25 August 2025

Student nurse initiative expands to benefit rural aged care

Lutheran Services is expanding its successful initiative that is helping fast-track third-year nursing students into careers at its regional aged care sites in Queensland.

The clinical placement program was pioneered in collaboration with Lutheran Services and the University of Sunshine Coast (UniSC) to provide Bachelor of Nursing students with final placement support in the aged care sector.

Lutheran Services Regional Manager, Stephanie Wilson, said the two-month intensive program was launched three years ago as a pilot to prepare graduating students for work as registered nurses (RNs) and to grow the aged care workforce.

“We are excited to introduce the first two participants in the Transition to Practice Program to Orana Aged Care in Kingaroy and expand our current program operating at four other Lutheran Services sites,’’ Mrs Wilson said.

The program was launched at Lutheran Services’ Cooinda site in Gympie in 2022 before expanding to Immanuel Gardens on the Sunshine Coast, St Paul’s in Caboolture and Zion in Nundah. 

“So far 63 graduates have completed their final placement with Lutheran Services and more than half have been employed as RNs at our aged care sites since our partnership with UniSC,’’ she said.

“Our first placements for 2025 begin this month (June) and will be the largest cohort to date with 28 participants across five of our 11 aged care sites. This year we expect to have completed more than 90 total placements since 2022.    

“Students are mentored by our team of highly skilled geriatric nurses and UniSC clinical facilitators and receive skills in dementia, fall prevention, end-of-life care and more to support residents with complex needs.

“Upon completion of the program, the graduates will be ready for their registration as RNs and to join the workforce.’’

Nurse Rahul Taneja moved to Gympie to join the graduate program at Cooinda Aged Care after completing his degree at UniSC in August 2024.  

“I had been working in hospitality until Covid lockdowns made me consider other career paths and nursing interested me,’’ Mr Taneja said.

“Everyone at Cooinda was very supportive of me as a new graduate. I felt I could ask any questions of the team and my managers. I had wonderful mentors.

“Joining the program was the best decision I could have made because I received more hands-on experience in aged care in a short time than other nursing students.

“After I completed my placement and received my registration, I was offered a fulltime role at Cooinda.’’   

The 28-year-old is keen to explore further opportunities in clinical nursing in aged care.

“I am interested in exploring palliative care and have already enrolled to be part of a pilot study through Lutheran Services,’’ he said.

“I really enjoy my interactions with residents and was surprised recently when a couple of residents with memory decline commented that they had seen my photo in the Cooinda newsletter. I was touched they would remember me.’’

Mrs Wilson said she looked forward to continuing the strong partnership with UniSC and overseeing the potential expansion of the program to more Lutheran Services’ sites across the state.

“Lutheran Services is always exploring innovative ways to enhance its efforts to attract and retain staff. The goal is to have a workforce of highly skilled nurses in the sector who care and understand the needs of older Australians,’’ she said.

“Aged care was once seen as being a place where RNs went to retire but this has changed. The sector is now recognised for providing quality career paths with opportunities for complex chronic disease management and supporting mental health issues with a holistic approach.

“Our graduates have told us they feel genuinely supported and embedded in Lutheran Services’ Model of Care and Service, that they then take on their own nursing journey.’’

Lutheran Services is celebrating its 90^th year of delivering aged care service in Queensland and is a respected community service provider. For more information, call 1800 960 433.