Collaborative curriculum co-design

High quality nursing education must reflect the realities of delivering care in regional communities, particularly in mental health and aged care. To better prepare graduates for these settings, Charles Sturt embedded regional and lived experience perspectives into nursing curriculum design.

In 2025, the university’s Three Rivers Department of Rural Health (TRDRH) partnered with the School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences to facilitate curriculum consultation sessions focused on mental health and aged care. Seven people with lived experience of mental ill health, alongside academic staff and local healthcare professionals, reviewed existing curriculum content and identified ways teaching could better reflect regional practice needs. To strengthen aged care content, staff also met with residents, family members and care workers at Southern Cross Care in Deniliquin.

By embedding lived experience and regional workforce insights, the redesigned nursing curriculum supports safe, responsive and community aligned practice, contributing to improved mental health and wellbeing outcomes in regional Australia.