The ACPCC is continuing to make strong progress on its Victorian Department of Health funded Nurse Colposcopy Training Project, an initiative designed to expand access to timely and equitable colposcopy services in Victoria. As part of the program, six nurses—two from regional services and four from metropolitan services—are currently undertaking a structured nurse colposcopy training pathway.
A significant milestone has been the development of a comprehensive training model endorsed by the project’s Clinical Advisory Committee. The model combines theoretical learning, simulation-based education and supervised clinical practice to support the development of safe, skilled and confident colposcopists.
Recently, the ACPCC delivered a colposcopy simulation workshop in partnership with the Australian Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP). The workshop gave participants the opportunity to practise key skills through three hands-on simulation stations focused on taking a patient history, using a colposcope and performing a cervical biopsy.
Clinical placements are also progressing well. The ACPCC has established partnerships with three Victorian training hospitals—the Royal Women’s Hospital, Mercy Hospital for Women and Northern Hospital. Placements have already commenced for some trainees and are due to begin shortly for others. In addition, a Community of Practice has been established for nurses across Australia and New Zealand to support ongoing peer learning and professional development.
These milestones mark an important step towards expanding Victoria’s colposcopy workforce and improving access to timely care for people requiring colposcopy services.
