Students and their families at the Notre Dame nursing program have expressed significant challenges in securing adequate practicum placements necessary for completing their education. The university attributes this issue to the overwhelming demand for nursing courses, which has outstripped the availability of hospital placements.
A former Chief Nursing Officer in Western Australia has suggested that a centralized system for placement allocations would enable universities to better manage student enrollments, ensuring that they do not exceed available slots.
Sally, a mother from Perth, shared her initial optimism when her daughter decided to pursue a career in nursing, inspired by Sally’s own experiences in the field. “Nursing has provided me with a wonderful career filled with opportunities,” she stated during an interview with ABC Radio Perth. However, when she sought advice regarding nursing programs for her daughter, she was consistently directed to Notre Dame. “They promote themselves as offering superior practicum experiences compared to other universities in Perth,” she noted, but her expectations were quickly dashed. “From the very first day, it was disappointing. The lecture theater was so overcrowded that students were sitting on the floor.”
Due to the lack of available practicum placements in Western Australia, Sally’s daughter is now preparing to travel to Sydney to gain hospital experience. While the university is covering her accommodation costs, students are responsible for their travel expenses.
Concerns regarding the nursing program have been raised by several parents and students since the university unexpectedly stopped accepting new enrollments in February, a decision made to preserve the program’s viability. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) has indicated that, although the program retains its accreditation, a review is currently in progress.
Former staff members at Notre Dame have communicated to ABC that the university’s high enrollment numbers in nursing courses have resulted in difficulties securing enough placements. To graduate, nursing students are required to complete at least 800 hours of practical training. Federal education department statistics reveal that Notre Dame enrolled approximately 696 nursing students in 2022, 980 in 2023, and is expected to enroll 1,169 in 2024, with figures for 2025 yet to be disclosed.
Another student, Chloe, who also chose to remain anonymous, described logistical challenges with her assigned placements. She was scheduled to spend several weeks at Royal Perth Hospital, followed by a placement at Carnarvon Hospital, located 890 kilometers north of Perth. To meet the travel timeline, the university advised her to skip her weekend shifts at Royal Perth and drive to Carnarvon. Upon arrival, she discovered that the promised accommodation was unavailable, forcing her to camp in a tent at a local caravan park during her two-week stint. Chloe is uncertain if she has accumulated enough hours to graduate this semester, expressing frustration over the administrative hurdles she faced in reaching out to the university for assistance. “It took about four weeks to receive a response,” she shared.
In response to these concerns, Notre Dame University stated that it provides 15,000 weeks of practicum placements annually but acknowledged that some students have experienced delays in their placements. “We empathize with students who feel frustrated about being asked to postpone their nursing practicum or being assigned to locations that are not their preferred choices,” the university’s statement read. They encouraged affected students to contact the practicum team to discuss their individual situations. According to the university, nursing student enrollment in Western Australia has surged from 2,000 in 2014 to over 3,000 in 2024.
Phill Della, a former chief nursing officer and current emeritus professor of nursing at Curtin University, emphasized the importance of ensuring that universities can provide adequate placements for their programs to maintain accreditation. “Clinical placements are essential to ensure that our nursing graduates possess the necessary skills for our healthcare system,” he stated. ANMAC mandates a minimum of 800 hours of clinical training, and the accreditation depends on universities demonstrating that they can provide these hours through quality clinical placements with proper supervision.
Della highlighted the challenge posed by multiple universities in Western Australia competing for the same clinical placements. While sending students to other states or regional areas may alleviate placement shortages in Perth, it can create further difficulties for students, such as job loss or housing costs. He advocates for a coordinated statewide approach to managing student placements, allowing universities to enroll the appropriate number of students based on available resources. “In my previous role, we would inform universities of our capacity to accommodate around 1,000 students, and this figure would be collaboratively managed with nursing program leaders,” he explained.
Scott Fitzgerald, the state secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union, noted that staff at Notre Dame are also alarmed by the ongoing issues at the university, extending beyond the nursing department. He mentioned that a letter signed by over 200 staff members has been sent to the university’s chancellor and board to address their concerns.
