CUC and Charles Sturt University working together to support our regional Nursing Students

We are very excited to announce a new initiative between the Country Universities Centre (CUC) and Charles Sturt University to support our regional nursing students to be successful in their studies. The CUC is now offering free specialised tutoring to students registered with the CUC who are studying Nursing with Charles Sturt University.

One of our key goals is to enhance regional development by creating opportunities for locals to grow their own workforce. Health is one of the most studied fields for CUC students and graduates, and is an important source of employment for our regional and rural communities. Charles Sturt University Nursing student, Giovanna Henkel, studies through CUC Snowy Monaro in Cooma, and also works part-time at the Cooma Hospital. She said:

“Having a direct line of support through CUC will benefit me enormously.”

This initiative brings together community, university and industry to build strong pathways for our regional communities.

Online study can be challenging for any student, in particular regional and rural students who face significant barriers in comparison to their metropolitan counterparts.  This new service will provide high quality content specialist assistance for students to overcome these challenges.

Types of support may include:

• Facilitated discussion on nursing topics to enable students to reach their own answers;
• Linking previous learning with newer concepts;
• Clarification of a clinical issue or question;
• Clarifying links between pathologies and nursing interventions;
• Explanation of pharmacology topics or questions;
• Demystifying terminology – academic and clinical;
• Access to industry resources;
• Referral to a service within Charles Sturt University or the CUC.

Who can access this service?

• Charles Sturt University Bachelor of Nursing and Graduate Diploma of Midwifery students who are registered with a CUC;
• Charles Sturt University students completing a health-related subject which is a part of the nursing curriculum i.e. Para-medicine;
• Charles Sturt University postgraduate nursing students are welcome to make contact for general support, content support will be speciality dependent.

Introducing our CUC-Charles Sturt University Nursing Tutor

My name is Bec Broadbent, and I am the CUC – Charles Sturt University Nursing Tutor. I am really excited to work with you and alongside you as you complete your nursing qualification with Charles Sturt University.

A bit about me: I graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery in 2005. Since then I have worked as a Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and rural areas in Acute, Emergency, Maternity services and rural Multipurpose Services.

In 2009 I moved with my husband to Wagga Wagga where I discovered my love and heart for rural nursing and living.  Working as a clinician, Clinical Nurse Educator, Deputy Nurse Manager and Nurse Manager in Wagga, Junee, Culcairn and in a district role, I have advocated for recognition, education and opportunities for the thousands of nurses who work in the role of rural generalist.  I was privileged to attend the 2019 Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia (CRANA) Rural Nursing symposium where we discussed and prioritised key issues and appropriate actions to address the issues that are unique to rural nurses now and into the future.

When the opportunity came along to work with the CUC to support Charles Sturt University nursing students in rural communities to succeed in their studies – I jumped at it!

In 2019, I completed a Masters of Clinical Nursing online.  For all the benefits and great things about online study, there were also times when it was a bit lonely and I felt isolated in my thoughts and efforts. That’s where this role comes into play.  In a student-led style of tutoring, you can bring along a nursing question or problem for discussion, and we will work together to identify the best solution, resources or additional ideas for exploring.

This initiative will link in closely with our CUC Learning Skills Advisors and Charles Sturt University services to offer students wrap around support. I will also work closely with Three Rivers University Department of Rural Health within Charles Sturt, with a focus on supporting students who are undertaking workplace learning within the footprint of the CUCs.

For more information about the CUC-Charles Sturt University Nursing Tutor program, please email Bec directly at: rebecca.broadbent@cuc.edu.au.