Victorian Rural Nurses Professional Development Support Unit (VRNPDSU)

The VRN-PDSU project commenced in 1993 and is funded by a grant from the Rural Health Support Education and Training (RHSET) program.The project is auspiced by the Monash University School of Rural Health, located at Moe.

The primary purpose of the unit is to provide a focus and contact point for professional support and development, advice or assistance for all rural nurses in Victoria. The project is due to be completed in June1997.

The key activities of the unit are to:

• foster and advocate for the provision of co-ordinated, relevant and accessible quality continuing education, professional development and training for all rural nurses in Victoria;
• develop and maintain a comprehensive database of rural nurses' education, professional development and training;
• develop, maintain and make available a comprehensive, statewide nurse education calendar for rural nurses and Victorian rural health agencies;
• establish and maintain a communication system for the dissemination of information to and between Victorian rural nurses;
• develop and maintain close co-operative relationships with all interested parties involved in rural nursing practice, education and rural health;
• foster and advocate for a diverse range of research activities for rural nursing practice, it's dissemination and use.

This project will be linked to a national project: Health Education for Rural and Remote Database (HERRD) at Whyalla in South Australia.

For further information contact:

Michelle Richardson, Monash University School of Rural Health