Australia Launches Digital Health Training Course for Nursing and Midwifery Students
Australia is introducing a new national online course to strengthen digital health capabilities among nursing and midwifery students before they enter clinical placements. Developed by the Australian Digital Health Agency in partnership with La Trobe University, the programme aims to build practical digital skills aligned with national standards. According to the official announcement, the initiative seeks to prepare graduates to work in increasingly technology-enabled healthcare environments from the start of their careers.
The free course, titled Digital Health Foundations for Nursing and Midwifery: Competency Preparation for Placement, forms part of wider efforts to strengthen workforce readiness as healthcare systems integrate digital records, data-driven care, and connected clinical services.
Building digital capability for future healthcare professionals
The programme is designed to provide a structured and nationally consistent approach to digital health literacy for students entering the workforce. It reflects growing recognition that nurses and midwives play a central role in delivering digitally supported healthcare services across hospitals, community care settings, and regional health systems.
“Nurses and midwives are the backbone of Australia’s healthcare sector,” — Amanda Cattermole PSM, CEO, Australian Digital Health Agency
“By embedding digital health into education, we’re building a workforce that can focus more on delivering safe, high‑quality care. It strengthens clinical practice, supports better experiences for consumers, and helps drive the broader shift to a connected, digitally enabled health system.
“This course marks an important step in supporting Australia’s future nurses and midwives with the digital literacy they need.” — Amanda Cattermole PSM, CEO, Australian Digital Health Agency
The initiative complements other national workforce programmes aimed at strengthening digital capability across the healthcare sector, including broader efforts highlighted in Australia’s push to accelerate digital health training.
Course structure aligned with national capability standards
The course was co-designed with clinicians, academics, consumers, and recent graduates to ensure the material reflects real-world healthcare environments. It includes five modules, each lasting approximately 45 minutes, covering essential competencies for modern clinical practice.
- Digital professionalism: Ethical and responsible use of digital technologies in healthcare settings
- Leadership and advocacy: Supporting the adoption of digital health practices within care teams
- Data and information quality: Ensuring accurate and reliable clinical data management
- Information-enabled care: Using digital systems to support clinical decision-making
- Technology in practice: Applying digital tools within day-to-day patient care
The modules align with the National Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework and support the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council standards, which recognise digital capability as essential to safe and effective care.
Preparing students for technology-enabled healthcare environments
Through case studies and practical exercises, students learn how to apply digital health principles during clinical placements. This includes integrating systems such as My Health Record into care delivery, maintaining high standards of data quality, and adapting to evolving digital health technologies.
“Digital health capability is a core component for delivering safe, person‑centred care. By developing these skills, nurses and midwives are empowered and ready to provide the highest standard of care,” — Karen Booth, Chief Clinical Adviser (Nursing), Australian Digital Health Agency
The course also complements existing online learning resources provided by the agency, including training on electronic prescribing, clinical safety, cyber security, and the use of national digital health infrastructure.
Supporting workforce readiness across diverse healthcare settings
La Trobe University played a key role in the development of the programme, ensuring the training addresses both metropolitan and regional healthcare needs. Digital capability is increasingly viewed as fundamental for graduates working across a range of settings, including rural and regional communities.
“At La Trobe University Rural Health School, we view digital capability as fundamental to preparing work‑ready nursing and midwifery graduates, with skills that are relevant across all healthcare settings, including rural and regional communities,” — A/Prof Yangama Jokwiro, Rural Health Sciences, La Trobe University
“This course gives our students practical, nationally aligned skills that support safe, confident practice from their very first placement.” — A/Prof Yangama Jokwiro, Rural Health Sciences, La Trobe University
The initiative aligns with Action 4 of the National Digital Health Capability Action Plan, which aims to ensure Australia’s health workforce is prepared for a connected and digitally enabled health system. Similar education investments across the country, such as programmes developing future-ready digital and technical skills in NSW training facilities, reflect a broader policy focus on strengthening workforce readiness for technology-driven public services.
