As the first cohort of nursing/midwifery students under the Victorian Government’s “Making It Free to Study Nursing and Midwifery” initiative complete their degrees this year, approximately 2000 are facing 2026 without a graduate position, a steep increase from the 350 students in the same situation last year.

Graduate programs are supported by the Victorian Government, and provide new nurses with support and training as they transition to working life. 

The public sector’s capacity for fresh recruits has not kept pace with the influx of nursing graduates following the Victorian Government’s 2022 announcement of free nursing and midwifery courses, resulting in the approximately 580 per cent increase in unplaced students.

These students’ scholarships are partially predicated upon working in the public health system post-graduation. Subsequently, those who have not secured graduate positions in public hospitals are facing the prospect of unexpected HECS debt. 

Speaking to The Age, Professor Beth Jacob says that the cost-of-living crisis means current nurses are working more, decreasing the anticipated demand for new workers. 

Daniel Andrews’ Government launched its “Making It Free” initiative to incentivise growth in the state’s healthcare sector. The announcement followed projections of nursing shortages alongside the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact upon the industry.

The program guaranteed over 10,000 domestic students commencing nursing/midwifery degrees in 2023 and 2024 a course-covering scholarship valued up to $16,500.

While students receiving the scholarship are given $9,000 during their study, the final $7,500 is dependent upon the student subsequently spending two years working in the Victorian public health system. 

“If you’re in Year 12 and you’ve been thinking about studying nursing or midwifery–go for it. We’ve got your HECS fees covered,” said Andrews in 2022. 

However, as Edith, a final year nursing student who has been offered a graduate position, highlights, “the course is only free if you are able to work in a public hospital for two years after you graduate. Lots of good candidates missed out so they will have HECS they weren’t expecting while also being unemployed.”

One of the initiative’s aims was to “reduce financial obstacles associated with undertaking entry-to-practice nursing and/or midwifery studies.”

While graduate positions are not necessary for successful nursing/midwifery careers, they are highly recommended.

“If you want to work in a hospital or acute care setting, graduate programs are by far the quickest and most supported way to do that,” says Edith.

Alternatives to graduate programs include working in aged care, community health and private hospitals. 

Edith expresses disappointment in the development. 

Acknowledging that these other graduate pathways are “important necessary work”, she emphasises that “the main issue is that bachelor courses prepare you to go into a graduate program and don’t tell you about the other options.”