Nurses and paramedics are in high demand in the community, especially in rural regions where some towns experience chronic shortages of trained professionals. 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 in rural and remote areas because they will be multi-skilled in fields where there are noted shortages.
Graduates find employment with ambulance services and as nurses in a wide range of clinical areas, particularly in intensive care/accident and emergency, and paramedical high dependency areas.
Some of our graduates have obtained employment with the Army / Navy / Air Force and with overseas organisations.
The Bachelor of Nursing degree is accredited by the Nurses and Midwives Board of New South Wales (NMB NSW) and the Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) is recognised by Australian ambulance services. In designing the double degree program, consultations with accrediting bodies and ambulance representatives were undertaken.
The course provides opportunities for a variety of placements in Paramedics and Nursing Practice in hospitals and other health care agencies. Placements will be available in both urban and rural settings.
To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 256 points (30 subjects). Students will graduate from the Bachelor of Nursing / Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) with the awards BNurs and BClinicalPrac(Paramedic).
Refer to the Clinical requirements section for information on:
Please note that the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) 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 in order to undertake clinical placement.
Postgraduate courses include:
| Study through | Bathurst |
| Study mode and normal course duration |
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| Fee information | Australian & New Zealand students This course is not available to international students |
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| Admission rank cut-offs | ATAR + criteria |
Choose your preferred method. Make note of the admission code as you will need this to complete your application. More information on application closing dates.
| Apply through UAC |
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The course is based on two existing programs: the Bachelor of Nursing and the Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic). Students in the double degree program will study with students enrolled in these courses.
The Bachelor of Nursing subject areas include nursing studies, nursing science and professional experience.
The Bachelor of Clinical Practice subject areas include paramedical science, professional experience and professional studies.
An indicative course structure and enrolment pattern are available in the CSU Handbook.
To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:
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.
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.
You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:
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.
Assumed knowledge includes mathematics, biology and any two units of English. Enrolled Nurses holding pre-enrolment qualifications, other than TAFE Enrolled Nurse Advanced Certificate (now Certificate IV) or equivalent, will be eligible for admission to the course.
A fee paying course in science is offered through STUDY LINK to non-school leaver applicants for completion prior to enrolment in the course.
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 prior to their first clinical placement.
Applicants will need to download and complete the additional information form. Failure to do so could prejudice your entry to the course. Completed forms should be sent to the University by December 2008 to the address on the additional information form.
Please note that entry into the double degree program is highly competitive. Therefore students can also elect to enrol into the Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) and then on completion enrol in the Bachelor of Nursing in order to complete the double degree.
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.
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
For all inquiries about Charles Sturt University courses, please contact info.csu on:
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Telephone: 1800 334 733 (free call within Australia) |