NOTRE DAME DECISION IS POOR POLICY THAT WILL NOT EASE NURSE SHORTAGE
August 2 2004
The Federal Government’s decision to provide public funding and nursing and medical places to support the establishment of a Sydney Campus of West Australia’s University of Notre Dame, is an example of poor policy that will do little to ease the shortage of nurses currently facing the country, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said on Monday.
“It is ironic that the day after the Prime Minister announced his support for Notre Dame, the governing council of Sydney University will meet to debate the Vice Chancellor’s plan to shed its Faculty of Nursing,” said Paul Reser, NTEU Acting President.
“If the Government was really serious about helping to ease the shortage of trained nurses, it would be better off spending its time trying to convince Sydney University management to retain and expand its undergraduate nursing program, particularly since they already have the necessary staff and infrastructure.”
“It is the Union’s understanding that the Western Australian campus of the University of Notre Dame is still meeting the challenge of establishing a medical faculty, let alone has any demonstrated capacity to set up medical or nursing faculties at a new Sydney campus.”
“Meanwhile, down the road, the governing council of Sydney University will today vote on plans to shed its Faculty of Nursing, a move that could compound the shortage of trained nurses nationally and see the end of one of the only Indigenous nursing degrees servicing eastern Australia,” said Reser. “Seen in this light, the Government’s announcement of aid for Notre Dame simply does not make sense.”
“The Union is also concerned with the policy implications of increasing public subsidies to private providers in the absence of clear, rigorous and consistent quality control and accreditation procedures.”
“These should include minimum standards that must be met to qualify for public subsidies, including non-discriminatory admissions policy and educational processes, full public accountability and transparent governance structures, and a commitment to free and open inquiry.”
“It will be years before the Notre Dame Sydney campus produces its first trained nurse or doctor, but we have good quality public universities that can meet community needs now,” said Reser. “Why isn’t the Government supporting these institutions?”
DETAILS OF TODAY’S RALLY AT SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
Sydney University students and staff will rally today outside the Sydney University Senate Meeting, Main Quad, Sydney University main campus, at 4.30pm. For more information about the rally contact NTEU University of Sydney Branch: 02 9351 2827.
For comment
Paul Reser, Acting NTEU President
Michael Thomson, President, NTEU University of Sydney Branch