Supported Transition to Practice Program

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This short course: Supported Transition to Practice Program will provide nurses with professional development learning activities and resources which aim to mitigate transition shock and build the nursing workforce's capacity to provide high-quality clinical care to support the health and well-being of Australian communities.

What do I get

• Access to over 50+ hours of learning and resources specifically for nurses new to primary health care
• Access to experienced nurse mentors via small group learning and education sessions to assist with translating theory into practice
• Self-assessments to rank and benchmark your knowledge, skills and confidence and identify learning goals to assist in the development of a professional development action plan for the program
• Nurse support inclusive of access to a community of practice with other program nurses to share knowledge, experiences and ideas
• Certificate of completion at program end

Duration and average hours required  

• 8 months
• Recommend 1 day per month during work hours of dedicated CPD hours and/or
• 1 hour per week

How to access fully-funded programs

• Rural Health Workforce Agencies: Nurses working in remote and rural Australia (MMM3+) may be eligible to apply for funding from your local rural health workforce agency. Nurses working in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Services may also be eligible for scholarships through these agencies.

• Primary Health Care Networks (PHNs): Many PHNs fund nurses to participate in TPP in their catchments. The PHNs who have previously or are currently funding places are:
  • Country to Coast PHN (Central QLD, Wide Bay & Sunshine Coast)
  • Capital Health Network (ACT) PHN
  • Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN
  • Gippsland PHN
  • Gold Coast PHN
  • Northern QLD PHN
  • Murray PHN
  • Primary Health Tasmania

Find and contact your PHN for more details.

• Other: Organisations and/or individuals can purchase programs for their nurses on request if they are APNA members.
  • Please get in touch with Rebekah Cox if your organisation wishes to talk with APNA about available Programs. 

Key themes of this course

Translating Theory into Practice: With the understanding that there is a balance between theory and practice, this short course includes resources to assist in navigating the path of putting theory into practice through refection and self-assessment as well as providing professional development in the skills of communication and having difficult conversations.

Exploring key elements of navigating work life and building environments to allow nurses to do their best work within their workplace and community: through understanding the interpersonal conflicts commonly encountered in primary health care nursing, recognising the principles of change management and its importance in primary health care and effectively applying communication and negotiation skills in everyday work life. Appropriate initiation and engagement in challenging conversations with the aim of affecting positive change and pursuing strategies to promote well-being and mental health within challenging environments.

Development and up-skilling of nurses' knowledge, skills and confidence in clinical assessment and management of various acute and/or chronic conditions in accordance with nurses’ individual needs assessments. These may include (but are not limited to), triage, medicines management, asthma, ear cerumen management (ear irrigation) etc.

Opportunities to learn, connect and expand networks with education that provides the latest clinical guidance and information to enhance scope of practice, and discover new ways to provide better patient care. Connect with other nurses from various primary health care settings and feel empowered to be the best nurse you can be and incorporate learnings into practice.

Have questions?

If you have any questions, please email transitiontopractice@apna.asn.au or call us on 1300 303 184.