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 online and on campus at our Broome Campus. 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. To be eligible for registration, you must also meet the English Language Skill requirements .

  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.

• Program summary

  Core Units:

  • HLTINF006 Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
  • HLTENN045 Implement and monitor care of the older person
  • HLTENN041 Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice
  • HLTENN036 Apply communication skills in nursing practice
  • HLTAAP002 Confirm physical health status
  • HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct client care
  • HLTAAP003 Analyse and respond to client health information
  • HLTENN037 Perform clinical assessment and contribute to planning nursing care
  • HLTENN038 Implement, monitor and evaluate nursing care
  • HLTENN035 Practise nursing within the Australian health care system
  • CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
  • HLTENN044 Implement and monitor care for a person with chronic health conditions
  • HLTENN047 Apply nursing practice in the primary health care setting
  • CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
  • HLTENN039 Apply principles of wound management
  • CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
  • HLTENN040 Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy
  • HLTENN042 Implement and monitor care for a person with mental health conditions
  • HLTENN043 Implement and monitor care for a person with acute health conditions
  • HLTENN068 Provide end of life care and a palliative approach in nursing practice

  Elective Units:

  • BSBMED301 Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately
  • HLTAID011 Provide First Aid
  • HLTENN057 Contribute to the nursing care of a person with diabetes
  • HLTWHS005 Conduct manual tasks safely
  • HLTWHS006 Manage personal stressors in the work environment

• Eligibility criteria

  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; however, you must turn 18 before your first placement requirement
  • Resident of the Kimberley region
  • Willingness to attend Broome campus for compulsory ‘Skills’ blocks – these are two weeks long for each of the three stages
  • Willingness to undertake practice experience placements in the Kimberley, if local (home) practice sites cannot be sourced
  • Have access to personal mobile or fixed IT devices (laptop preferred) with audiovisual capability and reliable internet connection

• Pre-enrolment requirements for applicants

  Students must:

  • Complete and submit an Application for Enrolment
  • Undertake a Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital (LLND) assessment and achieve an Exit Level 3 or higher in language, literacy and numeracy
  • Participate in a pre-enrolment interview, which will take place before the program begins to ensure suitability and make sure students’ individual needs are met

• Study and participation requirements

  The course is delivered in a hybrid model and runs over 18 months, divided into three stages of six months each.

  Each stage includes:

  Online training:
  Live online tutorials delivered two days per week from 8:30am-4:30pm, requiring you to log in from your laptop or computer.

  Practical in person training:
  During each stage, you will attend the Broome campus for a two week practical block.
  Please note: there are also two in person training days at the beginning of the course for First Aid and Manual Handling.

  Work placements:
  Stage One: 2 week placement in Aged Care
  Stage Two: 4 week placement in a General Medical Hospital and Primary Health Care
  Stage Three: 5 week placement (3 weeks in Acute Care and 2 weeks in Mental Health)

  There is no requirement to relocate to Broome; all programs may be studied from your place of permanent residence within the Kimberley region, 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 400 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 400 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.

• 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.

• Scholarships

  Scholarships provide financial support to students while they are completing their studies. There are various scholarships available to prospective and current students, across all study levels and campuses.

  These can be funded by Notre Dame, industry, individuals and non-profit organisations, to provide financial assistance to students to support costs associated with study. This could include buying food, paying rent, transport, and household bills, raising children as single parents, being a single-income household, becoming unemployed or caring for a sick loved one.

  Please visit the Scholarships Finder to see which scholarships are available to VET students.

• Fees and costs

  WA residents study for free in 2026*

  Vocational Employment and Training's HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing is tuition free in WA throughout 2026. This program is subsidised by Jobs and Skills WA for people living in Western Australia.  Please note that access to subsidised training is subject to availability.

  *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 VET student loans.

• 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.