The changes for Bachelor of Nursing students come in response to concerns about health workforce shortages in the Wimmera and southern Mallee.

Nursing academic staff from the university’s Mt Helen campus in Ballarat will host blocks of intensive learning at the university’s Wimmera campus in Horsham once each semester from 2019, focusing on practical and clinical elements for first and second-year students.

In January 2015, the university announced the Wimmera campus would not be accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council from 2016.

This meant Wimmera students would need to be enrolled at the Mt Helen campus from 2016 to complete their course.

Since then, students based in the Wimmera have still been able to complete the course via online and blended learning through the Mt Helen campus.

The university’s nursing professor Mary Cruickshank said the institution was delighted with the new arrangements for students in the Wimmera.

“The university is firmly committed to Western Victoria and its students,” she said.

“Many of our Wimmera nursing students previously had to travel to Ballarat to attend all blocks of learning throughout the three-year program.

“We are very pleased to announce that from February next year we will be bringing the practical and related theory aspects of the program to the first and second-year students.

“This will greatly reduce the travel for students who are studying remotely and allow them to spend more time with their families.

“There is a very strong need for nursing and healthcare across the Wimmera and the university is working hard to address this challenge.”

Senior lecturer Blake Peck said the changes would also help hospitals and businesses in the region.

“FedUni will continue to be a strong supporter of Wimmera jobs and industry,” he said.

Wimmera Development Association executive director Ralph Kenyon said the new approach would help students and also health services in the region, and the wider community in the long term.

Wimmera Health Care Group chief executive Catherine Morley also welcomed the announcement.

“We are more than supportive of this move to ensure students have greater access to local opportunities while reducing costs and time away from employment and their families,” she said.

Third-year Bachelor of Nursing students will still be required to attend the Mt Helen campus to access the specialised equipment the university uses to prepare graduates for specialist practice areas.