HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing

The next Diploma of Nursing course will commenceon the 22nd August 2023 (subject to change).

Expressions of interest for our August 2023 course are now open! Please use the Expression of Interest tab at the bottom of the page to start your application.

The HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing is delivered over 18 months in our training rooms at 182 Macquarie Street, Hobart.

The 18 months is comprised of face to face, online learning, and structured work placement of 12 weeks in total. This course requires Full Time Study – 2 days per week of face to face learning (9am to 3pm), plus the equivalent of 3 days per week self-directed learning.

There are 25 units in this course - 20 compulsory units and 5 electives. To achieve this qualification, students must have also completed a minimum of 400 hours of successful clinical placement in the aged care, acute care and mental health settings. If you have previous work experience and underpinning knowledge in this industry, you may wish to apply for Recognised Prior Learning.

Students are welcome to use our library facilities during business hours Monday to Friday.

The Diploma of Nursing has the following entry requirements:

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or above
• Applicants are required to undertake a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment with HERC. In addition, applicants will need to satisfy the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) English language entry requirement* prior to acceptance into this course.
• Applicants must provide evidence of a valid National Police Check
• Applicants must provide evidence of their valid working with vulnerable people registration/card
• Applicants must provide evidence of immunisation compliance for clinical placement, including influenza vaccination yearly
• COVID-19 vaccinations: You must have received your first, second and booster (or have evidence of booking to receive booster) of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccination prior to course commencement.
• Physical ability to demonstrate the manual handling skills that are a compulsory component of the course and employment
• Please be aware: HERC has a requirement to notify AHPRA if a student undertaking the course has an impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Making a mandatory notification

There are no prerequisites for this qualification. However, entry into this course will be highly competitive. Our enrolment team will be using selection activities based on:

1. Evidence of preparation for Diploma level studies (academic background, prior studies at a Certificate III level)
2. Evidence of interest in/preparation for working in the health field (work history, work experience, life experience)
3. Literacy (ability to read and comprehend, summarise and express concepts)
4. Numeracy (ability to carry out basic calculations involving addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, percentage and decimal points)

HERC will conduct suitability checks on all applicants relating to the above criteria prior to selection.

Please note

HERC are obligated under the training and RTO Standards to ensure students undertaking courses are fully informed of the course requirements and fees, and have the potential to be successful at completing the qualification and gaining employment. HERC therefore require applicants to complete a questionnaire and a language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) assessment prior to commencing the course. You will be guided through this process as part of your enrolment requirements.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and culturally and linguistically diverse background applicants are encouraged to apply.

As HERC is not CRICOS approved, we are unable to take international students on student visa's.

*‘Students that would be required by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) to provide a formal English language skills test when applying for registration, must provide a formal English language test result demonstrating they have achieved the NMBA specified level of English language skills, prior to commencing the program’ (Source: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Standard 6.1a)'

Click here to read: Standard 6.1A Requirements for Students (PDF)

Applicants will be required to take and pass a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment that will be held at HERC.

The LLN test endeavours to identify the skill level of the applicants by assessing:

• general reading skills
• the ability for the applicant to follow simple instructions
• the ability for the applicant to perform mathematical tasks that require addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication
• assessing reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension

We will advise you by email the time and date of your test once you have completed a compulsory expression of interest form located in the last tab at the end of this page. 

The group interview is a mandatory part of the application process.

On the day of the Group Interview, you will be asked to fill in and submit an enrolment form, before participating in a group interview held by two HERC staff members. The interview will consist of a series of questions regarding your interest in the course, why you have applied and your previous work/life experience. You will also be asked to partake in group activities to show your effective communication skills and problem solving abilities.

The course cost for a full fee paying student will be $16,995. This includes a $600 non-refundable enrolment fee due at commencement of your course.

There may be funding available for eligible students through the State Government which will reduce the cost of the fees. This will be discussed in detail at the group interview.

All full fee paying students accepted into the course will be required to set up a payment plan at the beginning of the course, which will direct debit the associated fees each week/fortnight/month.

Your course fees will cover the basic materials needed for your course, (including your uniform, SIM consumables, loaning of text books, online learning resources and personal protective clothing), but in order to undertake the course, you will need to pay for the following:

• A National Police Certificate- $42.00 - $45.00
• A working with vulnerable people card/registration - $115.50
• Any additional vaccinations you may require, including serology to show previous immunisation history (costs will vary)

Please see our Course fees and additional payment information document for more information.

To achieve a Diploma of Nursing, 25 units must be completed. This is comprised of 20 compulsory units, and 5 elective units.

The five elective units have been chosen as fulfilling the requirements of industry and endorsed accreditation.

Additional information relating to Enrolled Nursing can be found at https://www.anmac.org.au/

For more information on the above units, please visit https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/HLT54121

A graduate from a Diploma of Nursing program approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) is able to apply for registration with the NMBA as an enrolled nurse. Further information on registration is available at nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au

As an enrolled nurse, you may be able to work in a range of health settings such as:

• acute care,
• chronic care,
• aged care,
• rehabilitation,
• community,
• mental health

Before submitting an Expression of Interest form, you are asked to review the comprehensive information presented on this page. Important information on the HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing course includes details of entry requirements, information sessions/group interviews, LLN, fees & payments and unit requirements for qualification.

As part of the National Australian Qualifications Framework, qualifications are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure training meets the current needs of industry. The national Diploma of Nursing qualification requirements have been reviewed and updated with the release of a superseded qualification as follows:

ANMEC/HERC intend to offer the new qualification in the later part of 2022 - early 2023 pending the required accreditation by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA),the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and approval by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).  Students will not be disadvantaged by commencing the qualification currently on offer.  Existing students in this program will be given the option of either completing all study requirements (theory and clinical placement requirements) of the existing  HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing qualification by no later than 31 October 2023 or transitioning to the new qualification.  This information will be updated regularly.  For further information please email info@herc.tas.edu.au.