Early Graduate Nursing and Midwifery Program

Looking to start your first year emplyment in 2012?

Wondering what to do now the Computer Match has been done?

Find out more on graduate employment from our new graduate handbook for nursing and midwifery graduates. Its your guide to getting your first job in the nursing and midwifery as a new graduate.

What are graduate programs?

Early Graduate Nurse and Midwife Programs (EGPs) support graduates in their first year of practice, providing an environment where they can consolidate and further develop their knowledge, skills and competence. EGPs foster safe, confident and accountable professionalism.

A formal EGP is not mandatory but it is recommended.

Each year the Victorian Government supports over 1300 EGP places in public health services.

Public health services and some private /not for profit health services offer about 550 extra places each year.

Starting your first year employment in 2012?

Computer Match for new graduates

In Victoria, a Computer Match process simplifies the health services graduate nurse appointment process. The electronic system matches the preferences of both the candidates and the health services.

The Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV) administers the process of matching.  In their third (final) year nursing students are advised about how to participate in the Computer Match. 

Not all providers of graduate programs participate in Computer Match 

EGP guidelines for public health services

The Early Graduate Program (EGP) guidelines provide a framework of principles, to assist health services to develop and provide programs that support the beginner practitioners to make the transition to professional practice.

Compliance with the EGP guidelines is a requirement for Training and Development Grant for EGNP places for Registered Nurses and Graduate programs for Bachelor of Midwifery graduates.

The following principles underpin Early Graduate Nurse Programs:

1. Best practice EGPs are delivered in organisations that value learning, professional development, evidence based practice and research.

2. Best practice EGPs thrive in an organisational culture that values nurses, their contribution to client care and service delivery and the role of the early graduate in the health team.

3. Best practice EGPs are provided in a safe and supportive work environment that complies with principles of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

4. Best practice EGPs are planned learning and professional development experiences that address both early graduate and workplace needs.

5. Best practice EGPs are based on the understanding that early graduates have been prepared through their tertiary qualifications for beginner level practice. As such, early graduates require access to more experienced nurses and midwives as preceptors for supervision, direction and instruction

6. Best practice EGPs adopt a holistic approach that considers professional, social and whole of life issues.

7. Best practice EGPs are integrally linked to the organisations quality, safety and risk management frameworks.

These guidelines may also have application to programs provided for Enrolled Nurses (Division 2) and those nurses being inducted to new or unfamiliar practice areas. 

All enquires can be directed to Cathrine Klomp Cathrine.Klomp@health.vic.gov.ay
Nurse Policy
Tel: 03 909 67947

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