that the Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching (Birth - 5 Years) / Bachelor of Nursing has a clinical practicum in the first six months. As the hepatitis B immunisation takes six months for full vaccination, it is recommended that students commence immunisation as soon as possible to undertake clinical placement.

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Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching (Birth to 5 Years)/ Bachelor of Nursing

Application details

Australian & New Zealand students

Study throughBathurst
Study mode and normal course duration4 years full-time on campus
Course code213057
Fees Commonwealth supported place
Session availableFebruary (Semester basis)
Apply throughUAC
UAI cut-offs70.00

International students

Study throughBathurst
Study mode and normal course duration4 years full-time - onshore (within Australia)
CRICOS code 039044M
Admission code  
FeesOnshore - see fee list
Session availableFebruary (Semester basis)
Apply throughCSU Admissions Office

Course structure

The course draws on two existing programs offered on campus, the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and the Bachelor of Nursing. Students in the double degree program will study with students enrolled in these courses. Subjects include studies in education foundations, curriculum, and professional experience, and include nursing theory and practice, human bioscience, and clinical practice.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:

  1. previous studies
    and
  2. other attainments and experience.

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English language proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:

All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.

Acceptable tests for English proficiency

Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:

An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University’s requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

Additional Requirements

Special admission requirements

Assumed knowledge is any two units of English and any two units of mathematics. Enrolled nurses holding pre-enrolment qualifications, other than the TAFE Enrolled Nurse Advanced Certificate (now Certificate IV) or equivalent, will be eligible for admission to the course. A fee paying nursing science course is offered to non-school leaver applicants for completion prior to enrolment in the Bachelor of Nursing.

On entry to the course, students must have an approved current Senior First Aid Certificate or obtain one as a result of completing an accredited First Aid course by the end of Session 1 in the Bachelor of Nursing course.

Senior First Aid Certificate

All students are required to have a current Senior First Aid Certificate, obtained at their own cost, from an accredited body (Workcover approved) before undertaking clinical placements.

This is to be attained before you undertake your first clinical practicum in your first year of study.

Literacy requirements

To be successful at studies within this course, students must be highly competent in spoken and written English. All students who do not have this level of competence in spoken and written English will be required to independently organise some form of coaching in English. A short TAFE course or private coaching may assist to improve English skills. Students will be advised of their options by the Head of School from the campus where they are enrolled.

If, after an agreed period of study in English a student’s English standard has not improved, the appropriate Head of School will provide further advice with regard to alternative career options.

Clinical requirements

Senior First Aid Certificate
All students are required to have a current Senior First Aid Certificate, obtained at their own cost, from an accredited body (Workcover approved) before undertaking clinical placements.

NOTE: As many courses include a clinical practicum in the first session, students are advised to complete their Senior First Aid Certificate prior to commencement of their first year of study.

Criminal Record Clearance
The Department of Health in NSW, and most other states, currently require all health facility staff, including students on clinical placement, to undergo criminal record checks. The checks are intended to identify people who have convictions for such things as violence or sexual offences, who may put patients’/clients’ personal safety or health at risk. Traffic violations and other minor offences are not of interest.

All students must therefore have a Criminal Record Clearance prior to placement in any capacity in the NSW Health system and most other State organisations. Prospective students should be aware that an inability to obtain a Criminal Record Clearance will make it impossible to complete this course satisfactorily as it will not be possible to arrange suitable clinical placements.

In addition, all students are required to complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration indicating whether or not they are a prohibited person under the Child Protection Act 1998.

If you have any queries regarding these requirements, including the opportunities available for review of a particular case, contact the Course Coordinator.

Immunisation - Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Infectious Diseases

NSW Health is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all clients in health care settings and providing a safe and healthy working environment for all staff and other clinical personnel, including students. This commitment includes adopting an assessment, screening and vaccination policy Occupational Assessment Screening and Vaccination Against Specific Infectious Diseases (PD2007_006) that minimises the risk of acquiring infectious diseases. Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all health facility staff, including students on clinical placement.

All students must undergo vaccination against infectious diseases prior to placement within the NSW Health System, and most other Australian State Health Systems. Results of these vaccinations are kept on a personal record card (available from the School through which the student is studying). This card must be presented, upon request, by NSW Health, or other State Health staff, whilst the student is on placement.

The Policy requires that you consult your local doctor to obtain written proof of protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox and hepatitis B.

NOTE: It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the requirements of this policy have been met, and failure to comply with the requirements may jeopardise completion of your studies.

As a full course of vaccinations may take several months to complete, you are advised to consult your local medical practitioner well in advance of the commencement of your clinical experience placement. Please contact your medical practitioner to identify your local TB screening provider and ensure the screening is completed prior to your first clinical placement.

PLEASE NOTE that, as many courses involve clinical practicums in the first semester of study, the hepatitis B immunisation should be commenced early, in order for full immunisation status to be attained prior to clinical placements and so meet NSW Health requirements.

Further information is available from NSW Health.

The Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW (NMB NSW) Requirement
At the point of applying for registration (List A) as a Registered Nurse (RN), graduates of the Bachelor of Nursing must supply evidence of ‘good character’ to the NMB NSW. Evidence of any history of criminal convictions indicating any driving offences such as speeding etc. must be notified to the Board at the time of applying for registration as a nurse (parking tickets are not of interest).

For additional information, graduating students should refer to the Board's requirements for registration online at www.nmb.nsw.gov.au

Contacts

For all inquiries about Charles Sturt University courses, please contact info.csu on:

info.csu logo

Telephone: 1800 334 733 (free call within Australia)
Telephone: +61 2 6338 6077 (outside Australia)

Facsimile: (02) 6338 6001 (within Australia)
Facsimile: +61 2 6338 6001 (outside Australia)

Email: inquiry@csu.edu.au
Web inquiry: www.csu.edu.au/student/contact
Web: info.csu.edu.au