http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1835-1330
![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
Background: Achieving increased participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia’s health workforce, particularly nursing, is federal government policy imperative. However, the uptake of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students into nursing has stalled and their attrition from tertiary nursing courses is considerably higher than for other students. Aim: To alert the profession to issues impacting enrolled nursing education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Design: Discussion paper. Results: Studies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students mainly focus on tertiary education for registered nurses whereas vocational education and training (VET) for enrolled nurses is usually overlooked. It is generally assumed that the issues influencing the recruitment, attrition, and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in higher education universities and other institutions similarly impact enrolled nursing students in the VET sector. Conclusion: Research that contributes robust evidence-based knowledge specifically on strategies addressing issues in enrolled nursing education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their employment uptake is required.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Ms Margaret Quartermaine, Chief Executive Officer, Marr Mooditj Training, for her pre-submission insights and guidance.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Ethics approval
Western Australian Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee Reference No. 637.
Edith Cowan University Human Research Ethics Committee Project No. 1227.
ORCID
Judith Dianne Pugh http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1835-1330
Susan Slatyer http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2345-2862
Diane E. Twigg http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4694-4555