updated 6:02 AM on Thu, 9 March
View course information for 2022
Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.
The Graduate Certificate of Australian Nursing (EPIQ –Education Program for Internationally Qualified Nurses) is designed for internationally qualified registered nurses who wish to practise as a registered nurse in Australia.
This course is a program of academic and clinical studies that prepares candidates to gain registration within Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Graduates at this level will attain advanced theoretical and technical knowledge and skills for professional and highly skilled work and/or further learning. The course provides credit towards further postgraduate studies.
The Graduate Certificate of Australian Nursing (EPIQ –Education Program for Internationally Qualified Nurses) is designed for internationally qualified registered nurses who wish to practise as a registered nurse in Australia.
This course is a program of academic and clinical studies that prepares candidates to gain registration within Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Graduates at this level will attain advanced theoretical and technical knowledge and skills for professional and highly skilled work and/or further learning. The course provides credit towards further postgraduate studies.
Current Southern Cross students – to access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook.
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
Applicants for admission must have a letter of determination from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency [AHPRA] and must have achieved:
This is an equivalent four unit course. No Advanced Standing will be granted for any part of this course.
English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 7.0 |
| Reading | 7.0 |
| Writing | 7.0 |
| Listening | 7.0 |
| Speaking | 7.0 |
The course is responsive to contemporary nursing practices and provides content and clinical experiences in:
Contextual nursing and health: Australian health care system, primary health care, mental health, acute and complex care, chronic disease management, palliative care, aged care, pharmacology, Indigenous studies.
Professional practice: professional, legal and ethical studies, knowledge development and accountability for practice.
Critical thinking and analysis: reflective practice, self-appraisal, professional development, evidence and research for practice.
Coordination of care: leadership and care management, co-ordination, organisation and provision of nursing care of individuals /groups, planning, implementation and evaluation of care, health informatics.
Collaborative and therapeutic practice: establishing, sustaining and concluding professional relationships with individuals/groups. Provision of independent and interdisciplinary health care.
Domestic students
| Location | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Summer Term, Term 5 |
International students
| Location | Teaching period | Annual Fees | CRICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Summer Term, Term 5 | $18,800 ($4,700 per unit) | 086342M |
Applications for this course are made directly to Southern Cross University via our online application service.
To be eligible to receive the Graduate Certificate in Australian Nursing students must complete the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points), comprising:
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Units | |||||
| NURS5002 | Nursing in the Australian Context | ||||
| NURS5003 | Professional Practices | ||||
| NURS5008 | Transformative Clinical Practices | Note 1 | |||
Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.
Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment
Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search.
Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Notes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Complete units in the following order to satisfy the Requirements of the Award | |||||||||||||
| NURS5002 | Nursing in the Australian Context | Summer Term Term5 | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| NURS5003 | Professional Practices | Summer Term Term5 | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| NURS5008 | Transformative Clinical Practices | Dual Term1 Term5 | Note 1 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Note 1: | Double-weighted unit |
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Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes.
| Course Learning Outcome |
|---|
Execute skills in clinical reasoning and decision making with an ability to contribute to ongoing professional inquiry and evidence based nursing care |
Integrate sound clinical skills and the ability to apply reflective and analytical skills in initiating, prioritising and managing nursing care in challenging and diverse clinical circumstances |
Integrate professional demeanour and adhere to professional legal and ethical standards set by the profession and within the scope of practice of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council's [ANMC] Competency Standards to ensure safe and effective nursing care |
Interpret a broad and integrated knowledge of the scope of nursing practice and a command of factors that influence health outcomes in Australia |
Attain the required level of professional proficiency to meet standards set by the ANMC for entry to the professional register or re-orientation to nursing practice |
Collaborate in interdisciplinary health care teams and work effectively to delegate and lead the delivery of care |
Embrace and respect multiculturalism and the diversity of Australian society, and international perspectives as a professional and as a citizen |
A variety of assessment methods is used in this course including multiple choice examinations, short answer examinations, essay examinations, case studies, tutorial and workshop presentations, debates, written assignments, simulations and clinical skills testing.
In the clinical settings clinical e-portfolios, reflective exercises and clinical competency appraisal is required.
For each unit there are usually two to three assessment items. Students are required to demonstrate an ability to develop and meet the Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia Registered Nurse Standards of Practice, maintain a clinical e portfolio and complete reflective exercises.
This course is offered on campus with students completing foundational theory work via intensive workshops before a consolidated professional experience placement. Students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes as well as on-campus clinical labs. Online discussion forums support learning throughout the course. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.
The course provides graduates with the opportunity to engage in health management and leadership activities such as education and research as well as a broad spectrum of clinical nursing roles that deliver acute and chronic disease management in a range of settings.
For example, acute care nursing in tertiary settings, primary health care nursing rural, remote and indigenous nursing, practice management in GP clinics, mental health nursing, child and adolescent nursing, or speciality areas such as intensive care or emergency and other speciality areas.
Compulsory supervised workplace experiences reflect the current registered nurse standards for practice, major health priorities and contemporary nursing practices. The eight-week placement is sourced by the University and hosted by local health industry partners, which enables candidates to consolidate theoretical learning and build upon their professional practice.
Professional experience placements require students to fulfil certain prerequisites prior to attending placement (e.g. vaccinations, a working with children check and National Police Certificate). Prior to applying for a course offered by the School of Health and Human Sciences, please consider the important information regarding these requirements.
This course is fully accredited with Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council and provides the necessary qualification for graduates to be eligible to become a Registered Nurse in Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
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Call +61 2 6620 3876 during business hours.
Email: enquiry@scu.edu.au
Call 1800 005 687 during business hours.