Foundations of Nursing

Health, Safety and Infection Control

Working in the Nursing Environment

Culture, Communication and Research

Complex Nursing Care

Mental Health and Palliative Care

Administer Medicines

First Aid

Units of Competency

You must be deemed competent in all units to be awarded the HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing qualification.

Foundations of Nursing

HLTAAP002 – Confirm physical health status (Core)

HLTAAP003 – Analyse and respond to client health information (Core)

HLTENN036 – Apply communication skills in nursing practice (Core)

HLTENN037 – Perform clinical assessment and contribute to planning nursing care (Core)

HLTENN038 – Implement, monitor and evaluate nursing care (Core)

HLTENN045 – Implement and monitor care of the older person (Core)

Health, Safety and Infection Control 

HLTINF006 – Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control (Core)

HLTWHS002 – Follow safe work practices for direct client care (Core)

HLTWHS006 – Manage personal stressors in the work environment (Elective)

Mental health and Palliative Care 

HLTENN068 – Provide end of life care and a palliative approach in nursing practice (Core)

HLTENN042 – Implement and monitor care for a person with mental health conditions (Core)

First Aid

HLTAID011 – Provide first aid (Elective)

Working in a Nursing Environment

CHCPRP003 – Reflect on and improve own professional practice (Core)

HLTENN035 – Practise nursing within the Australian health care system (Core)

HLTENN041 – Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice (Core)

BSBPEF402 – Develop personal work priorities (Elective)

Administer Medications 

HLTENN040 – Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy (Core)

Complex Nursing Care

HLTENN039 – Apply principles of wound management (Core)

HLTENN057 – Contribute to the nursing care of a person with diabetes (Elective)

HLTENN043 – Implement and monitor care for a person with acute health conditions (Core)

HLTENN044 – Implement and monitor care for a person with chronic health conditions (Core)

Culture, Communication and Research 

CHCDIV001 – Work with diverse people (Core)

CHCDIV002 – Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety (Core)

HLTENN047 – Apply nursing practice in the primary health care setting (Core)

CHCPOL003 – Research and apply evidence to practice (Elective)

VFA Learning assesses applicants to determine their suitability and ensure that this is the most appropriate training program to suit their existing knowledge, skills and experience – as well as their career goals and individual support needs.

We determine suitability through both a pre-training review and an interview process with the Head of Nursing and Health, which includes reviewing:

• Language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) through an LLN assessment using the ACER Assessment Tool –students must demonstrate competence at or above Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) Exit Level 3
• Learner needs and capabilities
• Prior vocational learning experiences
• Course commitment
• Course appropriateness
• Course and industry information

Where English is not the primary language, students must meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) English language skills registration standards. They will be required to provide a formal English language Skills (ELS) test result demonstrating they have achieved the NMBA specified level of English language skills before commencing the Enrolled Nursing program. Please review the Student Fact Sheet under ‘Entry Requirements’ on our website for more information on the approved tests that can be undertaken and the required scores for each test.

The Student Fact Sheet details the minimum English Language Skills Registration standards for entry into the HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing.

Students who have undertaken an approved ELS test and meet the program entry criteria will only be required to undertake the numeracy component and display competence at Exit level 3 of the LLN Assessment, as per the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Standardised Student Induction Protocol (SSIP).

All students accepted into this program will be required to undergo the following before professional placement:

• Police check or WWCC*
• Working with Children Check
• NDIS Worker Screening Check
• Immunisation requirements as outlined in the SSIP
• Before placement, students must also have student registration with AHPRA (facilitated by VFA Learning). Refer to the Fact Sheet for Education Providers for more information.

* Interested candidates must inform VFA if they have any reportable outcomes on a police check. VFA Learning will then confirm with placement facilities that the candidate remains eligible.

Due to requirements of placement providers, students must be at least 17, turning 18 prior to the first placement, while studying to be enrolled in the course.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We also encourage applications from students with diverse academic, work and life experiences.

For further information, view our student entry procedure.

Students are encouraged to speak with their GP about the following clinical placement immunisation requirements and will be required to supply evidence of immunisation:

• Measles/Mumps/Rubella (2 documented doses)
• Hepatitis B (confirmation of serology)
• Tuberculosis (interferon-gamma release assay no more than 3 months before course commencement)
• Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (within the past 10 years)
• Influenza (within the past 12 months)
• Varicella (medically verified evidence or two vaccinations)
• COVID-19

Before the commencement of the course, students must start the immunisation paperwork provided to them by VFA.

This course contains Professional Placements, totalling 11 weeks (400 mandatory hours) These placements are undertaken in a range of clinical settings: Aged Care, Sub-Acute, Acute, Primary Health and Mental Health. 

1. 2 weeks in an Aged Care Facility (80hrs)

2. 5 weeks in a Hospital/Tertiary facility (Primary Health/ Acute/ Sub-Acute) (200hrs)

3. 2 weeks in a Hospital/Tertiary Facility (Mental Health) (80hrs)

VFA Learning will manage your professional placement with local industry partners and ensure that the required learning experiences are available. This is further supported by regular workplace visits by an appropriately qualified Nursing Trainer and Assessor.

Prior to placement, students must also have student registration with AHPRA (this will be facilitated by VFA Learning).

A police check or WWCC that has reportable outcomes or if required immunisations have not been obtained, may preclude a student from being accepted for student placement, and therefore prevent them from completing the full requirements of the HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing. 

We understand that many of our students need to work while learning, so we have developed a blended option for this course. It includes online theory components and completion of all practical observations in a simulated work environment or placement as required by the qualification.

Our modified Flipped Learning approach encompasses the following:

• Face-to-face/classroom-based
• Practical clinical laboratory sessions
• ProfessionalpPlacement
• Self-directed learning and online assessments/research

Potential students are encouraged to speak with one of our highly experienced Course Consultants to discuss options that suit your learning needs.

The course is delivered over 65 weeks (18 months). A standard weekly timetable is as follows:

• 2 days of face-to-face training and assessment (9 am – 4 pm) – broken into 1 day in the classroom plus half a day in the simulation lab and half a day tutorial with your Trainer. Which allows you time to investigate topics further and discuss areas you may need additional help with. It also provides time to complete assessments and undertake catch-up lab sessions.
• 1 day of structured self-paced training and assessment.

There are two options available to students, and the costs are:

• Fee For service – $29,870
• Skills First Government Subsidised – $18,540
• Materials Fee – $1,456
• Student Levy – $100

This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding.

For more information, refer to our fee schedule for all approved courses and census dates.

This training will be delivered by Victorian Fitness Academy T/A VFA Learning RTO 22360. This training may be delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government Funding to eligible individuals. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Access to VET Student loans will not be approved for students who do not meet eligibility requirements, and a VET Student loan gives rise to a VETSL debt that continues to be a debt due to the Commonwealth. The maximum Tuition Fee for this course for Non-Subsidised Students is $29,870. The maximum amount covered under this course’s Vet Student loan program is $18,540.

Fee-for Service: Deposit (maximum $1,000) and Direct Debit payment of balance (paid through Debit Success)

Where eligible: VIC government subsidy and VET Student Loans

Where eligible: VET Student Loans and direct debit payment of balance (paid through Debit Success)

This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding

This training will be delivered by Victorian Fitness Academy Pty Ltd TA VFA Learning RTO #22360. Access to VET Student Loans will not be approved for students who do not meet eligibility requirements, and a VET Student Loan gives rise to a VETSL debt that continues to be a debt due to the Commonwealth. The maximum Tuition Fee for this course is $29,000.

We assess our students in this course using the following methods:

• Written Questions
• Case studies
• Assignment
• Project
• Report
• Logbook
• Lab
• Role Plays
• Reflective Journal
• Placement Tasks
• Oral Questioning Third Party Reports
• Quizzes 

The HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing is a pathway to the tertiary education degree, the Bachelor of Nursing.

RPL is a process that assesses your competency—acquired through formal and informal learning—to determine if you meet the requirements for a unit of study. Students with previous skills, knowledge or experience are entitled to apply for RPL for a full qualification or individual units of competency.

Students will be required to produce evidence and undertake assessment as part of the RPL process.

If you have previously completed a unit/s of competency and can provide valid evidence of AQF certification (issued by an RTO), you are eligible to apply for a Credit Transfer and would not be required to undertake further study for the unit.

You can learn more about RPL and Credit Transfer processes at: www.vfalearning.vic.edu.au

Only students who successfully complete all required units of competency will be issued with an AQF certificate III qualification. Students who complete one or more units, but do not complete the whole qualification will be issued with a statement of attainment for the completed units only.

It is mandatory for all students undertaking Nationally Recognised Training in Australia to have a USI.

Students will need their USI to apply to enrol for training.

Visit www.usi.gov.au  for more information.