A new generation of frontline nurses from TAFE NSW Kingscliff is ready to boost the Northern Rivers’ health workforce. This follows their recent graduation with a Diploma of Nursing. The graduates completed intensive training and hands-on clinical placements at Tweed Valley Hospital and the cutting-edge Learning, Development and Research (LDR) Building. They gained vital experience across diverse healthcare settings.
Boosting the Regional Health Workforce
TAFE NSW Diploma Nursing Graduates
The graduation comes at a crucial time. Australia is projected to face a shortfall of more than 70,000 nurses by 2035. The program’s 18-month structure combines over 400 hours of clinical placement with classroom and simulation-based learning. This equips students with the skills and confidence to deliver high-quality patient care.
TAFE NSW Head Teacher of Allied Health and Nursing, Danita Wetterling, said the training model ensures graduates are ready to step directly into the workforce.
“Access to the Learning, Development and Research Hub at Tweed Valley Hospital strengthens TAFE NSW’s ability to prepare students for roles in local industry,” Ms Wetterling said. “Our practical, hands-on training at Kingscliff means graduates are job-ready from day one. They can stay in the region to build their careers.”
Learning in World-Class Facilities
The LDR Building, located on the Tweed Valley Hospital campus, provides students with a world-class education environment. It features immersive simulation labs, skills rooms, research spaces, and collaborative learning hubs. The facility is part of the Northern NSW Academic Health Alliance. This alliance is a partnership between TAFE NSW, Griffith University, Southern Cross University, Bond University, and the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD).
This collaboration ensures an integrated clinical education model that links vocational and higher education with real-world hospital practice — a critical step in addressing local workforce demand.
From Classroom to Career
For 23-year-old graduate Carter Smith, clinical placements were key to building confidence.
“Most of our placements were right across the road at Tweed Valley Hospital,” he said. “Everything we learned in the simulation labs clicked into place. Our class was tight, and the teachers were always there to support us — we never felt alone.”
Many graduates have already secured enrolled nurse positions at Tweed Valley Hospital and with local home-care providers, directly contributing to regional health capacity.
Investing in Local Talent
Local training pathways like the TAFE NSW Kingscliff nursing program are essential to meeting workforce demand across Northern NSW. Population growth and expanded hospital services are driving record health employment needs. As Tweed Valley Hospital, the largest regional health investment in NSW history, continues to expand, locally trained nurses will be crucial. They will ensure communities receive the care they deserve.
