A joint initiative between a State Development officer, the Friendlies Private Hospital in Bundaberg and CQUniversity is helping overseas nurses complete the practical experience needed for registration, to fill nurse vacancies at the hospital...

The initiative started early in November 2008 when Owen Arriola, a Registered Nurse from the Philippines, joined the staff at the Friendlies Hospital for 160 hours ( 4 weeks) of supervised practical training.

L-R Claire Quaglia (Friendlies), Frank Smith (Qld Gov TradeSmart), Owen Arriola (the assessed nurse), Jenny Anastasi (CQUniversity), Alan Cooper (Director of Nursing for Friendlies)

Owen's transition into the Bundaberg community was assisted by Frank Smith from the State Development Office, who used his extensive knowledge and connections within the Bundaberg Filipino community to make the transition to Australian culture as seamless as possible.

The hospital paired Owen on the wards with another Filipino staff member who had previously gone through the Competency Assessment Program and is now a Registered Nurse.

CQUniversity's competence assessment team worked with the hospital to ensure that Owen's training met the exacting standards required by the Queensland Nursing Council and the Hospital, eventually leading to Owen demonstrating the competencies required for registration in the State.

Owen proved to be an excellent nurse and has been offered a nursing position at the Friendlies Hospital which he will take up in April of this year.

The program has been so successful that the hospital has agreed to take 12 students on supervised practical placements over the next year.