SI Rockingham Peel Campus – August 2011

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SI Rockingham Secretary, Anne Allen pictured with Dr. Heather Guylas, Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Murdoch University Peel Campus.

Dr. Heather Guylas was guest speaker at the July dinner meeting of SI Rockingham held at the Ocean Clipper Inn, Rockingham. Heather has been nursing for 40 years with 30 years experience in Critical Care. She was Nursing Manager at Rockingham General Hospital when offered an opportunity to teach at Notre Dame University but has now moved to the Murdoch University. Heather told the meeting how wonderful it was to put back into the profession that she loved some of what had been given to her over the years. She considered herself to be lucky to join the School of Nursing at Peel Campus.

Heather explained that nursing has changed in 40 years from “hands on” to a science based form. The parameters are quite strong and the curriculum must be followed. Present research shows that more RN’s are available for less facilities. The Peel programme has a very strong emphasis on clinical and hospital experience. Students also have the opportunity for overseas nursing practical experience, an area which SI Rockingham hopes to be able to participate with fundraising. For the future, Peel is looking at Aged Care, Child Health and Pre-Natal care. The School of Nursing Peel Campus is located in Mandurah and shares the unique and beautiful surroundings which create a lovely family atmosphere with Mandurah Senior High School and the Challenger Institute.

The School of Nursing, Peel Campus commenced in 2004 with 31 students which has now grown to accommodate 431 students from the areas surrounding Mandurah and Rockingham. Very few students from North of River. A big proportion of the students are mature age students and they obtain entry through Challenger (TAFE). At present there are 36 International students, down from 90 in 2009 which has been attributed to the Global Financial Crisis, also the registration process is now more difficult.

There are a number of different programmes being run at the School of Nursing and the entry levels are drawn from the following criteria – School Leavers, Mature Age Students, Challenger students, Year 11.12 (MSHS/TAFE) Murdoch, and EN Pathway (Peel).

Many thanks to Heather for her very informative presentation.