Depok, 30 January 2024. UI has partnered with the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA). This collaboration is expected to attract a workforce of UI graduate nurses. If we look at the Indonesian scale, the Indonesian Ministry of Health estimates that Indonesia will produce 46,865 graduates from nursing education institutions every year from 2011 to 2025.
On the other hand, the national need per year only reaches 24,825 people. An excess of 11,067 to 22,060 nurse graduates per year could result in an increase in the nursing workforce and limited workforce absorption. To overcome this problem, the Faculty of Nursing UI has collaborated with the Australia Indonesia Center (AIC) Monash, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and is supported by Katalis, through the Indonesia-Australia or (IA-CEPA).
Moreover, the placement of health workers is considered a strategy for optimizing human resources in the health sector. This collaboration was led by Dr. Eugene Sebastian from AIC Monash, Prof. Achir Yani S. Hamid from Nursing UI, and Dr. Andreasta Meliala from UGM. Seven members participated in developing this program, including Prof. Evi Fitriani, Dr. Herni Susanti, NS. Mega Hasanul Huda, Sp.Kep.An., MARS., Ph.D., Dr. Yudi A. Chandra, NS. Giur Hargiana, Sp.Kep.J., Ariani Arista Putri, RN., MAN., DNP., and Dr. Sripurin Rarasati, MPH.
“The opportunities for Indonesian and Australian nurses and the healthcare sector are enormous if support mobility and strengthened partnerships exist. We are very pleased to have this collaboration to harmonize health professional standards and access to health services in both countries, with full support from the Indonesian and Australian governments,” said Paul Bartlett, Director of Katalis, on Monday (15/1).
Over the next six months, Katalis and AIC will examine market gaps and needs, the equality of nursing qualifications in each country, and develop discussions between professional service organizations. Everything will be presented to support closer alignment in nursing education between Australia and Indonesia and provide input for mutual recognition of nursing standards and practice.
Previously, in March 2023, Katalis published a report regarding the comparative assessment of nursing standards in Indonesia and Australia. This latest activity will add to Katalis’ achievements in other sectors, including the Mutual Recognition Agreement between Indonesian and Australian professional engineers, signed in July 2023, which has created new opportunities for Indonesian engineers.
Nursing UI is a center for developing nursing science and technology that is adaptive, culturally sensitive, and competitive to contribute to the development of public health in Indonesia and the world by 2035, expecting the development of Indonesian nursing staff through international cooperation. Not only does Nursing UI provide student exchanges, but it also provides professionalism and global competitiveness. The exchange program between the nursing workforce of the two countries will also enable the sharing of experiences and best practices in nursing.
This collaboration aims to improve nursing standards in both countries and ensure quality health services. In addition, Indonesian nurses will have opportunities for international career development through participation in exchange programs in Australia.
