{"id":956,"date":"2025-09-23T09:26:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T23:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ruralhealth.org.au\/partyline\/?p=956"},"modified":"2025-09-23T09:34:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T23:34:28","slug":"staying-local-saving-lives-how-the-south-west-is-growing-its-own-nurses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ruralhealth.org.au\/partyline\/staying-local-saving-lives-how-the-south-west-is-growing-its-own-nurses\/","title":{"rendered":"Staying local, saving lives: How the South West is growing its own nurses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Who has time to travel eight hours one way for a mandatory class, stay almost a week, and then return home to juggle work, family, and everyday life? For many aspiring nurses in South West Queensland, that used to be the reality. But now, thanks to a nursing program delivered in Charleville, students can study and training close to home\u2013without leaving their communities behind.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2022, a locally run initiative in Charleville has been making nursing education more accessible than ever. Developed through the local partnership including University of Southern Queensland, Southern Queensland Rural Health, South West Hospital Health Service and the Charleville State High School, the approach brings university-level training right to the heart of the bush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students can complete their theory online and then come together in Charleville for practical training in purpose\u2013built simulation rooms. It\u2019s an approach that\u2019s helping students stay close to home while building the skills they need to care for their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the program began, more than 40 locals have taken up the opportunity to study nursing through the Charleville node. By the end of 2025, it\u2019s expected that at least 15 new registered nurses will have joined the local workforce\u2013trained in and for the communities they call home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students have come from all over the South West: Roma, Thargomindah, Cunnamulla, Quilpie, Mitchell, Morven, Surat, and of course, Charleville itself. And they\u2019re not all fresh out of school. The cohort includes people of all stages of life\u2013from recent graduates to those nearing 60-each bringing their own life experience and passion for rural health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some students, the program has made it possible to balance rural life with a career in healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018I love working on my parent\u2019s farm\u2013It\u2019s where I grew up and where I feel grounded. But nursing has always been my passion. This program means I don\u2019t have to choose between the two. I can stay connected to the land and still follow my dream of becoming a nurse\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One former student, now working as a registered nurse in the region, reflected on the impact the program had on her journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBefore this opportunity came to Charleville, I didn\u2019t think nursing was something I could realistically pursue,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing able to study close to home made all the difference \u2013it meant I could follow my dream without having to uproot my life\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her story is one of many that show how locally delivered education can open doors for people who might otherwise be left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessica Elliott, a lecturer with the University of Southern Queensland, is the person who brings this education to the bush. She works closely with students in Charleville and surrounding areas, helping them stay connected to their studies and their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a university, we know that if we want more nurses in rural areas, we need to help local people become nurses,\u201d she says. \u201cThey already know the community, the challenges, and the lifestyle\u2013and they\u2019re more likely to stay long-term\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporting locals to train and work in their own towns is one of the best ways to build a strong and lastly health workforce in the bush. It\u2019s all about keeping locals local!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ripple effect of this program goes beyond individual careers. Families stay together, communities retain skilled workers, and local health services benefit from nurses who understand the people they care for. It\u2019s a reminder that rural education isn\u2019t just about access\u2013It\u2019s about belonging.<\/p>\n

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