A new round of scholarships for La Trobe’s Re-entry to Practice (RN) course is now open for nurses looking to return to the profession after a career break.
But what difference can they make?
A lot, according to Lisa Butler, who is now back working as a nurse after receiving a scholarship last year.
Here, Lisa tells her story:
“I finished my training in 1998, worked for a while, then had a break from nursing for around 13 years after I started my family – although I was still working in healthcare as a phlebotomist.
When COVID hit I reached out to the Department of Health about returning to practice. I saw that there was such a need, I was watching my colleagues go through such a difficult time and the impact that it had on them and the healthcare system and I thought, ‘Well, now's a really good time to return’.
However, it wasn’t financially viable for us, it was just not something that was going to work for our family so I sat on it for a bit. Then the scholarship popped up, and as soon as I saw it, I applied.
For me, it was quite an easy process. My biggest hurdle was trying to get statements of service from previous employees, because you needed that to get your registration back.
But because I've been out for so long, and a couple of the places I had worked at no longer exists either.
The course itself, I absolutely loved it. I loved the flexibility to do it online in my own time, and if I had a quiet period at work, then I could watch some lectures and take some notes.
It was a great reminder of the things we had learned, and that we can still practice even though we might have been out for a few years.
If it hadn’t been for the scholarship, I would still be trying to save to do it. I would definitely encourage people to apply.
I now work at a medical and skin clinic in Heidelberg, which I love. I wish I had done it years ago.”
Find out more about the scholarships, which are offered by the Victorian Department of Health.
