ECU nursing students in the South West can earn a wage working at St John of God Bunbury Hospital while they study.
Bunbury student nurses are being offered a rare opportunity to be paid while learning on the job skills thanks to a new partnership between St John of God Bunbury Hospital and Edith Cowan University School of Nursing and Midwifery.
The partnership offers second year nursing students studying at the University’s Bunbury campus the opportunity to work at St John of God Bunbury Hospital as assistants in nursing (AINs).
ECU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Regional Futures) and Vice-President Professor Cobie Rudd said the partnership was an example of ECU’s strategic directions in action.
"ECU's Regional Plan, aligned to our Strategic Plan, provides a coordinated approach to building ECU's capacity and success in the South West Region. Partnering to deliver strong and sustainable regional communities and great outcomes for our regional students are amongst our objectives," said Professor Rudd.
As a part of their role at the hospital through this partnership model, students working as AINs support patients with many hands-on nursing tasks under the care and supervision of senior nurses.
St John of God Bunbury Hospital Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Williams said the partnership helped students develop their confidence and skills in caring for and communicating with patients and families in hospital.
"The assistant nursing role is becoming ever more important in hospitals as they are the person who is able to provide the hands-on assistance that patients value so much," he said.
"The roles expose students to the hands-on nature of nursing and gives them the confidence to speak with and care for patients and their families and familiarise themselves with the clinical care needed to work as a nurse in hospital."
St John of God Bunbury Hospital has so far recruited eight students to work as AINs, which includes a number of patient care assistants who were already working at the hospital.
"It is exciting to have these students in our hospital and our nurses are thrilled to be able to support the next generation of health care workers," Jeffrey said.
"This is a really great opportunity to support Bunbury students, many of whom have grown up and lived in Bunbury for many years, with an opportunity to start and develop their careers in the region instead of having to travel to Perth.
"Once students graduate, they will already be familiar with St John of God Bunbury Hospital, our nurses and doctors, and will be in a great position to take up any job opportunities, including our graduate positions, with us."
ECU Associate Dean (Nursing) – Regional, Associate Professor Deborah Kirk said the University had long understood the importance of learning in the workplace.
"It gives our students invaluable experience they can use to further their careers, which is why we have them engage with the health system professionally throughout their course of study." Professor Kirk said.
"This partnership expands on this by allowing our students to 'earn as they learn' and is one of many opportunities we have in place with St John of God Bunbury Hospital.
"It's another example of how our students benefit from ECU's many partnerships with industry, particularly in the South West where we are helping boost the region with several industry agreements across a number of sectors."
