National Nursing & Nursing Education Taskforce

A number of State and Territory reports which have examined the reasons why nurses/midwives have left the profession and quote the high cost of maintaining professional competency and skills and undertaking formal specialist postgraduate education as key factors. These factors have formed the basis for governments providing scholarship funding to nurses/midwives wishing to specialise in clinical areas with recognised shortages and to encourage nurses/midwives to return to the workforce. However, the approach to scholarship funding is fragmented, inequitable and variable. It was also noted that the financial burden placed upon nurses/midwives wishing to regain registration was a deterrent to returning to the workforce (Recommendation 25).

a. identify the current number of scholarship opportunities available to nurses wishing to undertake postgraduate studies in specialty nursing areas and to make recommendations on the number of additional scholarships that may be required by specialty in order to meet identified workforce shortages.

b. determine the cost and financial support available to participants undertaking re-entry programs, so as to provide advice on the need for loan scheme assistance.

The work on Recommendation 25 has been completed and the two reports prepared for the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council have now been accepted and are now available for dissemination to N³ET stakeholders.

Recommendation 25 Outcomes

In late August 2006, a CD containing N³ETWorks, a collection of the works, papers and documents reflecting the N³ET outcomes (2004-2006) will be available. Until that time the key work undertaken as part of Recommendation 25 has been summarised below with links to the relevant documents.

Activity:	*Scholarships for Nurses & Midwives* : A Review of Australian Scholarship Programs for Postgraduate Study in Speciality Nursing Areas
Summary/Outcome:	To provide advice on the future investment in scholarships for postgraduate specialty study and the implications of such recommendations, N 3ET undertook an audit in 2005. A survey of key scholarship providers, a review of Government scholarship policies, and the mapping of actual scholarships provided in 2004 was undertaken. The audit resulted in six recommendations being made to enhance the provision of scholarships in the future and to allow for better evaluation of their effectiveness as a workforce strategy. To review the N 3ET report and recommendations in detail, please download a copy of this report via the link provided below.
Format	N³ET Report
Availability:	Available free to download

Scholarships for Nurses & Midwives Report (PDF, 1.14 MB)

Activity:	*Re-entry Programs for Nurses & Midwives* : A Review of Legislative Requirements and Funding Support Across Australia for Re-entry Programs
Summary/Outcome:	The National Review of Nursing Education (2002): Our Duty of Care report identified re-entry as a key component to building a sustainable workforce. In 2005, N 3ET undertook a review in each state and territory of the types of re-entry pathways or programs provided; the support that was available; and the total number of nurses/midwives completing each type of program in 2003/04. The report on the findings of this review and the recommendations to enforce re-entry pathways is available. To review the N 3ET report and recommendations in detail, please download a copy of this report via the link provided below.
Format	N³ET Report
Availability:	Available free to download

For more information of work being led by the Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) on re-entry, please refer to Recommendation 4.

Our Duty of Care - Recommendation 25

SUMMARY OF WORK COMPLETED

What was this project about?

Recommendation 25 Outcomes

For more information on this project, please contact: