Media releases

Federation University Australia is working with the regional Victorian health sector to boost its nursing capacity with the launch of a Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) course.

The course is designed for highly skilled registered nurses who have been working in a specialty area in the sector.

Nurse Practitioners can conduct advanced health assessments, order and interpret diagnostic tests, refer patients to specialists and prescribe medication.

The course has been designed specifically for experienced Registered Nurses working clinically while they study and will be delivered part-time, online over two years, with face-to-face learning periods at the Berwick and Gippsland campuses to develop advanced practice skills.

It is accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and designed by experienced nurse practitioners and academics in collaboration with industry partners from public and private organisations.

Industry partnerships are a key element of Federation’s co-operative education model, where all courses from the end of 2025 will be designed, developed and delivered in collaboration with industry, and where students will receive work integrated learning to give them a valuable head-start in their career.

Upon graduation, Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) students will be eligible for endorsement by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), authorising them to provide life-changing health services and help transform the health of their community.

For more information about the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner), visit https://study.federation.edu.au/course/DNP9

Quotes attributable to Federation University Professor of Nursing and Practice Development, Georgina Willetts

“Federation University is working with industry to co-design, co-develop and co-deliver courses to address skills shortages and drive economic growth.”

“Nurse Practitioners are clinical leaders and experts in their field, and we are so excited to be supporting nurses to develop this expert knowledge and help build the capacity of the nursing sector in regional Victoria and South East Melbourne.”

Quotes attributable to Latrobe Regional Health Chief Nurse and Executive Director Education, Quality and Research, Anita Raymond

“Latrobe Regional Health has Nurse Practitioners and NP candidates in essential roles in emergency medicine, oncology, palliative care, inpatient and community mental health, hepatology and chronic disease management.”

“They bring another level of expertise to our organisation and have made a significant contribution to reducing wait times for care and addressing gaps in service delivery.”

“Most importantly, they uphold the values of nursing including safe practise, trust, integrity and the promotion of human rights.”

“We have actively worked to build our NP workforce for more than a decade but unfortunately nurses have had to travel to Melbourne or interstate to advance their skills.”

“A local, accredited course will act as a catalyst for more nurses to continue their vocation for the benefit of the Gippsland community.”

Quotes attributable to Bass Coast Health Acting Manager-Learning and Development (Nursing and Midwifery), Mandie Heffernan

“Bass Coast Health identifies and supports experienced nursing clinicians to pursue their Nurse Practitioner endorsement. Currently BCH employs Nurse Practitioners in our Aged Care / complex older person assessment area and our Emergency Department, providing a crucial service to our community at a time of significant regional growth.”

“With the projected population expansion, increasing demand and enhancement of capability across multiple services at Bass Coast Health, the need to strengthen the nursing workforce has never been so important.”