Program that places nursing students in the regions grows

A clinical placement program that fast-tracks third-year nursing students into careers at regional Queensland residential aged care facilities has grown. A collaboration between facility provider Lutheran Services and the University of Sunshine Coast (UniSC), this ‘transition to practice’ program gives UniSC Bachelor of Nursing Science students final placement support through a two-month intensive — launched three years ago as a pilot to prepare graduating students for work as RNs.

“We are excited to introduce the first two participants in the Transition to Practice Program to Orana Aged Care in Kingaroy and expand our current program operating at four other Lutheran Services sites,” Stephanie Wilson, Lutheran Services Regional Manager, said. “So far, 63 graduates have completed their final placement with Lutheran Services and more than half have been employed as RNs at our aged care sites since our partnership with UniSC.”

Lutheran Services’ Cooinda site in Gympie was the 2022 launch site for the program, which then expanded to Immanuel Gardens Aged Care on the Sunshine Coast, St Paul’s Aged Care in Caboolture and Zion Aged Care in Nundah — and now Orana in Kingaroy as well. The first placements for 2025 began in June and marked the largest cohort to date — with 28 participants across five of Lutheran Services’ 11 aged care sites. This year is expected to bring the total number of placements since 2022 above 90.

“Students are mentored by our team of highly skilled geriatric nurses and UniSC clinical facilitators and receive skills in dementia, fall prevention, end-of-life care and more to support residents with complex needs,” Wilson said. “Upon completion of the program, the graduates will be ready for their registration as RNs and to join the workforce.”

Speaking highly of the program is Rahul Taneja, 28, who was placed at Cooinda Aged Care. “Joining the program was the best decision I could have made because I received more hands-on experience in aged care in a short time than other nursing students,” Taneja said, who was offered a full-time role at Cooinda after he had completed the placement and received his registration.

Having made the move to Gympie, Taneja is keen to explore further aged care clinical nursing opportunities. “I am interested in exploring palliative care and have already enrolled to be part of a pilot study through Lutheran Services,” Taneja said. “I really enjoy my interactions with residents and was surprised recently when a couple of residents with memory decline commented that they had seen my photo in the Cooinda newsletter. I was touched they would remember me.”

Images: Cooinda Aged Care nurse Rahul Taneja with residents.