The University of the Sunshine Coast's (UniSC) Gerontological Nursing Competencies (GNCs) Aged Care Transition to Practice (ACTTP) program has been selected by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to help develop Australia’s aged care nursing workforce under an Australian Government initiative.
Eligible registered nurses can access this course for FREE (valued at $2,500)—fully funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
About the course
The GNCs courses equip registered nurses in aged care with skills to assist older people in living well, through two sequential 6-month courses.
The GNCs courses guide registered nurses in the aged care setting through mentorship, professional development and specialist education, advancing their skills and capabilities as gerontological nursing specialists.
The GNCs courses are grounded in key professional frameworks including the NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice, the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and the GNCs Competencies outlined below to ensure alignment with evidence-based practice and regulatory expectations.
The GNCs courses are delivered online with a series of virtual workshops and interactive learning activities. Through facilitation and mentor support, registered nurses are guided through five steps to successful completion of the course.
There are two courses offered in a sequential pathway:
- Essential GNCs Course
- Enhanced Leadership GNCs Course
Fully funded places are available for registered nurses in Australia who are new graduates, new to aged care or newly practicing from overseas.
If you’re a nurse practitioner, please contact us for further information on how this course can support your professional development.
Program development
The GNCs courses were first launched in 2019 after a three-year research project to create the competencies and course content. Since then, the course has been further developed in collaboration with aged care providers across Australia. Consumers have reviewed the content delivery to ensure its relevancy for older Australians. A First Nations curriculum review was undertaken to include cultural safety principles in the course.
Quality assurance is maintained with ongoing evaluation from stakeholders and industry partners.
The GNCs courses focus on the following 11 core competencies, as shown in the accompanying image, to provide person-centered care.
Who can apply
- Registered nurses working with older people who want to build upon their clinical and leadership skills in the aged care sector.
- Nurse practitioners and virtual e-Health nurses working with older people.
- Aged care providers looking to upskill their nursing workforce.
Who is eligible for a free fully funded place
- New graduate registered nurses working in residential and community aged care.
- Experienced registered nurses new to aged care (2 years or less).
- Registered nurses working in aged care from overseas who are newly practicing in Australia (2 years or less).
- Nurse Practitioners and e-Health nurses.
- First Nations registered nurses new to aged care (2 years or less).
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, registered nurses develop a comprehensive portfolio demonstrating their capability at either an Essential or Enhanced level of specialist practice.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify and apply the GNCs core competencies and domains of practice as they relate to aged care contexts.
- Discuss expectations and experiences of mentoring to establish an effective mentoring partnership.
- Reflect on current gerontological nursing competencies in order to identify areas for practice development.
- Formulate an action plan to develop GNC competencies.
- Generate a range of evidence to reflect learning and development of GNC competencies.
- Create a professional portfolio of evidence to demonstrate competence as a specialist gerontological nurse.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify and apply the GNCs core competencies and domains of practice as they relate to aged care contexts.
- Discuss expectations and experiences of mentoring to establish an effective mentoring partnership.
- Discuss the attributes of effective clinical leaders in contemporary aged care.
- Formulate an action plan to develop GNC competencies.
- Analyse the major components of clinical governance and the effect these have on aged care practice and reform.
- Consider factors that act as a stimulus for change, resistance to change and successful change in aged care.
- Examine the key theories, methods and skills that have been found to enable continuous quality improvement in aged care contexts.
- Determine relevant and contemporary techniques and tools for analysing, reporting and managing error in aged care.
- Generate a range of evidence to reflect learning and development of GNC competencies.
- Create a professional portfolio of evidence to demonstrate competence as a specialist gerontological nurse.
Career pathways
Upon successful completion, registered nurses will be eligible for credit or advanced standing towards a postgraduate gerontological course, such as:
Start your pathway in aged care nursing today
GNCs Learner:
“Without this course and a better understanding of gerontological nursing, I wouldn't have been as confident to step up into that higher role.”
GNCs Mentor:
“I was drawn to apply for the GNC program… because I believe in what the program does and I want to invest in the future of aged care clinicians.”
GNCs Learner:
“A hundred percent the essential course helped me to develop my knowledge on aged care and also I'm looking forward for the enhanced course to develop more on leadership.”
GNCs Mentor:
“Becoming a mentor feels like a chance to give back, to share what I’ve learned, and to keep growing through the stories and insights of others.”
Course details
Duration: 24 weeks (6 months)
Study load: Part time
Delivery mode: Online supported by virtual workshops
Certification and accreditation: Learners who complete this short course will receive a certificate of completion.
Credit transfer: Successful completion of this course is equivalent to 1 postgraduate subject.
Dates:
- Wednesday, 4 February 2026 (SUM26A Essentials)
- Thursday, 19 March 2026 (AUT26A Enhanced Leadership)
- Wednesday, 6 May 2026 (AUT26B Essentials)
- Wednesday, 3 June 2026 (AUT26C Essentials)
- Wednesday, 1 July 2026 (WIN26A Essentials)
- Wednesday, 5 August 2026 (WIN26B Essentials)
- Thursday, 3 September 2026 (WIN26C Essentials)
- Wednesday, 7 October 2026 (SPR26A Essentials)
- Thursday, 29 October 2026 (SPR26B Enhanced Leadership)
Topics
Essential GNCs Course
- Module 1: Mentoring Agreement
- Module 2: Self-Assessment
- Module 3: Action Plan
- Module 4: Generating Evidence
- Module 5: Portfolio
Enhanced Leadership GNCs Course
- Module 1: Leadership Attributes
- Module 2: Clinical Governance
- Module 3: Clinical Governance 2
- Module 4: Clinical Leadership
- Module 5: Leading Change
Need application or enrolment advice?
The GNCs team can help.
- Call us +61 7 5459 4592
- Email us [email protected]
This project has received funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Fully funded places in the course are available to eligible participants.