La Trobe University
Graduate Diploma in Rural and Remote Nursing Practice
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Developed by experienced rural nurses with an industry-focus and study online
Course overview
Develop specialised rural and remote nursing knowledge and equip yourself with the skills to lead and support health care in rural and remote communities.
Learn how to coordinate culturally safe, up-to-date, evidence-based nursing care in rural and remote communities and develop the tools to make a real difference in rural healthcare.
Developed by experienced rural nurses in consultation with CRANA+, our industry-focused program based on the National Rural and Remote Nursing Generalist Framework will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to become a rural and remote health care leader.
In this course, you'll:
- Use your existing registered nurse qualifications and expand your knowledge and skills to support rural nursing practices.
- Learn from experienced rural nursing academics who are also practising clinicians.
- Develop in-demand clinical skills and knowledge in digital health, urgent care, advanced life support, palliative care, rural aged care practice and remote emergency care.
- Develop advanced work-based skills in communication, conflict resolution, effective teamwork and workplace culture.
- Gain skills in leadership and management.
- Have the flexibility of studying online, from anywhere.
- Gain the skills required by registered nurses working in rural and remote settings as identified by the remote health peak body CRANA+.
- Upon completion, use your qualifications to apply for the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) when appropriately experienced or several other master's degrees in nursing, public health and leadership.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
What you will study
To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma in Rural and Remote Nursing Practice, students must complete 120 credit points as follows:
- 90 core credit points
- 30 elective credit points
Core units
- Academic Integrity Module
- Advanced Rural Nursing Practice
- Communication for Rural Nursing Practice
- Comprehensive Health Assessment
- Digital Health for Rural Nursing Practice
- Foundations of Urgent Care Nursing
- Rural Nursing Practice
Electives
Students are to select elective subjects worth 30 credit points. Subjects from the list below are recommended.
Research
- Advanced Clinical Evidence for Nursing Practice
- Research Foundations
- Research and Evidence in Midwifery
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Translating Evidence to Practice
Leadership and management
- Management and Leadership in Health
- Financial Management in Health Services
- Strategy and Operations Management
Entry requirements
Academic entry requirements
Prerequisites
Completing a recognised entry-level Registered Nursing degree (equivalent to an Australian Bachelor's degree). It is expected that applicants will be working in the field of Nursing as a Registered Nurse.
Must be registered as a Registered Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and hold a current practising certificate.
So that you know, meeting minimum prerequisites does not guarantee a place offer. Entry into all La Trobe courses is based on competitive selection, and limited places may be available.
Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS)
See Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS) for information on adjustment factors that may be applicable, such as those through Special Entry and Access Schemes (SEAS) and other La Trobe special access schemes.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit for prior study recognises previous educational experiences that can count toward a qualification. This may reduce the subjects you must complete to finish your course. The amount of credit granted depends on the relevance and level of your past study and the number of subjects you have completed. For more details, please get in touch with the university.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Apply advanced nursing practice knowledge and skills to contribute to informed clinical judgement for rural and remote nursing practice.
- Perform independently and as a team member in a variety of clinical contexts within rural and remote healthcare settings, adhering to professional ethical standards.
- Appraise and select digital health and telehealth options to provide accessible, equitable and effective rural and remote nursing care.
- Communicate effectively with the community as a geographically dispersed multidisciplinary team member.
- Generate evidence-based approaches to plan, implement and evaluate culturally appropriate person/client-centred rural and remote nursing care.
- Develop leadership and management skills, including planning and implementing staff recruitment, performance management and financial management relevant to rural and remote healthcare settings.
Career outcomes
Graduates of this course will be highly employable as registered nurses in rural healthcare settings including:
- Hospitals
- Community Health Centres
- Hospices
- Aged Care Settings
- Clinics
Fees and CSP
Estimated fees in 2025: $4,627 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Estimated fees in 2025: $27,000 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The estimated fees are based on a standard full-time study load of 60 credit points.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of subjects studied.
- Choice of courses.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Could you contact the university directly to confirm?
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you only need to pay some of your tuition fees. The student contribution amount is the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per the courses you're enrolled in.
- Depending on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
