La Trobe Mildura facilitated local students to undertake a Nursing and Midwifery double degree following a Memorandum of Understanding signing with MBPH in 2021. The first cohort of these students will graduate in 2025.
Mildura Base Public Hospital Executive Director of Engagement and Support Services Heath Kendall said the partnership with La Trobe fostered strong ties with the district, in addition to aiding with the development of the local workforce.
“La Trobe University has been a great partner for many years and plays an important role in working with Mildura Base Public Hospital, with our professional workforce particularly in the area of Allied Health and Nursing,” Heath said.
“Recruiting local students to our workforce helps build a strong connection with our community.
“The hospital’s close relationship with the University, together with the learning and training students receive during their courses, contributes to their ability to gain more employable skills.
“The students we get from La Trobe are very skilled individuals and they generally have a strong connection with the region, which is important in retaining them when they graduate.”
Mildura Base Public Hospital and La Trobe University are focused on career progression and the successful employment of local students with over 80 percent of graduates obtaining employment and inclusion in MBPH’s Graduate Nurse Program.
La Trobe University Mildura Head of Campus Sandy Connor said the association with the hospital brought value to the community by providing an opportunity for local people to study in the town that they lived in and then start their careers locally.
“Having the hospital as a partner for La Trobe means that we understand the needs of both our community and the hospital, which enables us to respond to those needs and provide the workforce they are seeking,” Sandy said.
“Many of our students are low Socio-Economic Status (75.6 per cent), first in their family to attend university (56.5 per cent) and mature age or non-school levers (64 per cent), meaning they have homes, children, partners and bills, and would not be able to attend university if they had to leave home to do so.
“The benefit of this to our local community is profound.”
Bachelor of Nursing student Grace Giddings said students enjoyed studying and finding employment in their hometown or district.
“These graduate positions provide students with an opportunity to work close to home without having to travel too far,” Grace said.
Grace started with a Diploma of Rural Health at La Trobe Mildura, followed by a Bachelor of Nursing and recently found a graduate position at Mildura Base Public Hospital in the critical care area.
“I was over the moon and relieved to not only be offered a spot at MBPH Graduate program, but the highly sought after and desired critical care program which only accepts four applicants,” Grace said.
“At La Trobe, we are building great relationships with lecturers who offer an open-door policy and provide feedback for everything.”
PHOTO: (L-R Back) James Langley (MBPH Critical Care), Cassandra O’Brien (MBPH), Gregory Johnston (Tennant Creek NT), (Middle L-R) Eulien Munez (MBPH), Nikola Loxton (MBPH/Collaborative Program), Jenna Harrison (MBPH), Madaline Herberts (MBPH), Belah Ussher (Darwin Midwifery), Sophie Vrybergen (MBPH) and Dylan Brook (Not completing a graduate program/Ongoing employment). (Front L-R)
Allyson Webley (MBPH Mental Health), Karen Shorrock (MBPH Critical Care), Maire Franz Lazo (MBPH/Collaborative Program), Ali Lush (Associate Lecturer of Nursing), Tempany Croot (Townsville Midwifery), Gemma Melton (MBPH Midwifery) and Grace Giddings (MBPH Critical Care).
Media Contact
Jess Whitty – j.whitty@latrobe.edu.au, 0481 383 817
