Three-way partnership to bolster health workforce

Health Careers International Australia (HCI) has partnered with Arizona State University and private hospital operator Ramsay Health Care (Ramsay) to tackle major healthcare workforce shortages on a global scale.

By partnering with Arizona State University, HCI will become part of the ASU-Cintana Alliance, a global network of future-focused universities working together to deliver quality academic programs addressing economic and social needs. This new tri-party partnership will be the ASU-Cintana Alliance’s first foray into the Australian higher education sector, as well as Ramsay Health Care’s first strategic partnership of this kind with a tertiary education provider.

HCI Australia operates two institutions in Australia: the Institute of Health and Management (IHM), which delivers postgraduate higher education courses for nurses and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, and the Institute of Health and Nursing Australia (IHNA), a provider of vocational healthcare courses.

Ramsay Health Care and HCI’s shared vision for the future of healthcare education aligns with anticipated Australian Government educational reforms in tertiary education, ensuring HCI’s programs will remain at the forefront of industry standards. The partnership will also support the work of Ramsay’s Nursing and Midwifery Academy, which is focused on developing a comprehensive career pathway for nurses and midwives from undergraduate level to leadership and research.

Ramsay Health Care’s Chief Nurse and Clinical Services Director, A/Professor Bernadette Eather, said, “We’re excited to be partnering with HCI, which has an excellent reputation for student satisfaction and graduate employment. Ramsay is very focused on providing a comprehensive career pathway for nurses and midwives. We are committed to ensuring accessible education for regional Australians and to training the workforce of the future to meet the needs of the healthcare sector. This partnership with HCI and ASU will support the development of a highly skilled workforce, which is essential for the delivery of high-quality, safe and effective clinical care for our patients.”

In Australia, nurses and midwives represent the largest professional groups within the healthcare workforce, with the healthcare and social assistance sectors forecast to grow by an additional 533,000 roles between 2023 and 2033¹.

This new partnership aims to increase the number of qualified nurses and support sub-speciality qualifications to promote the full scope of practice of nurses and help meet the changing needs of the healthcare system.

“This collaboration marks a milestone in our mission to enhance the education experience for our students, to provide clear pathways to employment after graduation and to empower Australian and international students to thrive in the evolving global healthcare landscape,” said Dr Bijo Kunnumpurath, founder and CEO of HCI.

“Our students come from diverse backgrounds, including Australian and overseas-trained healthcare professionals, as well as those looking to re-enter the healthcare field after time away from the workforce. This partnership leverages ASU’s world-class content and robust learning resources to increase students’ employability, while our collaboration with Ramsay Health Care ensures undergraduates receive well supported clinical placements.”

Nancy Gonzales, Executive Vice President and University Provost at Arizona State University, said, “As institutions powered by ASU, IHM and IHNA will draw on the expertise of ASU as well as other ASU-Cintana Alliance member institutions, preparing students of the region to be empowered to compete in the global economy.”

The partnership will enable students to have access to ASU’s resources and the opportunity to participate in research programs. Students will also be able to engage with peers globally through exclusive summer experiences in the US and other international exchange programs at the ASU-Cintana Alliance universities network, student global competition and program pathways to ASU in the US.

^{1. https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/employment-projections}

Image caption: Chris Hill, Dr Bijo Kunnumpurath and Dr Bernadette Eather. Image: Supplied.