The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) School of Nursing has developed a new postgraduate paper designed to advance agricultural and rural healthcare.

The new paper is being offered as part of this year’s postgraduate nursing curriculum.

SIT School of Nursing programme manager Cassie Carstensen said the paper was developed after another South Island tertiary education provider got in touch to see if SIT could deliver the course. 

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There are few formal programmes in New Zealand that specifically address the concerns of healthcare in the agriculture and/or rural sector, she said.

The paper addresses a noticeable gap in postgraduate teaching material, tailored to the rural sector and its specific needs, she said. 

It was designed for New Zealand Registered Healthcare professionals who work rurally and has broad applications in the primary industries – forestry, farming, fishing, vineyards and orchards, she said. 

“With an emphasis on rural nursing, it’s in keeping with the current focus of the Ministry of Health to hone in on agricultural nursing and health,”she said.

Paper coordinator Karyn Madden said the rural and primary industry sectors had unique and specific health needs. 

 “The fact that people are isolated plays a significant role,” she said. 

The rural community was becoming more ethnically diverse, with increasing numbers of immigrants employed in the primary industries.

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Rural workers were also subject to comprehensive and specific health and safety requirements and legislation, she said. 

The paper content also looked at critical issues around physical and mental health outcomes in rural communities of New Zealand, Ms Madden said.

As a primarily online course, the paper could be studied anywhere in New Zealand, making it possible for rural students to participate, she said.

It could be taken on its own as an interest or standalone paper, or it could be incorporated into a study programme.

Applications close on June 12, with course delivery occurring between July and October.

More information is available by emailing [email protected] or [email protected]