With one eye still firmly on the future, Flinders University will this month mark 50 years of nursing education, celebrating five decades of leadership, innovation and impact in shaping one of South Australia’s most vital industries.
With a new online nursing degree launching next year that will expand student access, and work to begin on Flinders’ state-of-the-art HealthCARE building, the celebrations come at a perfect time to reflect on the foundations that have led to a new chapter of growth.
The 50-year milestone recognises Flinders’ pioneering role in 1975, when the Sturt College of Advanced Education, where Flinders’ Sturt campus now sits, introduced the Diploma of Applied Science (Nursing). This was the first tertiary nursing course in South Australia and only the third in Australia.
That program laid the foundation for modern university-based nursing education, moving beyond hospital certificate training to establish nursing as a respected academic discipline.
Vice-President and Executive Dean of Flinders University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences Professor Tracy Humphrey says Flinders’ nursing graduates have made an extraordinary contribution to health care in Australia and internationally.
“Since 1975, more than 21,000 nurses have graduated from Flinders, with many going on to leadership roles across hospitals, aged care, community health, policy and education,” says Professor Humphrey.
“Our programs now span undergraduate, postgraduate and research pathways, and we are always evolving, to ensure the best possible education and support for our community.”
The early years were shaped by visionary leaders including the late Dr Joan Durdin AM, whose work helped secure nursing’s professional standing, alongside Anne Pickhaver as Head of Nursing under Dr Ruth White RN, Head of the School of Health Professions.
“Their influence continues to underpin Flinders’ approach to nursing education today; one that values both academic rigour and hands-on, person-centred practice,” says Professor Humphrey.
This month, the University will host a 50 Years of Nursing Celebration Cocktail Evening, with the annual Joan Durdin Oration, named in her honour, to be combined with the event as part of the milestone celebrations.
Deputy Dean (Nursing Leadership and Engagement) Associate Professor Karleen Thornton says the 50th anniversary is both a celebration and a time to look ahead at what’s to come.
“Flinders University’s 50-year legacy in nursing education reflects a deep commitment to preparing nurses who lead with compassion, critical thinking, and clinical excellence,” says Associate Professor Thornton.
“This milestone honours the visionaries who shaped the profession and celebrates the generations of nurses who continue to transform healthcare across South Australia, Australia, and beyond. It is a moment to reflect, reconnect, and look forward to the future of nursing with pride and purpose.”
Looking to the future, Flinders will launch a new fully online Bachelor of Nursing in 2026; a new degree that will open access to nursing education for students across Australia, including those balancing work, caring responsibilities or living in rural and remote areas.
Students will complete theory components online while attending intensive simulation sessions and clinical placements in person.
“The new online Bachelor of Nursing will give students the flexibility to study in a way that fits their lives, without compromising on clinical experience or quality,” says Associate Professor Thornton. “It’s another example of how Flinders continues to innovate to meet the needs of our future workforce.”
Flinders is also advancing plans for its new HealthCARE building, adjacent to Flinders Medical Centre and the recently opened Health and Medical Research Building.
The facility will bring together education, clinical training, research and community engagement under one roof, further strengthening South Australia’s health precinct in southern Adelaide.
The project will provide the community with an additional 10,000 health appointments per year and 1,300 health professional graduates.
“These major investments in facilities and flexible learning are setting Flinders up for the next 50 years,” says Professor Humphrey.
“They demonstrate our ongoing commitment to growing the nursing and health workforce and supporting the communities we serve.
“As Flinders celebrates this golden anniversary, we remain focussed on preparing the next generation of nurses to meet Australia’s evolving health challenges, with the same spirit of innovation and compassion that has defined Flinders’ nursing since 1975.”
Read more about Flinders’ nursing history at flinders.edu.au/alumni/get-involved/history-of-nursing-midwifery/the-early-years.