August 21, 2009
The need for RMIT nursing students to complete their studies at Sale has been raised in Federal Parliament.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester called on the Federal Minister for Health to step in and support the 40 students who are studying nursing through RMIT University in partnership with East Gippsland Institute of TAFE.
Mr Chester also attended a meeting with the Health Minister in Canberra yesterday to highlight the students’ frustration and anger at plans to change their commitment mid-course.
RMIT students who are in their first and second year of a Bachelor of Nursing at Fulham have been told that they will need to travel to Churchill or move to Melbourne to complete their studies.
Mr Chester told Parliament cessation of the course was a further blow to the vital need to retain health professionals in regional communities.
“Just this week there was another letter to the editor in the local newspaper from a young mother who could not get her daughter in to see a GP in either Sale or Maffra,” Mr Chester said.
“Lack of qualified health professionals is causing issues, which are always of great significance in regional communities.
“Common sense would suggest that we need to do whatever we can as a community to make sure that the students get to complete their course at Sale, as we can benefit from having 40 or more qualified nurses with ties to our local community.”
Mr Chester last week called on RMIT University to honour its commitment to students who have already commenced nursing studies at the Sale campus of East Gippsland Institute of TAFE. He has also made representations directly to Professor Peter Coloe, Pro Vice-Chancellor, College of Science, Engineering and Health at RMIT University.
“This is a breach of trust between the students and the university,” Mr Chester said.
“These students have embarked on their degree in good faith and have made sacrifices to achieve their dream of becoming a nurse. Now the rules have changed mid-way through.
“I urge RMIT to re-think its decision and, at the very least, to allow those students who have already commenced their studies at Sale to complete their degree at Sale.”