Diploma of
Nursing

January and July

Full time: 2 years (3 days per week)

For information regarding dates such as enrolment, orientation and study breaks please visit the Academic Calendars page. 

After successful completion,you can apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) as an enrolled nurse. Please see NMBA website for information about registration requirements and how to apply.

You may wish to apply for employment opportunities as an enrolled nurse in a range of health settings such as:

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

Enrolled nurses work under the direction of a registered nurse and in collaboration with registered nurses and other members of the health care team to support the health and wellbeing of people.

You must:

• be at least 18 years of age (mature age students are welcome to apply)
• demonstrate a high level of literacy and numeracy skills (all applicants must sit the Box Hill Institute core skills diagnostic test. Applicants are required to achieve minimum exit level 3 for Literacy, Numeracy & Writing)
• be able to provide below checks prior to the first clinical placment:
  • a current clear Working with Children Check
  • a current clear National Police Record Check
  • an up-to-date immunisation/vaccination record
• have basic computer skills
• attend a group interview
• provide evidence of meeting at least one of the English language standards listed below prior to enrolment:

1. At least 6 years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed in English in either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America, including at least 2 years between Years 7 and 12 
2. 3 years* (full time equivalent continous education up untill the time of enrolement) taught and assessed in English, in any of the recognised countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United States of America, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom). NOTE: Box Hill Institute will only accept the following:
   • vocational and secondary education taught and assessed in English or
   • tertiary and vocational education taught and assessed in English or
   • combined tertiary, secondary and vocational education taught and assessed in English or
   • tertiary education taught and assessed in English
3. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic module. We only accept test results:
   • from one test sitting, or
   • a maximum of 2 test sittings in a 6-month period only if:
     • you achieve a minimum overall score of 7 in each sitting, and
     • you achieve a minimum score of 7 in each component across the two sittings, and
     • no score in any component of the test is below 6.5
4. Occupational English Test (OET). We will only accept test results:
   • from one test sitting, or
   • a maximum of 2 test sittings in a 6-month period only if:
     • you are tested in all 4 components in each sitting, and
     • you achieve a minimum score of B in each component across the two sittings, and
     • no score in any component of the test is below C
5. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic. We will only accept test results:
   • from one test sitting, or
   • a maximum of 2 test sittings in a 6-month period only if:
     • a minimum overall score of 65 is achieved in each sitting, and
     • you achieve a minimum score of 65 in each of the communicative skills across the 2 sittings, and
     • no score in any of the communicative skills is below 58
6. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT. We will only accept test results:
   • from one test sitting, or
   • a maximum of 2 test sittings in a 6-month period only if:
     • a minimum total score of 94 is achieved in each sitting, and you achieve a minimum score of 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking across the 2 sittings, and
     • no score in any of the sections is below:
       • 20 for listening
       • 19 for reading
       • 24 for writing, and
       • 20 for speaking

For more information, please refer to the English language skills registration standard policy for nurses and midwives on the AHPRA website. 

PRE-TRAINING REVIEW

To assist prospective students to determine whether a course is suitable and appropriate for the individual needs, Box Hill Institute will assess all students’ language, literacy and numeracy and digital literacy by asking you to undertake a self-assessment review prior to the enrolment.

A course advisor will discuss the outcomes of the review and make recommendations about whether the course is suitable for you, and identify additional support where required.

Apply through VTAC for January intake. Apply directly to Box Hill Institute for July intake.

You will need to:

1. submit your expression of interest through our website or by calling us
2. you will be sent an application form and an online core skills diagnostic test to complete
3. watch the information session video provided on the online application OR attend one of the face to face information sessions
4. based on an assessment of your application and test results a link will be emailed to you to book for a face to face group interview
5. attend a group interview at Lilydale or Elgar campus (you must provide proof of meeting English language requirements on the day of the interview)

A letter of offer will be sent to you based on the outcome of the group interview. Please note: If you are a VTAC applicant you can complete steps 1-5 (though the final offers will only be made with the first round offers through VTAC).

Recognition of Prior Learning is available.

After successful completion, you may have the option of applying to universities and being granted up to 12 months credit towards most 3 year Bachelor of Nursing qualifications.

There are many pathways available after successful completion of this course. Box Hill Institute has specific articulation arrangements with ACU, Deakin and La Trobe Universities. All Box Hill Institute nursing graduates with HLT54115 will be required to meet ACU’s minimum admission requirements of a sound achievement in English and any other university entry criteria, and will receive agreed credit of 80 credit points on confirmation of application. ACU also gurantee the direct pathway for top 10 students towards the Bachelor of Nursing.

Bachelor of Midwifery entry is not guaranteed. However, successful candidates who have graduated from Box Hill Institute will receive 30 credit points on confirmation of application.

Students who successfully complete this course will be eligible to apply for maximum 16 credit points into the Bachelor of Nursing at Deakin University, subject to meeting requirements for entry into their program.

Students will be eligible to apply through the usual tertiary admission process.

Please note: that articulation arrangements, credit transfers and guaranteed entry into higher education courses delivered by other training providers are subject to change.

This course is government accredited and has national recognition

The qualification is aligned with the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) level 5

• Government Subsidised Place
• Payment Plan
• VET Student Loans

This training is provided to eligible individuals with funds made available by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments

Completion of 25 units of competency (including 20 core units and 5 elective units)