Blue Mountains News

Currently only 12.2 percent of nurses in Australia are men, highlighting the importance of diversifying and growing the healthcare workforce which is expected to need almost 80,000 more fulltime nurses by 2035.

Choosing to boost the number of male nurses is TAFE NSW Kingswood Diploma of Nursing graduate, 25-year-old Jarred Lenton from Winmalee. After 18 months of study, he is now a qualified enrolled nurse and will be joining the GradStart program at Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District.

"I worked in medical centres in reception after school and both my parents were nurses,” he said. “Dad was anaesthetic assistant and mum was theatre assistant. Nursing was a profession I’d always respected and they told me a lot of interesting stories. When I decided to give it a go, I found I loved it.

"TAFE offered a supportive environment, providing a good mix of practical and theory. It’s a great way to dip your toes in the water without years of debt."

During his 400 hours of placement work, Jarred noticed that some patients, particularly male ones, really appreciated having a male nurse.

“Some had never had that experience before and they just felt more comfortable,” he said. “I really enjoyed my experience on placement and have no issues with being the ‘odd one out’ as a male nurse. The rotations are incredible—orthopaedic surgery, palliative care, infectious diseases. There’s always something new and interesting every day.”

TAFE NSW Kingswood Head of Nursing Dianna King said encouraging more men to enter the field is vital to addressing the projected shortfall of nurses.

"Nursing is not just about care—it’s a highly skilled, technical profession with diverse career paths," Ms King said. " By breaking down stereotypes and normalising gender diversity in nursing, Australia is not only addressing workforce shortages but also fostering inclusivity in healthcare. Male nurses are particularly important for providing care to male patients who may feel more comfortable with a nurse of the same gender?.

“TAFE NSW Kingswood’s Diploma of Nursing program equips graduates with all the practical skills and theoretical knowledge they’ll need to kickstart their career in nursing. The course provides ample opportunities to learn in diverse workplaces and grow in your technical and professional nursing skills. It’s such a rewarding field of work in which people from all genders, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to join.”