HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing

Vocational Education Training

Do you have a passion for nursing? This nationally recognised diploma qualification will enable you to become an enrolled nurse working under the supervision of a registered nurse. The University of Notre Dame Australia’s HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing covers the application of skills and knowledge required to provide nursing care for people across the health sector. Contact us today to start your nursing journey.

  • Why study this course?

    The University of Notre Dame Australia's HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing provides students with the skills and knowledge to care for people from different backgrounds in various healthcare settings. The Diploma of Nursing qualification provides graduates with the ability to make a positive difference in the lives of the people for whom they care.

    This course teaches the essential skills and knowledge necessary to work as an enrolled nurse. An enrolled nurse functions under the supervision of a registered nurse in a range of healthcare settings. This course is delivered over 18 months on-campus and online in Fremantle and Broome Campuses. This course consists of 25 units of study and 440 hours of clinical placement, over three stages, undertaken in various healthcare settings. After being awarded Diploma of Nursing qualification, you can apply for registration as an enrolled nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

    Employment prospects are extremely positive within nursing, and there are opportunities to apply for one year of credit towards the Bachelor of Nursing at Notre Dame upon completion of the diploma.

    The Nursing and Midwifery Board have English language skill requirements for registration as an enrolled nurse. This course is suitable for people who want to work as enrolled nurses in the health sector.

    This course is a VET Student Loan eligible course. A VET Student Loan creates a debt that must be repaid to the Commonwealth and is only available to students who are eligible. To find out if you are eligible visit our VET student loans page.

  • Pre-enrolment requirements for applicants

    Students must:

    • Undertake a Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Assessment
    • Provide evidence of schooling taught and assessed in English
    • Meet the English Language Skill requirements for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
  • Clinical placements

    As part of this course, students are required to complete a clinical placement arranged/negotiated by the university. It is an industry requirement for students to achieve and successfully complete a minimum of 440 hours of clinical placements. Students are provided with a clinical placement book (CPAT) to record their placements.

    Please note students are required to:

    • Complete a satisfactory Working with Children Check/National Police Certificate (NPC) and Department of Health criminal check prior to placement.
    • Complete a fitness to practice medical form and any immunisations/vaccinations required.
    • Travel to an appropriate Health facility to complete a clinical placement.
    • Attend clinical placement across a seven (7) day week, which may include weekends and public holidays.
    • Carry out shift work which may include a combination of morning, afternoon and night shifts.

    Please note

    To protect the public from harm, registered health practitioners and education providers must report concerns about registered students. This is a legal requirement. Practitioners and education providers only need to notify Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) when they have a 'reasonable belief' that a student has an impairment that, when undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

    The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) Enrolled Nurse Accreditation Standards 2017 also require Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) delivering HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing to notify Ahpra of any students undertaking clinical training who has been identified as having an impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm. Ahpra will be advised of the names of all students undertaking the Diploma of Nursing.

    Upon completion of the course and a minimum of 440 hours of work placement, graduates will need to seek registration with Ahpra to work as an enrolled nurse or to enrol in further study to become a registered nurse.

  • First aid

    Prior to entering the course, applicants must hold a current first aid certificate. If the first aid certificate expires during the course, they are required to update their certificate at their own cost.

  • Computer and technical requirements

    Applicants will require computer access and access to a reliable broadband internet connection. As students, they will need the skills and ability to use a computer, including earphones, a microphone, and webcam.

  • Fees and costs*

    WA residents study for free in 2024*

    Vocational Employment and Training's HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing is tuition free in WA throughout 2024. If you commence this course in 2024, all tuition fees are 100% subsidised by the WA State Government*.

    *Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions apply. Free tuition is available for WA residents only. The student tuition fees are indicative only and are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Additional fees may apply such as resources fees. Each study module within the diploma will attract a resource fee dependent upon it’s study load. This fee is not covered by the Skills Ready program and is an incidental student cost.

    This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

    VET Student Loan
    VET Student Loans is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists eligible students in eligible Diploma courses to pay all or part of their VET tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks.

    For more information and eligibility, visit our VET student loan page.

  • Career opportunities

    A Diploma of Nursing will put you on a career path where further study is available. Graduates will be prepared for work in palliative care, rehabilitation, mental health and acute care under the supervision of a registered nurse.

  • Contact us

    If you have questions about applying for a VET program at Notre Dame, please contact us at 08 9433 0168 or vetadmin@nd.edu.au.


Our students give us top marks

  • No.1 in WA Overall Satisfaction*

  • No.1 in WA Full-time Employment*

  • No.1 in WA Overall Employment*

  • No.1 uni in Australia Overall Employment**

  • No.1 uni in WA
    Skills Development ***

  • No.1 uni in NSW & WA
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*2021 Graduate Outcomes Survey, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework categories, **2021 Graduate Outcomes Survey-Longitudinal (medium term outcome), undergraduate category, ***2021 Student Experience Survey, postgraduate category and ****2021 Student Experience Survey, postgraduate category - qilt.edu.au

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