Free Online Nursing Courses in Australia with Certificates

Job prospects for nurses in Australia

The nursing profession in Australia is highly recognized and respected worldwide. As Australia's population ages, the demand for nursing talent is growing, making nurses one of the professions in short supply in the country's labor market. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2030, there will be a global shortage of 10 million medical and nursing staff, and the shortage of nurses in Australia is particularly serious. According to data from the Australian government, the number of registered nurses employed is expected to continue to grow. For example, from 2020 to 2024, the number of registered nurses employed will increase by 8.9%. In addition, the median salary of registered nurses in Australia is approximately A$1,937 per week, and the median annual salary is approximately A$100,000. By 2026, Australia is expected to have a shortage of more than 100,000 nurses, so registered nurses are always on the list of occupations for skilled immigration in Australia. These data show that the employment prospects of nurses in Australia are very broad, not only the demand is growing steadily, but also the salary is generous.

I will list and discuss some free online nursing courses with certificates in Australia in this section. They are as follows;

▪ Effective Communication in the Workplace

▪ Cancer Survival for Primary Care Practitioners

▪ Understanding Dementia

▪ Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

▪ Certificate III in Personal Support (Ageing)

▪ Certificate IV in Ageing Support

1. Effective Communication in the Workplace

This free course, Effective Communication in the Workplace, explores the importance of communication as a workplace skill. It is designed to increase your understanding of communication skills and help you consider how others perceive your communication.

You will cover areas such as verbal and non-verbal communication, written communication, and using your communication skills in challenging and diverse situations. You will also examine possible future communication scenarios, from remote working to virtual reality

Duration – 24 hours of learning

Provider – Open University Australia

2. Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care Physicians

Cancer is a major burden of disease worldwide. Millions of people are diagnosed with the disease every year. This course will explore the importance of cancer survivorship and show you how to develop effective care plans for your patients.

You will learn about the psychological and emotional impact of cancer and the possible side effects of treatment. You will be able to learn about new and emerging cancer therapies, and the outcomes for cancer survivors of different ages. You will also learn about the stress that cancer places on patients, healthcare systems, and primary care practitioners.

Duration - 4 weeks

Provider: University of Melbourne, Australia

3. Understanding Dementia

Understanding Dementia is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that provides university-quality education on the latest dementia research and care.

This free course provides an opportunity to learn about the international community's perspectives, with no exams or assignments.

The course provides knowledge designed to maximise the quality of life for people with dementia, their families and carers.

To gain the most from this course, participants should spend approximately 3 hours per week studying the content and completing relevant course activities. There are 7 weeks of scheduled content.

After completing the final quizzes for all three modules of the course, 'Brain', 'Disease' and 'People', participants will be eligible to download a certificate of completion.

Duration - 7 weeks

University of Tasmania, Australia

4. Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

The Certificate III will enable you to assist nurses and health professionals in treating patients with illness and injury. In class, you will learn how to;

▪ Communicate effectively and build relationships with health professionals and clients.

▪ Perform general cleaning tasks in a clinical setting.

▪ Help and assist clients with exercise.

▪ Provide transportation for clients who are unable to get around on their own.

▪ Help clients maintain oral hygiene.

▪ Respond effectively to concerning behaviours.

▪ Organise and prioritise your workload.

▪ Work effectively in the health and community services sector.

▪ Understand the human body and how it works.

Duration – 18 months

Provider – Open College Australia

5. Certificate III in Personal Support (Ageing)

This course is a course on the Certificate III in Personal Support (Ageing), an entry-level qualification that allows you to become an aged care support worker. This course will take you from beginner to professional support worker in up to 12 months.

You will gain a solid education in the fundamentals of aged care and be ready for employment upon graduation. During the course you will learn;

▪ About the human body and how to support its healthy functioning

▪ Skills to meet individual client support needs

▪ How to tailor support to meet individual client needs

▪ How dementia affects a person, and strategies to communicate, support and monitor people with dementia

▪ Important skills to comply with infection control

▪ How to promote empowerment of older people

▪ How to work with diverse people

▪ Legal and ethical requirements to work in care

▪ How to support clients’ independence and wellbeing

▪ How to work effectively in the health and community care sectors

Duration – 12 months

Provider – Open College Australia

6. Certificate IV in Ageing Support

The Certificate IV in Ageing Support is designed to train you whether you are currently working, or looking to find employment in aged care settings.

If you are committed to the rights of older people, good health, patience, discretion and a high level of professionalism, then the industry needs you to take the next step in your career by gaining this nationally recognised qualification.

This course can be taken online at your own pace and can be started at any time of the year. Aged care workers provide care in clients’ homes or in residential care settings. They carry out their duties under the direct or regular guidance of a clearly defined care plan or organisational strategy.

Duration – 18 months

Provider – Open College Australia

Now that you have seen all these free online nursing courses with certificates in Australia, you can choose to take any of these courses that piques your interest and study to get certified.