Nursing students at the University of Notre Dame Australia are facing significant hurdles in securing and completing their required practical placements, a core component of their Bachelor of Nursing degree. Recent reports highlight disorganised scheduling, inadequate supervision, and widespread frustration, exacerbating pressures within Western Australia's higher education landscape. This comes amid the university's decision to pause new enrolments for Semester 1 2026, citing the need to calibrate intake levels for long-term sustainability.
The challenges stem from a rapid growth in student numbers, driven by government incentives that made nursing courses more affordable. From 696 new students in 2022 to 1,169 in 2024, the program became oversubscribed, straining resources like hospital partnerships essential for hands-on training. Students describe placements as chaotic, scattered across distant locations with minimal oversight, leaving many feeling unprepared for professional practice.
Student Experiences: Chaos in Clinical Training
Third-year nursing student Chloe shared her ordeal on ABC Perth Mornings, noting that placements felt "all over the place" with little coordination from the university. Peers echoed similar sentiments in online forums and social media, reporting last-minute changes, long commutes to regional sites, and supervisors stretched thin. One anonymous student lamented, "We're paying full fees but getting subpar practical experience, which is supposed to be the highlight of the degree."
A 2025 cyber attack on the university further disrupted operations, cancelling or suspending several placements and delaying administrative processes. While IT systems have recovered, the fallout lingers, compounding logistical issues in a sector already grappling with limited hospital capacity.
University Response and Enrolment Adjustments
The University of Notre Dame Fremantle campus, known for its strong healthcare focus, attributes the enrolment pause to high demand outpacing program capacity. In a statement, the School of Nursing and Midwifery explained they are reviewing intake for 2025 and 2026 to ensure quality. The Bachelor of Nursing remains accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC), though a routine monitoring review is underway—a standard process to verify compliance with national standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
To mitigate financial strains from unpaid placements—typically 800 hours over the degree—the university offers the Practicum Support Scheme (PSS). Launched in 2023, it provides aid for students unable to work during full-time clinical blocks, addressing 'placement poverty' where costs for travel, accommodation, and lost wages mount.
The Surge: From Affordable Degrees to Capacity Crunch
Federal policies like the Job Ready Graduates scheme slashed nursing course fees, sparking enrolment booms across Australian universities. Notre Dame's Fremantle program, praised for small classes and real-world focus, saw numbers double in three years. However, clinical placements require dedicated hospital beds and registered nurse supervisors, governed by NMBA standards mandating progressive competency development.
Hospitals, facing their own staff shortages, impose strict ratios—often one student per qualified nurse—limiting spots. Western Australia, with its dispersed population, amplifies this, as regional and remote sites demand extra logistics.
Broader Australian Nursing Placement Crisis
Notre Dame's woes reflect a national issue. Research shows over two-thirds of Australian nursing students experience placement poverty, leading to heightened stress and attrition. A 2025 survey by the Health Students' Alliance revealed many skip meals or incur debt during unpaid blocks. Australia projects a 70,000-nurse shortfall by 2035, yet placement bottlenecks hinder graduate output.
The NMBA requires 800 supervised hours for registration eligibility, but capacity hasn't scaled with enrolments. Universities compete for slots in public hospitals, private facilities, and aged care, where COVID-19 legacies and burnout persist. In WA, remote Kimberley placements via Notre Dame's Broome campus offer unique experiences but intensify travel burdens. This study details how such constraints affect student wellbeing and program quality.
Accreditation Pressures Under ANMAC Scrutiny
ANMAC's standards emphasise sufficient clinical exposure for safe practice. Notre Dame's review—routine yet flagged amid growth—highlights risks: inadequate placements could jeopardise re-accreditation, delaying graduate registration via AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). Staff from the National Tertiary Education Union worry about student experience metrics, vital for approval.
Similar reviews have prompted intake cuts elsewhere, underscoring the tension between workforce demands and quality assurance. For students, delays mean postponed careers in a field desperate for 12,000 annual graduates.
- Rapid enrolments outpace placement infrastructure.
- Unpaid hours create financial poverty for 65%+ students.
- Supervision ratios limit hospital uptake.
- Regional demands add logistical strain in WA.
Financial and Emotional Toll: Placement Poverty Defined
Placement poverty—coined for the economic hit from mandatory unpaid work—hits hard. Students forgo wages, pay for uniforms, travel, and housing. Notre Dame's PSS offers targeted relief, but national calls grow for systemic change. From July 2025, eligible domestic students in nursing receive $331 weekly via government placement allowances, a step forward yet criticised as insufficient amid rising costs.
Emotionally, inconsistent placements erode confidence. First-years in aged care report mixed views on relevance, per Notre Dame theses, while seniors fear employability gaps. Attrition nears 34% nationally, worsening shortages.
ABC coverage amplifies these voices, urging transparency.Government and Sector Responses
Federal initiatives target shortages: streamlined visas for overseas nurses, expanded aged care funding. Universities push simulated learning via high-fidelity mannequins, though ANMAC caps substitutions at 300 hours max. WA's health department collaborates on remote placements, but demand exceeds supply.
Solutions include inter-university placement sharing, paid stipends, and tech like virtual reality simulations. Notre Dame's clinical schools model—partnering hospitals for dedicated training—shows promise if scaled.
Alternatives for Aspiring Nurses in WA
Prospective students eye Edith Cowan University (ECU), Curtin University, or Murdoch—ANMAC-approved with robust placements. ECU's 44-program review spared nursing, emphasising regional ties. Transfer options exist for Notre Dame applicants via QTAC, though credits vary.
Online bridging for enrolled nurses or postgraduate entry offers paths amid Bachelor delays. Check Notre Dame updates for Semester 2 prospects.
Future Outlook: Balancing Growth and Quality
Resolving Notre Dame's challenges requires coordinated action: more placement funding, supervisor incentives, and enrolment caps tied to capacity. With Australia's ageing population demanding 123,000 extra nurses by 2030, universities like Notre Dame—top-ranked in WA for nursing—must innovate.
Positive signs: PSS expansions, government payments, and ANMAC's evolving standards. Students resiliently adapt, but systemic fixes are urgent to prevent further disruptions and ensure graduates enter a strained workforce ready.
For those navigating this, resources like AcademicJobs.com's higher ed career advice can guide transitions. Explore nursing roles via higher education jobs or university listings.
