An aged care graduate nursing program has received 250 high quality applications throughout Australia.

The Bupa Care Services scheme was designed to fill 20 full time registered nurse positions in 2010 but the provider has been overwhelmed by the strong response.

The program is part of the group’s new approach to attract and retain quality nurses.

“Clinical leadership is so important for the future direction of aged care and is essential if we are to continue to achieve our vision of delivering highly-individualised person centred care,” said Care Services Operations Director, Ian Burge.

“The Graduate Nurse Program seeks to identify and nurture the potential talent that is required to ensure this objective continues to be realised.”

Bupa Care Services employs approximately 950 Registered Nurses across Australia and also has aged care businesses in New Zealand, the UK and Spain. 

The graduate program initiative is a $160,000 investment over 3 years on top of wage costs to support the ongoing development of successful candidates.

“Bupa’s size means we are able to offer our nurses genuine career pathways” said Burge.

“Having this advantage coupled with a rapidly expanding aged care industry means that really exciting opportunities are being created.

“The fact that we received 180 applicants in NSW alone suggests word is spreading.”