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 program?

  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 program 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 program is delivered over 18 months on-campus and online in Broome Campuses. This program 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.

  This program is a VET Student Loan eligible program. 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

• Eligibility criteria for online attendance

  Admission to nursing programs on the Broome campus implies eligibility for enrolment as a domestic student. Enrolment may be granted to any individual who meets the qualification criteria as described below.

  • Aged 17 years or older
  • Have access to personal mobile or fixed IT devices (laptop preferred) with audiovisual capability and reliable internet connection
  • Willingness to attend Broome campus for compulsory ‘Skills’ blocks – these are two weeks long for each of the three stages
  • Possession of current First Aid certificate
  • Willingness to undertake practice experience placements in the Kimberley, if local (home) practice sites cannot be sourced

  There is no requirement to relocate to Broome; all programs may be studied from your place of permanent residence, with periodic travel to Broome for ‘intensive skills blocks’.

  Rural and remote scholarships and bursaries are available to assist with the costs associated with studying as an online student.

• Clinical placements

  As part of this program, 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 program 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 program, applicants must hold a current first aid certificate. If the first aid certificate expires during the program, 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.

• 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.

• Fees and costs

  WA residents study for free in 2025*

  Vocational Employment and Training's HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing is tuition free in WA throughout 2025. If you commence this program in 2025, 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 resource fees and other fees. Full fees without state funding could be as high as $16,500.

  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.

• More information

  View application steps for a Vocational Education and Training (VET) program on How to apply – VET.

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