Graduate Nursing and Midwifery Program
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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?
Graduate Nurse and Midwife Programs support graduates in their first year of practice, providing an environment where they can consolidate and further develop their knowledge, skills and competence. GPs foster safe, confident and accountable professionalism.
A formal graduate program is not mandatory but it is recommended.
Each year the Victorian Government supports over 1300 graduate places in public health services.
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
GP guidelines for public health services
The Graduate Program 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 guidelines is a requirement for Training and Development Grant for places for graduate Nurses and graduate Midwivies.
The principles are available for download:
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.
Early graduate program outline for Bachelor of Midwifery/Bachelor of Nursing dual degree graduates
The Early graduate program outline for Bachelor of Midwifery/Bachelor of Nursing dual degree graduates is now available for download.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander: Early Graduate Nurse Project.
In response to a commitment to develop and implement strategies to increase recruitment and retention of Aboriginal health workers, the department commissioned the St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, to evaluate their current early graduate program, and to determine what is needed to support a new targeted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduate nurse program.
This work is new ground for the hospital sector, and a report has been developed through broad consultation with key stakeholders from Australia and New Zealand. St Vincent's Hospital envisage that the document will provide health services with a guide to the main areas required for consideration when establishing a new graduate nurse program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses. St Vincent's Hospital concludes that "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses should have the same access and opportunities to participate in any graduate nurse program. By bringing groups together in a supportive environment all graduate nurses are able to flourish."
The report is now available for download
Early graduate program outline for Bachelor of Midwifery/Bachelor of Nursing dual degree graduates
The Victorian Government committed funding to enhance rural midwifery clinical supervision and maternity care. A key focus of this funding includes attracting new midwifery graduates to work in rural and regional Victoria.
In May 2012, the departmentfs Nursing and Midwifery Policy team commissioned The Royal Women's Hospital to develop an Early Graduate Program (EGP) outline for combined BM/BN graduates. This outline will benefit rural and regional health service who wish to employ combined BM/BN graduates by providing a template for a supportive combined EGP whilst recognising the particular needs of rural and regional health services.
The Early graduate program outline for Bachelor of Midwifery/Bachelor of Nursing dual degree graduates is now available for download.
Study of Victorian early graduate programs for nurses and midwives
The final report outlining the findings and lessons learnt is now available for down loading.
Victorian Early Graduate Programs for Nurses and Midwives - Final report (1625kb, pdf) Victorian Early Graduate Programs for Nurses and Midwives - Appendices (1666kb, pdf) Early Graduate Nurse Program Guidelines 2009 (164kb, pdf)
All enquires can be directed to nursepolicy@health.vic.gov.au
Nursing and Midwifery Policy
Tel: 03 909 67947