Teaching on the edge : exploring the lived experience of academics teaching undergraduate nursing at satellite campuses

With the completion of the final Hospital based Nursing training courses in Australia in 1993, came the necessity for Registered Nurses in Australia to be educated in Universities. While there are many valid arguments as to the virtues of this form of education, there were some areas of concern. Rural, regional and outer urban areas did not have the access or equity of a Higher Education Institution close to home. Thus potential Registered Nurses living in outer urban, regional and rural areas, needed to attend Universities that were commonly situated in metropolitan areas, some distance from their home. Satellite campuses have become the answer to this dilemma by providing Higher Education to these areas. The emergence of satellite campuses in outer urban, regional and rural areas of Australia has brought challenges and opportunities for students and academics teaching at these campuses. Students that enrol at these campuses have different characteristics to their urban counterparts. These students are more likely to be mature age, from lower socio-economic status and may be academically challenged. Academics that work at satellite campuses are an essential component in the success of students who enrol at these campuses and thus the success of education programs in those regions. This presentation will explore the challenges and opportunities that face nurse academics teaching at satellite campuses.