Nursing Refresher Course
Mater Education’s Nursing Refresher course gives both registered and enrolled nurses the opportunity to renew and refine their skills by learning from experts in the acute care space and gaining practical experience inside the Mater hospital network.
The course is made up of three components— online learning modules, a one day orientation workshop and a clinical placement—and has been developed to adhere to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia registered midwife Standards for Practice. It follows a preceptorship model of teaching.
Key areas of learning and skills development include:
- understanding of contemporary, evidence-based best practice, in the clinical environment
- observing and performing a variety of clinical skills with support and regular feedback from preceptors and facilitators)
- performing holistic patient-centred care in an acute care clinical setting
- participating in evidence-based practice to make informed clinical decisions
- demonstrating safe practice in medication administration by a variety of routes
- identifying the value of diversity and cultural safety within the healthcare workplace.
* Preceptorship is a time-limited, education-focused model for teaching and learning within a clinical environment. It uses clinical staff as role models, working to assist new staff and students to adapt to their roles and develop clinical skills.

Who should attend?
Our Nursing Refresher course is designed for qualified registered nurses and enrolled nurses who are out-of-practice and wish to refresh their knowledge in acute care nursing, or simply build on previous nursing skills, knowledge and experience. The course is also ideal for registered nurses and enrolled nurses working in non-acute areas of practice keen to move into the acute care environment.
Please note: to be eligible for this program nurses must have worked in an acute care area within the last 5 years.
Course information
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The course is designed for Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses who:
- have at least one year acute nursing experience in a hospital setting
- hold general registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (without any notations or conditions on their registration), and
- meet the Recency of Practice Registration Standard of three (3) months practice in the last five years.
This program is open to eligible nurses registered in Australia who have been out of the nursing workforce for five years or less.
All applicants will be screened via an interview process and will be required to submit and/or complete the following:
- Curriculum Vitae showing evidence of previous clinical practice
- Evidence of 12 months (minimum) post graduate clinical nursing experience
- National Australian Federal Police Check: Health workers and students must comply with Employment Screening using Criminal Record Checks Policy Directive PD2005_552
- Immunisation records
- Identification with current photo (drivers licence or passport).
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This course includes four components:
1. Theoretical learning modules (online)
- We recommend participants complete the Australian College of Nurses (ACN) theoretical online learning modules. These modules equate to 36 CPD hours and must be completed prior to the practical and clinical components. They will take approximately four weeks to complete.
NB: If you have successfully completed ACN's online refresher within the last 12 months, you may be able to progress immediately to the workshop component of the program.
2. Mater Education learning modules (online)
- Approximately 20 hours of guided online modules.
3. One day orientation workshop
- Orientation date will depend on the completion of the online modules and will be discussed with each participant, one-on-one. Subject to change due to COVID-19.
4. Clinical placement (120 hours)
- Clinical placement will be accommodated at Mater's exceptional hospitals during a designated placement period. While shift times may be negotiable, start and finish dates are fixed.
Together, these components will allow participants to build upon their previous nursing experience (and qualifications), and understand the requirements of a contemporary, current-day nurse, including professional practice, critical thinking and analysis, provision and coordination of care and collaborative and therapeutic practice.
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On completion of the program, the applicant must satisfactorily complete all requirements, including:
- Mater online clinical modules
- ACN online modules
- Reflective practise
- Australian Nursing Standards Assessment Tool (ANSAT)
Upon completion of this program, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Standards for practice 2016
- Perform holistic patient-centred care in an acute care clinical setting
- Demonstrate safe practice in medication administration by a variety of routes
- Participate in evidence-based practice to make informed clinical decisions
- Identify the value of diversity and cultural safety within the healthcare workplace
Following successful completion of the course, participants will be able to apply for RN or EN vacancies (as applicable). They will also receive a certificate of completion.
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Theoretical online Nurse Refresher Course
This course is delivered via ACN, please contact ACN for pricing and enrolment.
Orientation workshop and supervised clinical placement at Mater
$3 100 (incl. GST)—Payment plans for this component may be available. Please discuss directly with Mater Education on acceptance of the placement.
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