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jules74
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Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:01 pm
this topic has no doubt been raised a few times so i hope its ok to ask again.... does anyone have any recommendations for Distance courses to become a EN/Div 2 (depending on where you are : ) that are currently being offered in australia?? Ultimately i'd like to do the RN / Div 1 course but due to financial commitments etc i think the best option for me is to do the EN course by distance around my work commitments, and then be able to work as an EN and apply to a conversion course at uni which is generally 2 yrs for an EN. So...i would appreciate any feedback or recommendations on where is good/bad etc??? thanks heaps
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misspink
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- Joined: Jan 2008
- Location: Perth
- Posts: 7
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Jan 28, 2008, 12:55 pm
Hey there Jules74!
I am in a simular situation to you! I would love to study full time and not have to worry about the mortgage!
I commenced my EN training in QLD but due to my partners job we had to relocate to Perth! I applied to tafe in WA and was successful in gaining a place however with it being state based at the time, it meant I would have to start in semester 1 again as it did not map over entirely! Disheartened I decided to defer my studies and worked full time.
In the mean time I heard about Tafe SA... Whyalla campus offers the Diploma externally. You must attend two workshops at Whyalla each year which are compulsary. I have managed to get in for this semester and will be going to my first workshop in March. It is only for a week so I had no dramas getting time off work!
I believe they have a mid year intake as well. The best thing about this course is that you can choose to complete it at a full time loading thus enabling you to have it done as if you were attending campus full time. Many external / distance ed courses are at a 0.5 loading only.
To apply, you have to log onto the SATAC (SA Tertiary Admission Centre).
The more quals you have behind you i.e. Cert III / IV Aged Care or Health Care, First Aid, work experience the better as it is highly competitive (as you can well imagine). The new health training package has been introduced this year which is fabulous as it will make it easier for people who move interstate a lot (like us...) It is now a national curriculum - obviously adapted slightly for each state law. If you have any more queries - Just ask!! As far as I know it is the only course available. I would like to hear from anyone who can prove me wrong. Kylz
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jules74
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Jan 30, 2008, 09:59 pm
Kylz, thanks for taking the time to reply. congrat's on starting the course! i do actually have a few more questions if thats ok? Is it expensive? eg, how much will it cost you in total? how long will the Diploma take? i know the Cert IV in Health in Victoria is 1 year full time internal study and i think 2 yrs part time. also do you or anyone else out there know the difference b/w this particular Diploma and the Cert IV in health which is the EN qual avail in Victoria currently? im just kinda guessing the Diploma is longer, has additional subjects added in and is 'technically' a 'higher' qualification as per every other Diploma or Certificate qual in other areas of study........ my understanding is that it probably means slightly longer duration of the course, but exactly the same qualification/registration????????? ......although i have to confess i think it sounds much better! : ) as stupid as that may be, saying you have a Diploma in Nursing just sounds better than a Cert IV in Health.....but maybe im just a bit old school : )
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misspink
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- Location: Perth
- Posts: 7
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Jan 31, 2008, 10:43 pm
Hey!
To start from scratch there are 26 subjects for the new Diploma which is now a national curriculum - exactly the same in all states. Through TAFE SA (Whyalla campus) it costs approx $80 per subject. There are 3 workshops you have to attend at the campus but apart from that it is fully external. I have not confirmed this yet but from what I gather, they can organise your prac in your area.....
The Diploma takes 18 months full time. The beauty of this course is that you can take on a full time loading and therefore have it done in 18 months as if you were attending TAFE as a regular full time student.
I would love to do a snappy Cert IV and be an enrolled nurse but even if I had the opportunity (Cert IV is only offered in Vic and NSW I believe?) I would still choose to do the Diploma as it enables you to have more advanced standing at Uni (enrol directly into 2nd year). As for registration I am unable to comment as to whether you would have restrictions on your license if you only completed a CertIV?? I would love to know if anyone out there can comment... Oh and also with regards to the cost of the Diploma with TAFE SA - I have told you about the unit costs but on top of that you also have to purchase a student pack which has things such as a student shirt, stethescope, student ID etc.. It is only about $120.. Also as I mentioned before, I have to go to a student workshop in Whyalla - I live in Perth! I have got accommodation at the UNI which is going to cost $200 ($40 per night x 5) not to mention the cost of getting there. The up side of this is that because I work in the health industry and I already have a Cert in Health Care, I can claim these travel expenses on tax. Keep that in mind if you work as a carer or assistant nurse. I hope this helps! Keep asking if you have more questions :-)
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jules74
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Feb 02, 2008, 10:11 pm
thanks again for the extra info! I do know that in Victoria, having the the Cert IV in Health (or being a Div 2 nurse) also enables you to enrol into the second year of a Bachelor of Nursing so you also get the advanced standing here which is great. my long term plan is to perhaps do the Diploma by distance, allowing me to keep working full time and possibly start having babies!! and then in say 2-3 yrs apply to do the 2yr Bachelor of Nursing at Latrobe which is much more appealing than the thought of doing a 3 yr full time degree. my aunt wanted to do nursing all her life and was envious of my mum bcos she is a nurse, so at 40 she decided to go for it, and now she's been nursing for about 8 yrs (although she doesnt have to financially) and it was the best thing she ever did- so i figure your never too old! Oh and also, ive spoken to a couple of folks recently and it seems as though when it comes to actual registration, having the Diploma or the Cert IV doesnt really seem to make any difference- its just done differently in different states.. Once you get your registration wherever you are, you can then apply for mutual recognition in other states, and can then work in any state in which you have applied for registration. Pretty straightforward. good luck with the course, i'd love to keep in contact and see how your enjoying it and how its all going. Jules
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jules74
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- Joined: Jan 2008
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- Posts: 135
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Mar 28, 2008, 09:18 pm
kylz, just wondering how its all going with the course??? i'd love somefeedback on how you are finding it. im in contact with someone at TAFE SA in regards to a possible mid year course being run but wont know until sometime in april. I also am considering doing the EN course thru a private provider which will cost $8500 and would be 2 days per week for 12mths. im seriously considering the latter bcos it would mean finishing quicker, even though its a fair bit of money. my problem is that i may need to decide on the fee paying course BEFORE i can find out if TAFE SA are even offering a mid year course..................so im in a bit of a bind.im not sure whether to just bite the bullet and go with the fee paying course anyway. so your feedback would be great as to how you are finding it all, ie studying by correspondence, how easy/difficult you are finding it?? thanks in advance! Jules
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tropicana
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Mar 29, 2008, 01:57 pm
I was an EN for many years, hospital trained. (I have only been an RN just over a year) My certificate was accepted by the Board. I can't see why the Cert IV would not be recognised now the Diploma is coming in. I didn't know that EN could be offered via distance/external. It would be wonderful if it could. There are certainly opportunities for RN, which is what I did. If they want nurses then training should be made as accessible as possible. After all, there are only two professions that are considered at 'crisis' levels, teaching and....nursing!!!!!
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misspink
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- Joined: Jan 2008
- Location: Perth
- Posts: 7
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Mar 30, 2008, 02:35 pm
Hey there Jules!
Started in the first week of March officially. It was a bit overwhelming at first arriving in this little town not knowing anyone and trying to get a cab to tak me to the Uni accommodation. Anyhoo I soon discovered I was not the only one and found myself in the uni accomm with 6 other girls from various places in SA and NSW. The week was fun and we all got to know eachother really well. We are continuing to email eachother now.
The lecturers were just lovely and so far I have not had any dramas. The course is set up to do in your own time. That said.. No one is making you do it! I have to plan to study and have to have the motivation and will power to stick with it. It is very easy to get distracted. You do two subjects at a time and then enrol into more as you complete them. Where are you considering studying this accelerated course? The good thing about having to attend every week is that it will remind you that you have work to do! No one is telling me to do anything and it is only that I want to complete this course so bad that I refuse to let it get forgotten!!
Im not sure what your financial situation is but if $8500 seems like too much have you heard of student loans? You dont have to repay them until you have completed the course. I think you also have to be earning over $34k to start repaying it.
Also, you normally have a fair bit of time before you have to pay your course fees at these private places. I think you have to pay a deposit though to hold your place. Good luck with the decision making!!
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sipo
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Apr 08, 2008, 04:20 pm
hello, sorry for "eavesdropping" on your thread but i find myself in a similar situation. Now that i have decided what i want to do with my life i am desperate to get started and desperately seeking the best option to go about it. I was considering Bachelor of Nursing external through UNI SA but want to start now (impatient!) and don't mind going the EN route through tafe and leave the RN study till my three little ones are a little older (currently 2,3 and5y.o) South Queensland Institute of Tafe (SQIT) have a mid year intake this year for diploma of Nursing. Applications open through QTAC on 24APR and close on 24MAY. Course duration is 18months. Course fees are $4600. (you also need access to about $700 for stethescope, watch, books etc) As i understand it you pay the $4600 by semester (approx $1530 per semester). 20% deposit ($306) is due before you start in July and then you make 4 monthly payments of $306. Then the same goes for each of the next two semesters. It makes a more affordable way to study and you don't have to pay interest or end up with a debt so your first paycheque is entirely your own. I think that the 18month course gives you credit for firtst year nursing subjects and so you only have to do two years of uni to get your degree. I am hoping to arrange with my local tafe (i don't live in south Queensland) to do all pracs etc with them instead of having to travel to brisbane tafe. I have not had this confirmed yet but they seem to think that it is likely and possible. You may be able to arrange the same or similar. If you contact the institute of open learning - tafe (qld number is 1800657387) they may be able to put you onto the tafe in your state that offers nursing externally - that is if you wanted a more local option than adelaide or brisbane (sorry i have no idea where you live) Private college sounds great - i like the idea of being qualified sooner. bit exy for me tho. Whatever you decide, Happy Studying. Sipo
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LizzieW
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- Joined: Jan 2008
- Location: Brisbane
- Posts: 13
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Apr 09, 2008, 10:21 pm
I just wanted to add that I would be very wary of private colleges and courses in the wake of the 'Shaftson' debacle :)
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RIPCURLGIRL4809
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- Joined: Mar 2009
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- Posts: 7
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Jun 03, 2009, 06:32 pm
hello
well with just reading all of which you have written. I have rang the goldcoast tafe about the diploma online, and they said the next intake is like around oct. There are only 50 places available with over 300 going for it. So that has become an option i can not wait on anymore. So i was wondering if any of u could tell me about the tafe in SA and what it is like because i think im going to go for that one now, even living in QLD.
-Thanks-
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jerrymartin
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- Joined: Aug 2012
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Aug 03, 2012, 06:56 pm
Last edited Aug 03, 2012, 06:56 pm
update #3
I've no more knowledge about this.Distance education is best for working student.So if you getting more information about this you can visit at http://www.ama.edu.au/
modified: Friday 03 August 2012 6:58:32 pm - jerrymartin
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