Nursing college hopes to boost number of healthcare workers

The founder of Wagga’s new nursing college hopes to address the shortage of critical healthcare workers in the Riverina.

Nursing Education and Training Australia offers a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance, a Provide First Aid course and a preparation course for internationally accredited nurses.

The founder and CEO of Nursing Education and Training Australia, Karissa Subedi, decided to open a nursing college in 2016 because she’s passionate about teaching and giving back to the community.

“Opening the college is a dream come true,” Mrs Subedi said. “I was over the moon, and the ultimate goal is to help the community.

“I was teaching at another college and thought it was the best job I’ve ever had … I really enjoyed it and did not think of it as work.”

Mrs Subedi moved to Australia from the Philippines and lived in Sydney until she decided to throw caution to the wind and move to Wagga with her family for a change of pace.

“The life in Sydney caught up to us, and when my son was about two years old, we thought we needed to move somewhere,” Mrs Subedi said.

“We decided to go somewhere quiet, peaceful and with plenty of play areas for the kids and for us to have a country lifestyle.

“I was searching for a job, and the one in Sydney was advertised for Riverina at the time … and I realised it was for me.”

Mrs Subedi applied to be a nurse educator with the Murrumbidgee Local Health District and got the job within two weeks.

She found the people of Wagga to be friendly and accommodating.

“I was working across the Murrumbidgee and saw the need for nurses and healthcare professionals,” Mrs Subedi said.

“It was the best time for me to reflect on putting the college and my dream together.

“My husband is also the director of the college, and he has supported me 100 per cent of the way.”

Mrs Subedi believed a college would help with the need for more healthcare workers in the region.

“I opened the idea with my Murrumbidgee Local Health District, and they supported my idea and received support from Wagga Wagga City Council as well.

“I did not expect to get the support I got.”

The process of getting her college underway took 18 months.

The college was approved to deliver nationally registered courses late last year, and the first classes will commence in July.

Mrs Subedi said her college had helped a number of registered nurses from overseas get a job in the Riverina.

“But some of them (healthcare workers) have chosen to go to other places,” Mrs Subedi said.

“It is still giving back to the community and helping the nursing workforce crisis.

“We will continue to do that.”

Click here to find out more about Nursing Education and Training Australia.