3 years Full time & 1 year Part time
Responding to a shortage of paediatric nurses and growing opportunities in Australia and overseas, Griffith has designed this unique combined degree to provide advanced knowledge and specialist skills in paediatric nursing. The program involves studies both on- and off-campus and clinical experience in a variety of nursing practice situations. This is Australia’s first Commonwealth-supported pathway to paediatric nursing and includes a guaranteed placement opportunity with potential for fixed-term employment. Students will graduate with two qualifications: Bachelor of Nursing (three years full-time at the Brisbane South – Nathan campus) and the Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nursing (one year part-time, online). Together, these qualifications provide a sound theoretical and practical background in nursing for children. Graduates may be eligible to apply for the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (5721) with a paediatric nursing specialisation. For more course information, visit Bachelor of Nursing/Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nursing at GU.
Griffith University
Students can take the Bachelor of Nursing part-time but attendance at day classes is generally required. Part-time students must be available full-time for professional placements. The Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nursing is part-time and online only. Students can spread their graduate certificate studies across three trimesters.
This is an indicative only amount for first year fees. For further information refer to griffith.edu.au/fees-charges
Important offer advice: Should you receive an offer into this program you will be required to enrol into classes* within a short timeframe. This information will be included in your Starting@Griffith email and expressed in the number of days from the day of issue of your email and is in line with the offer response date in your QTAC offer email. Please note that the number of days can vary depending on when the offer was made. This requirement applies irrespective of whether you accepted conditionally or unconditionally. If you do not enrol* into at least one class for your program by 5pm on the response day your offer will lapse. Lapsed offers are not automatically reinstated and reinstatement is subject to available places.*Enrolling into classes means that you are advising when you are attending class/es. Enrolment must be submitted.
Students must undertake placements for the Bachelor of Nursing. A health check, including immunisation status, a Working with Children check and Australian Federal Police check are required. Applicants must complete a nationally accredited first aid certificate with CPR (at their own expense) by the end of the first trimester. Students must meet all professional practice requirements. For more information, visit Health Placement Support Hub.
Applicants must meet the minimum age requirements for admission, see the QTAC website for details.; No prior study
New applications lodged after 8 December 2025 may not be assessed in time for the January offer round. Applications for this program close 29 December 2025, so applicants may add this program to their preferences until this date, however no guarantee is given that applications will be assessed in time for the January offer round. After 29 December 2025, no new applicants can apply, but existing applicants can reorder this preference. Late offers after the January offer round will only be made if places remain in the program.
This admission pathway is not available to applicants who hold an AQF Diploma of Nursing and unconditional registration (without restrictions) as an Enrolled Nurse (Division 2), General with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra)/Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) or a Diploma of Health Care from Griffith College. These applicants must apply for the Bachelor of Nursing/Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nursing (Advanced Standing).
Internationally Qualified Nurses (IQNs) will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. These applicants must demonstrate recency of practice (within a period of five years) and have unconditional registration where they are working as a Registered Nurse. Note: We follow NMBA guidelines regarding recency of practice. Applicants must have a minimum of 450 hours accumulated over the past five years. The hours do not need to be continuous.
English Language Proficiency Requirements: To enrol in this program, you must have attended and satisfactorily completed at least 6 years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English. At least two years of this education must have been between grades 7 and 12. This education must have been completed in one of the following countries; Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, United States of America. If you have not met these educational requirements, you are required to provide evidence of an acceptable English Language test. For more information, visit the QTAC website.
English, English as an Additional Language, Literature or English & Literature Extension (Units 3 and 4, C).
For more information about the ATAR/Selection Rank profile, please visit ATAR/Selection Rank profile explained.
ATAR/Selection Rank excluding adjustment factors
92.75
ATAR/Selection Rank including adjustment factors
99.95
ATAR/Selection Rank excluding adjustment factors
85.80
ATAR/Selection Rank including adjustment factors
92.80
ATAR/Selection Rank excluding adjustment factors
77.50
ATAR/Selection Rank including adjustment factors
84.30
Excluding: The lowest ATAR/Selection Rank to which an offer was made, excluding adjustment factors.
Including: The lowest ATAR/Selection Rank to which an offer was made including any adjustment factors that may have been applied.
For more information about the Student profile, please visit Student profile explained.
Number of students
N/P#
Percentage of all students
N/P#
Number of students
<5*
Percentage of all students
<5*
Number of students
<5*
Percentage of all students
<5*
Number of students
16
Percentage of all students
50.0%
Number of students
0
Percentage of all students
0.0%
Number of students
9
Percentage of all students
28.1%
Number of students
0
Percentage of all students
0.0%
Number of students
32
Percentage of all students
100%
* “<5" – the number of students is less than 5
# N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students
Following registration, as a paediatric nurse, you may find opportunities in hospitals, in the community, and in urban, rural and remote settings. You will have clinical specialist skills and will be able to expect increased professional recognition, mobility.