The School of Nursing (NSW) at the Australian Catholic Universityin North Sydney has a high proportion of International, Migrant and Non-HSC Students entering the first year of the Bachelor of Nursing Program. In addition to cultural diversity, these students vary widely in terms of three key areas: prior Health Science knowledge and qualifications, English language skills and the generic transferable skills required for tertiary studies in the Health Sciences in Australia. Our University enjoys a reputation for successfully designing, implementing and evaluating innovative bridging and support programs required for these students, enabling them to successfully complete their nursing studies.
The programs include: an application assessment of each of the three areas, five specialty programs for different student profiles, a bridging program prior to the start of the semester and a support program for generic transferable skills. All these programs are closely integrated with the first year nursing curriculum.