UQ/ACU postgraduate nursing program takes off

UQ/ACU postgraduate nursing program takes off

A new postgraduate course for nurses which results from collaboration by two of Australia's leading universities will be launched in Brisbane this week.

Member for Chermside Terry Sullivan MLA will launch The Graduate Certificate in Health Studies (Nursing) at a function on Wednesday, February 2 at Brisbane Customs House Art Gallery Annexe at 10am.

The certificate has been developed by The University of Queensland, the Australian Catholic University (ACU), the Wesley Hospital, Mater Misercordiae Hospitals, Prince Charles Hospital and the District Health Service.

Head of UQ's Department of Social and Preventive Medicine Associate Professor Paul Glasziou said the partnership between the University and the ACU provided an ideal platform from which to build a strong postgraduate nursing program.

"Rather than UQ and the ACU competing with each other to provide a similar course to a similar student body, the two institutions have decided to combine forces to provide a course more relevant to the needs of students by drawing on combined knowledge and resources," he said. "This is a unique course. No other institution currently provides postgraduate nursing training of this nature."

The Graduate Certificate in Health Studies (Nursing) will be The University of Queensland's first postgraduate training course for nurses. It is intended that it will be followed by postgraduate diploma and masters level courses in 2001.

The Graduate Certificate has been introduced to meet a need identified by health care managers and senior nursing professionals. The course offers an innovative approach to postgraduate nursing education and places emphasis on key issues in health care in the new millennium, including evidence-based practice, research, management and decision making.

To obtain the award, students will need to gain complete four subjects (including core and electives) from the two core subjects and two elective subjects taught through the UQ, and three elective subjects taught through the ACU's Nursing School. Each subject is worth 10 credit points.

The varied hours worked by nurses and the expected demand from nurses throughout Queensland and beyond will be met through a distance education package, including tutors and mentors.

Speakers at the February 2 function will include UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay; Mr Sullivan; Associate Professor Glasziou; Head of the School of Nursing at Australian Catholic University Associate Professor Elizabeth Davies; and Executive Dean of UQ's Faculty of Health Sciences Professor Peter Brooks.

For further information, please contact Scott McLennan on (07) 3365 5107.