The Westmead Breast Cancer Institute (BCI) in collaboration with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) developed this program to support emerging and novice breast care nurses to gain a better understanding of the clinical diagnosis and management of patients with breast cancer, within a multidisciplinary setting. This program offers students the opportunity to access blended learning through a 5 day face to face program in a speciality unit, with learning supported by access to online resources. During the program students can expect to gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to provide holistic care to the patient experiencing breast cancer specifically in the areas of:

• screening and diagnosing breast cancer
• the psychological impact of breast cancer
• breast cancer treatments and managing their effects
• the role of the breast care nurse in coordination of care for breast cancer patients
• reconstructive surgery
• the genetics and pathology of breast cancer.

Please refer to learning objectives:

• Early Breast Cancer Nursing Practicum
• Metastatic Breast Cancer Nursing Workshop

First practicum – early breast cancer
15 April – 19 April 2024

Second workshop – metastatic breast cancer (online)
23 May – 24 May 2024
Application deadline: 5pm AEST, Monday 6 May 2024

Third practicum – early breast cancer
22 July – 26 July 2024
Application deadline: 5pm AEST, Wednesday 5 June 2024

Fourth practicum – early breast cancer and Leura conference
22 October – 26 October 2024
Application deadline: 5pm AEST, Wednesday 4 September 2024

Fifth workshop – metastatic breast cancer (online)
21 November – 22 November 2024
Application deadline: 5pm AEST, Monday 4 November 2024

Students will have successfully completed 112 Breast Cancers unit and/or 327 Principles of Breast Cancer Nursing unit at ACN (or equivalent) or can demonstrate sufficient clinical experience in breast care nursing i.e. 6 months if working in a BCN role at 0.5FTE and more. If working less than this, a minimum of 12 months of BCN experience is required.

Clinical placement in NSW

Please refer to the ‘clinical placement requirements’ for NSW here for further information on the requirements needed to attend the practicum in NSW.

If you are applying to the practicum courses (face-to face course at Westmead Hospital), you must submit all NSW clinical placement documents as one PDF document in the application form. This is mandatory for entry into the course as you will be visiting theatres at the Hospital. Please refer to the ‘clinical placement requirements’ for NSW here for the document list and further information.

To enrich learning and enable access to clinical areas, numbers for each intake are limited. All successful applications will be placed on a waitlist for the next available date.

Westmead Breast Cancer Institute
Level 1, Block F, Westmead Hospital
Cnr Hawkesbury & Darcy Rd
Westmead NSW 2145

Customer Services, Australian College of Nursing
p: 02 9745 7500
f: 02 6282 3565
e: customerservices@acn.edu.au

This program is supported by the McGrath Foundation.