Cadetships Provide Pathway to Job Security for Registered Nurses

In an exciting partnership towards securing jobs for graduates' a national nursing cadetship program with Ramsay Health Care is on offer for CQUniversity Bachelor of Nursing students in specific sites across five Australian states.

Since 2017' CQUniversity has partnered with Ramsay to deliver internships and from 2023 will begin to offer cadetship opportunities in Lake Macquarie (NSW)' Albury Wodonga (VIC)' Adelaide (SA)' Perth (WA) and in three regional Queensland's Cairns' Rockhampton and Sunshine Coast regions.

In 2022 Ramsay Health Care introduced a national cadetship program which' through innovative placement sourcing by Head of Professional Practice' Dr Colleen Ryan secured places for CQUniversity students to transition to Ramsay Health Care cadets.

'When I advised Ramsay of our internship program' it was decided to transition the CQU interns to Ramsay cadets'' Dr Ryan said.

'Students will be able to complete all placements in the facility and will be offered an interview for a graduate position on completion of their studies.'

Going beyond the immediate benefits of the hands-on experience to meet course learning outcomes' the program provides students with the opportunity for graduate employment and added security of becoming familiar with nursing at Ramsay Health Care.

'Students will complete all or most of their clinical learning in the facility. Beyond meeting course and graduate learning outcomes students benefit from a sense of belonging within the organisation through familiarisation with staff' organisational culture and the learning environment.'

Dr Ryan said the program provides students (and employers) with the opportunity to 'try before they buy'' before applying for a competitive graduate Registered Nurse position.

'If casual positions are advertised' for example Assistant in Nursing (AIN)' and the student is qualified' cadets will be in good standing to apply for these positions'' Dr Ryan said.

With an ever-present demand for regional healthcare workers' the cadetship is pivotal for retaining contemporary educated Registered Nurses thus empowering the regions to continue to flourish.

'This partnership is about graduate outcomes and engaging with the local communities and local organisations where our CQU nursing students are living and studying' and eventually be seeking employment'' said Dr Ryan.