Fourteen Santa Maria College students are taking part in a nursing certificate program run on campus for the first time in 2016.
Camera IconFourteen Santa Maria College students are taking part in a nursing certificate program run on campus for the first time in 2016. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Santa Maria College students working towards health careers with help

Headshot of Josh Zimmerman
Josh ZimmermanMelville Gazette

SANTA Maria College, in partnership with the Institute of Health and Nursing Australia, is hosting a nursing certificate program for students working towards a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance.

Santa Maria one of five schools involved in the program, with 14 of its students taking part.

The program was run on campus for the first time in 2016.

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Once a week the students learn workplace health and safety and different aspects of nursing care, from making beds, to first aid and taking blood pressure through a mixture of theoretical and practical work.

The program acts as a pathway for future study in the field, either through Tafe or university bridging programs.

Head of careers & ACCESS co-ordinator Maryanne Hughes said students were full of positive feedback for the initiative.

“They are looking forward to putting their skills to use when they attend their first work placement in hospitals and aged care facilities in May,” she said.

“I can see 14 qualified nursing assistants being employed in the very near future.”