From 2022, all higher education students in Australia will require a Unique Student Identifier (USI).

If you have undertaken VET training since 2015, or have applied for FEE-HELP since January 2021, you may already have a USI.

If not, you will need to apply for one from the  Australian Government website. Applications are processed online and take 5-10 minutes.

Please note:

• For all other terms, the deadline for enrolment into each Term is the Wednesday prior to the date on which the Term commences. Applications received after close of business (5pm AEST/AEDT) on the Wednesday will be processed for the following Term.

ACN is required to set a census date for each course it offers. The census date is 5pm AEST/AEDT on:

• the date students become financially liable for any units of study in which they are enrolled
• the final day students can withdraw from a units of study without financial liability and academic penalty
• the final day ACN is allowed to accept upfront payments for fee paying students.

For more detailed information on semester dates see the appropriate GC course page on this website.

How to pay

Payment details can be submitted on a Course Application Form via Visa and MasterCard or by sending a cheque or money order. Students are reminded that fees are payable in advance. Students supported through scholarship or alternative arrangements must submit these details on application.

Withdrawal from a course or units of study

Notification of a student’s intention to withdraw either before or after the commencement of a course/ units of study must be made in writing. Withdrawal by telephone or by implication is not acceptable under any circumstances.

If withdrawal occurs after census date there is no refund and academic penalties will apply. See the Student management policy and the Refund policy.

Refund policy

Applicants are advised to familiarise themselves with the Refund policy.

Collection of unpaid fees

Students with outstanding fees who have received notification of the amount owing will be referred to the appropriate debt recovery agency for recovery action. Please note that students will be liable for recovery costs incurred.

Enrolments for GC courses and single units of study are made through Customer Services. Application forms can be obtained online at the individual course or unit page.

How to apply

1. Seek course advice: If you would like advice on which course you should attend or whether you meet the selection criteria for a particular course, please refer to the course descriptions or contact Customer Services at freecall 1800 265 534 (charges may apply) or 02 9745 7500.
2. Submit an application form: Available on the website at the individual course and unit pages. Forward the completed form to ACN before the closing date (where vacancies exist, late enrolments may also be considered).
3. Await confirmation of enrolment letter: Following the closing date for a course, the Course Coordinator will review enrolments. Successful applicants will be sent a confirmation of enrolment letter detailing any outstanding payment, dates, and course requirements.
4. Accept your position: Your position must be accepted in writing. Students are required to return the signed and completed Acceptance of Position form to confirm their place (sent with confirmation of enrolment letter). Students wishing to withdraw or defer after submitting an acceptance of position MUST notify ACN in writing and before the census date.

Enrolment in units of study

Following admission, students are required to identify the units of study that will constitute their enrolment. Please refer to the course outlines. Correct enrolment is the responsibility of the student. Additions and deletions can be made to an enrolment by contacting the Customer Services before the Census Date. Failure to notify ACN of withdrawal from a units of study before the Census Date can result in units of study failure and incurs financial liability. Students should be aware that it is their responsibility to notify Customer Services to ensure that:

• their personal details, email address, postal address and contact telephone numbers are correct, and that ACN is informed of any changes as they occur
• their enrolment details are correct
• their units of study enrolment is consistent with the completion rules of the course. Further information is available from Customer Services.

Advanced standing/ Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer

Applications for advanced standing/RPL and credit transfer must be made in writing on application to the course and must include supporting documentation. Advanced standing/RPL and credit transfer cannot be sought for more than 50% of a Graduate Certificate course. Exceptions apply if students have successfully completed the units of study at ACN that map into a Graduate Certificate course. Where an applicant wishes to apply for more than 50% credit or RPL, they must apply in writing to the MED via customerservices@acn.edu.au. Students who have been granted advanced standing for ACN units of study leading to an exemption from one GC unit of study (six credit points), will not be charged for the units of study.

Credit transfer & Recognition of Prior Learning Information/Application Package

Students with Advance Standing  or RPL, may complete their study earlier, but will not be provided an early release of testamur. Testamurs will be issued at the Graduation Ceremony after the official course completion date. Prior to graduation, students may request a transcript and a statement of completion by emailing customerservices@acn.edu.au.

A fee is applicable for RPL assessment for units completed in other educational institutions. Once the applicant accepts the course offer they will be sent the RPL information package and the invoice.

Deferred enrolment

Students who have requested a deferral are sent a letter confirming detailing the dates and units of study that they have deferred into. Please be advised that NSW Ministry of Health (MOH)-supported students are generally unable to defer. Re-enroling in courses and single units of study will incur a recommencement fee and will occur only after the “student to complete” section of the confirmation of deferral letter has been returned.

Workshop/units of study/course cancellation

ACN reserves the right to cancel a GC unit of study course if there are insufficient enrolments. A full refund will be made of all fees paid. A decision to cancel will be made ten working days prior to commencement.

Applicants will have up to two years (2) years to complete their Graduate Certificate program of study. It is at the discretion of the LHD/SHN if there is a requirement to complete the course over one (1) year.

Deferral or Leave of absence

If the student requests a deferral of their scholarship until the following year then this is the process:

• Their request for a deferment of their scholarship must be sent to HETI
• HETI will advise the LHD EDONM of the request
• The agreement to a scholarship deferment is at the discretion of the LHD EDONM
• The EDONM will notify HETI of the decision
• HETI will communicate this decision to scholarship recipient, their clinical manager and the education provider.

HETI requests that any information provided to HETI Scholarship students will now represent this change.

Extensions and deferments are not encouraged but this criteria change is a realistic response to support improved outcomes for scholarship recipients.

Graduate certificate courses and single units of study

ACN is an Institute of Higher Education, registered and accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) – Australia’s independent national regulator of the higher education sector.

Our graduate certificate courses and single units of study are available online allowing students the flexibility to study while balancing work and family life (excluding Graduate Certificate in Nursing [Bridging and Re-entry]). All students are fully supported by education staff and tutors who are committed to facilitating the learning experience as well as our specialist library staff will provide you with electronic access to books, journals, database searches, inter-library loans and much more.

Our courses prepare nurses for a rewarding career in the health and community services sector. Designed to meet contemporary industry needs, the courses provide the knowledge, skills and attitudes directly suited to working in specialist areas of health care. We offer programs that are academically challenging and professionally relevant in an environment that encourages independent learning and interaction amongst peers, in an environment of individual student support from tutors and nurse educators.

Graduate Certificate qualifications awarded by ACN are of an equivalent standard to a qualification at other Australian higher education institutions, including universities. ACN’s courses may be recognised by universities, enabling advanced standing towards higher degrees, under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

ACN offers a flexible learning environment, with our GC courses and single units of study being delivered online with some units of study encompassing clinical placement experience. ACN’s online learning platform is CNnect and can be accessed directly at cnnect.acn.edu.au (excluding Graduate Certificate in Nursing [Bridging and Re-entry]).

Single units of study are supported by learning guides, resources, and relevant, often work related assessment.

Students have the option of undertaking an individual single unit of study from our GC courses. This is useful for people who wish to develop in-depth knowledge in a specific speciality area, or those who want to sample a GC units of study prior to enrolling in a full GC course.

Structure of courses

(excluding Graduate Certificate in Nursing [Bridging and Re-entry]. Please refer to the course page for the course structure)

The GC courses are professional development programs for nurses currently employed in the health care sector. They are designed to be undertaken part-time.

In order to graduate, students must successfully complete all the requirements for the course. The courses are usually structured around a number of core (compulsory), specialty and elective units of study. Each GC course contain four units of study, each worth six credit points (total of 24 credit points). Usual part time progression means students study one unit of study per 10 week term. Students wishing to vary this study pattern need to do so in accordance with the Student management policy.

Course sequence

Courses are designed to build and develop students’ skills and knowledge. As the student progresses through the course they are encouraged to think more widely and more critically. All students at this level are required to demonstrate an understanding of evidence based practice and basic research principles. Students are responsible to check their enrolment is correct regarding the sequence of units of study, prerequisites and co-requisites as required for their specific GC.

Resource requirements

ACN will provide all students involved in this course with:

• Accesses to the latest version of training and assessment resources for each unit via the CNnect online learning portal
• Online and phone support from their trainer and ACN staff
• Access to ACN’s virtual and physical library

ACN requires students to have a current email address and access to a computer and the internet.

Recommended minimum system requirements:

Please bear in mind these are minimum system requirements and a better resourced PC or MAC will provide much better performance.

Office 365

ACN students have access to Office 365 Education for free, throughout the duration of their course and 30 days after the course completion date. For new ACN students, access to office365 will be processed ~5 working days after the census date. If you have any issues with your office365, please contact Microsoft Support.

Library fines

Fines imposed by the Library will result in the imposition of sanctions and may halt your progression within a course. These sanctions remain until such time as proof is received that the debt has been paid. If a sanction is imposed, a student is:

• not permitted to receive a result in any course or units of study completed
• not permitted to enrol, re-enrol or vary enrolment in any course or units of study completed
• not permitted to graduate from any course or receive a transcript or testamur.

Policies and guidelines

The policies and guidelines of ACN have been written to provide guidance on the responsibilities of students to their studies. Students should read and be familiar with the policies and guidelines, especially the Student management policy.

Electronic Transcripts, Testamurs and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statements (AHEGS) are available to students through the My eQuals platform.

More information about My eQuals

A physical copy of the Testamur will be presented to students during the Graduation Ceremony.

If students do not attend the graduation ceremony, they can opt-in to receive a physical Testamur mailed to the postal address recorded in the student management system (free of charge). An administrative fee of $150 will apply if students wish to request the hard copy of the Testamur outside the normal graudation ceremony period.

Replacement of Transcripts and Testamurs (hard copy)

There is a charge for the issue of a replacement Testamurs and transcripts. Please note replacement documents will marked as “Duplicate”.

• Transcript, and/or Testamur $150 (flat fee)
• Reissuing of documents for conversion of qualification for international recognition $150

A replacement Testamur can only be issued upon receipt of a written request, proof of and a statutory declaration stating that the student has lost or is not in possession of the document.

Applications and enquiries should be made to customerservices@acn.edu.au.

Visit our clinical placement page for more information.

1. Continuing professional development program

ACN offers an extensive range of continuing professional development (CPD) offerings, both online and face to face.

To request emails updating you on upcoming CPD courses contact cpd@acn.edu.au.

2. Training and assessment – Non-award courses

Our professional development courses provide opportunities for RNs and ENs to expand their individual scope of practice with courses such as:

• 307 Immunisation for Health Practitioners (HESA accredited)
• Principles of Emergency Care for Registered Nurses (PEC RN)
• Principles of Emergency Care for Enrolled Nurses (PEC EN)

3. Further study

Did you know that your qualification can articulate into a Masters of Nursing Program at an Australian university with advanced standing? By completing an ACN graduate certificate, Western Sydney University, School of Nursing & Midwifery invites you to further your post graduate studies by enrolling into a Master of Nursing program.

The School of Nursing & Midwifery offers a diverse range of study areas that will provide you with the opportunity to diversify your skillset in a supportive and flexible learning environment to enable you to thrive in your chosen specialty.

If you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident of Australia, you can apply for postgraduate program studies either: Directly to Western Sydney University (it’s free) or through the Universities Admission Centre  (application fees apply).