Short courses are a great way for nursing students in Australia to build confidence and learn job-ready skills before starting clinical placements or applying for hospital jobs. While a Bachelor of Nursing gives you the main foundation, short courses help you understand real hospital procedures, safety rules, and practical skills that employers expect.
Many students especially international students take short courses to improve their resumes and increase their chances of getting Graduate Nurse Program (GNP) placements. Australian institutes like St John Ambulance, Australian Red Cross, TAFE, and Australian College of Nursing (ACN) offer professional, nationally recognised short courses suitable for beginners.
Why Nursing Students Should Take Short Courses
Short courses are extremely useful because they allow you to gain extra skills that are not always covered in detail during university studies. These courses help you practise real clinical tasks before entering hospitals, which reduces nervousness and builds confidence.
Another important benefit is that many healthcare employers in Australia prefer students who already have some basic certificates. For example, aged-care centres often require First Aid, CPR, and Manual Handling certificates before hiring students for part-time support roles. This means short courses can help you find jobs faster and stand out among other applicants.
1. First Aid & CPR Training (HLTAID011 / HLTAID009)
First Aid and CPR are the most recommended nursing short courses in Australia for students, and almost every healthcare workplace prefers these certificates. CPR teaches you how to respond to emergencies, while First Aid prepares you to handle common injuries, breathing issues, and safety risks.
This course is especially useful before your first clinical placement because hospitals expect you to understand basic emergency responses. Institutions like St John Ambulance, Red Cross, and TAFE NSW offer nationally accredited versions of this training.
What you learn:
- Basic life support
- CPR for adults and children
- How to respond in emergencies
- Safety procedures
Duration: 1 day
Cost: $70–$150
2. Manual Handling / Patient Handling Course
Manual handling teaches nursing students how to safely lift, support, and move patients. This is one of the most important skills in healthcare because many nurses experience back injuries due to incorrect lifting techniques.
This course is often required if you want to work as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) or Personal Care Assistant (PCA) while you study. Aged-care centres and disability support providers strongly prefer applicants who already have this certificate. Institutes like Health Careers Institute Australia and Training Unlimited offer manual handling workshops specially designed for nursing students.
Why it’s useful:
- Required in aged care and disability support
- Useful for clinical placements
- Helps prevent back and shoulder injuries
- Often required for hospital jobs
Duration: 2–4 hours
Cost: $60–$120
3. Infection Prevention & Control (HLTINF001)
Infection control is one of the most essential topics in healthcare, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. This course teaches you how infections spread, how to use PPE correctly, and how to maintain a safe environment for patients and staff.
This short course helps nursing students prepare for placement, where strict hygiene rules must be followed. Employers often ask for this certificate when hiring students for casual roles in aged care and disability support. Organisations like TAFE Queensland, ACN, and Bendigo TAFE provide high-quality infection control training.
What you learn:
- How infections spread
- Proper hand hygiene
- PPE usage
- Cleaning and sterilization procedures
Duration: 1 day or online
Cost: $40–$150
4. Medication Administration Workshop
Medication administration is one of the most important responsibilities of a nurse. Although universities teach medication theory, short workshops help you practise real procedures, dosage calculations, and medication safety checks.
These workshops build confidence for clinical placements, especially when working in medical, surgical, or aged-care wards. Some providers, such as Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and Health Careers International, offer medication safety courses suitable for students.
What you learn:
- 5 Rights of medication
- Safe handling of drugs
- IV, oral, topical medication basics
- Clinical calculations
Duration: 1 day
Cost: $100–$200
5. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Mental Health First Aid is one of the most valuable short courses for nursing students. It teaches you how to support someone experiencing anxiety, depression, panic attacks, trauma, or other mental health concerns.
This course is nationally recognised across Australia and taught by organisations like Mental Health First Aid Australia, universities, and community centres. Many hospitals appreciate applicants who have MHFA training because mental health knowledge is useful in emergency, community, and general wards.
What you learn:
- Recognizing mental health symptoms
- How to respond safely
- Crisis communication
- Supporting someone until professional help arrives
Duration: 2 days
Cost: $150–$300
6. Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare
Basic Life Support (BLS) is more advanced than CPR and is commonly required in hospitals. This course covers real hospital procedures such as bag-valve-mask ventilation, oxygen use, and proper cardiac response techniques.
BLS is highly recommended for nursing students who want to work in emergency departments, ICUs, or high-dependency units. Providers like St John Ambulance, RTO Medical Training, and ACN offer BLS courses designed for healthcare workers.
What you learn:
- Bag-valve-mask (BVM) ventilation
- Choking and airway management
- Use of AED
- Basic emergency response
Duration: 3–5 hours
Cost: $80–$180
7. Wound Care & Dressing Skills Course
Wound care is a major part of nursing work, especially in aged care, surgical wards, and community health. This course teaches you how to assess wounds, apply dressings, prevent infections, and understand healing stages.
These workshops help students perform better during clinical rotations where wound management is common. Institutes such as Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and HealthStaff Training Australia offer practical wound-care courses.
What you learn:
- Types of wounds
- Dressing techniques
- Pressure injury care
- Healing processes
Duration: 1 day
Cost: $120–$250
8. IV Cannulation & Venipuncture Course
Although most nursing students cannot perform cannulation during university, learning the basics through a short course can give you a strong advantage. These courses teach vein identification, IV insertion techniques, and blood collection procedures.
This course is ideal for students aiming to work in emergency, surgical, or ICU departments in the future. Providers like Healthed, Australian Medical Association (AMA), and TrainSmart Australia offer venipuncture and IV training.
What you learn:
- Blood collection techniques
- IV insertion basics
- Vein selection
- Safety procedures
Duration: 1–2 days
Cost: $250–$450
Which Short Course Should You Choose? (Easy Guide)
Choosing the right course depends on your goals. If you want to prepare for your first clinical placement, start with CPR, First Aid, and Infection Control. If you’re aiming for hospital work later, BLS and Wound Care are very helpful.
For students who want part-time jobs during studies, Manual Handling and First Aid are often required. And if you’re interested in mental health nursing, MHFA is an excellent choice.
Many students take 3–4 short courses before graduating to boost their confidence and improve their job opportunities.
FAQs: Nursing Short Courses Australia for Students
1. Are short courses required for nursing students?
Not required, but strongly recommended to improve your skills and job chances.
2. Can international students take these courses?
Yes, all short courses are open to international students studying in Australia.
3. Do hospitals recognise these certificates?
Yes, especially CPR, BLS, Infection Control, and Manual Handling.
4. Are short courses expensive?
Most cost between $50–$200, depending on the course and institute.
5. Will these courses help with clinical placements?
Absolutely — they help you feel more confident and prepared.
Conclusion
Short courses are one of the best ways for nursing students in Australia to gain real clinical experience, improve practical skills, and prepare for future jobs. Whether you’re looking for courses that help with employment, placements, or advanced hospital training, there are many excellent options available for beginners.
Investing in the right short courses early in your degree will help you stand out and feel more confident during your journey to becoming a registered nurse.
Disclaimer: “I researched this information on the internet; please use it as a guide and also reach out to a professional for assistance and advice.This information is not medical advice, so seek your medical professional’s assistance.”
