Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Adjunct Professor Alison McMillan PSM, Executive Dean of ECU's School of Nursing and Midwifery Professor Karen Strickland, and Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer of WA Health Adjunct Professor Annie Thompson.
In a Western Australian first, Edith Cowan University (ECU) will be introducing a new course to upskill nurses, launching the Graduate Certificate in Designated Registered Nurse Prescribing.
The fully online, one-year program will equip experienced registered nurses with the skills and knowledge to safely prescribe medications or renew prescriptions, in partnership with authorised independent prescribers such as doctors and nurse practitioners.
The program will be the first of its kind in WA, and one of only five currently available nationally.
Launching on International Nurses Day 2026, Professor Karen Strickland, Executive Dean of ECU's School of Nursing and Midwifery, said the initiative will address a growing healthcare gap.
"In many regional and community healthcare settings - including aged care and community clinics - timely access to prescribing professionals can be limited, which directly impacts patients," Professor Strickland said. "By enabling appropriately qualified nurses to work collaboratively in medication prescribing and renewal processes, we can help improve access to care and ensure patients receive the medications they need more efficiently."
The first intake will be offered from Semester two this year, with 100 places for experienced nurses with more than three years of clinical experience across a range of healthcare contexts.
"This is an extremely important step forward for nursing practice in our State," Professor Strickland said. "By equipping experienced nurses with the skills and knowledge to prescribe medications or renew prescriptions, it is exactly the kind of forward-thinking, patient-centred innovation our healthcare system needs."
Throughout the course, students will build advanced capability in pathophysiology, comprehensive health assessment and diagnostic testing, alongside advanced pharmacology and therapeutics to support safe, evidence-based prescribing.
On completion, graduates may apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for endorsement as a Registered Nurse Prescriber and progress to the required six-month mentored practice period. There will also be a pathway into the Master of Nursing (Nursing Practitioner).
ECU Vice Chancellor Professor Clare Pollock at the International Nurses Day celebration.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer of WA Health Adjunct Professor Annie Thompson signalled her support of the program at an International Nurses Day celebration at ECU City campus, with the WA Government providing 80 scholarships over the next two years.
"This is a wonderful example of how universities and government can work together to strengthen the nursing workforce and improve healthcare outcomes for Western Australians," Professor Strickland said. "We look forward to seeing the positive impact this program will have across the healthcare sector in years to come, while reinforcing ECU's leadership in nursing and midwifery education."
The International Nurses Day celebration at the City Campus event also featured a special guest lecture from the Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Adjunct Professor (Practice) Alison McMillan PSM.
