A Shocking Halt to Nursing Aspirations! The University of Notre Dame has sent ripples of concern through its community by abruptly ceasing new enrollments for its nursing program, a decision that blindsided most staff and eager prospective students. This sudden freeze, affecting the first semester of 2026, has left many scrambling for answers.
The National Tertiary Education Union has been actively seeking clarity from the university, which boasts campuses in Fremantle and Sydney. In a statement, Notre Dame explained the decision as a necessary step to sustain the program long-term, adding, "We are working towards confirming whether a Semester 2 intake in 2026 is possible and we will provide an update on this closer to the start of Semester 2."
A 'Flagship Course' in Jeopardy
This abrupt curtailment has been a significant blow to both the dedicated teaching staff and the bright school-leavers who had their sights set on Notre Dame's nursing program for 2026. "Staff have not been told directly why this has occurred," shared Scott Fitzgerald, state secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union, with ABC Radio Perth. He highlighted the program's importance, noting that Notre Dame typically enrolls a substantial 450 students in WA and 260 in Sydney per semester. "It's really critical to the university, but they haven't been told why their course has been closed." Staff members suspect the decision is linked to meeting the accreditation standards of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC), a situation that, if true, points to a worrying lapse in crisis management and governance.
ANMAC has confirmed to the ABC that while Notre Dame's Bachelor of Nursing program is currently accredited, a review is in progress. Accreditation is absolutely vital for graduates to be able to register and practice as nurses and midwives. ANMAC spokesperson stated, "As part of its functions under the National Law, ANMAC undertakes routine and risk-based monitoring of nursing and midwifery programs to ensure they continue to meet the National Accreditation Standards." They further elaborated that such monitoring can involve conditions or additional reporting requirements when further evidence of ongoing compliance is needed. "Such an assessment is currently underway for the University of Notre Dame's Bachelor of Nursing program. We are unable to comment on the specifics of an individual program."
Enrollment Surge Since 2020
Dr. Fitzgerald pointed to a significant surge in nursing course enrollments at Notre Dame since 2020, a trend that began following the federal government's Job Ready Graduates scheme. This initiative drastically reduced the cost of studying fields like teaching and nursing, while simultaneously increasing the fees for humanities degrees, naturally steering many applicants towards the more affordable options. Federal education department data reveals a dramatic increase in new nursing students at Notre Dame: approximately 696 in 2022, 980 in 2023, and a staggering 1,169 in 2024. (Figures for 2025 are not yet available.)
"Increased enrolments could put pressure on the accreditation particularly around student experience, professional experience placements, and finding enough suitable placements at hospitals," Dr. Fitzgerald explained. He expressed bewilderment as to why enrollments weren't managed rather than completely halted, especially given the projected national nursing shortage. "The federal government has outlined that by 2035 there could be a shortfall of 70,000 nurses in Australia," he warned. "There's a similar concern with the West Australian government, so this should be managed properly — but the idea that we could suddenly cut off and be down 600 to 900 students entering into a program raises real concerns."
Applicants Left in Limbo
This situation has also created considerable distress for aspiring nursing students. One listener shared on ABC Radio Perth, "My granddaughter was caught up in this. She went from being very confident of getting her first preference of nursing at Notre Dame as she got a high ATAR score to an agonising wait for the second round offers." They added, "What I find reprehensible of Notre Dame is that they did not inform the students until after it was too late to change their preferences."
The National Student Ombudsman's office has confirmed receiving one complaint specifically regarding the 2026 Bachelor of Nursing enrollment at Notre Dame. Their office emphasized, "All higher education providers should be transparent and timely with their communication to current and prospective students in the event of changes to course availability." They added, "Students should be informed when there are changes and be provided with alternative options where appropriate."
The university has assured that this decision will not impact current or graduating Bachelor of Nursing students. This unfortunate event adds to the university's recent challenges, following a ransomware attack in 2025 that caused significant disruption to IT systems and led to uncertainty for students and staff regarding graduations, class attendance, and assignment submissions.
But here's where it gets controversial... Could the university's decision, while framed as necessary for sustainability, actually be a preemptive move to avoid potential accreditation issues down the line? And is it fair for students to be informed so late, especially when national nursing shortages are so critical? What are your thoughts on how universities should handle such significant program changes? Let us know in the comments below!
