[Media Release]
On Friday 29 November 2019, before families and friends, Te Marae Ora (TMO) – Ministry of Health celebrated the graduation of 29 nurses and 11 dental therapists.
The first cohort of eleven hardworking students graduated with a Diploma in Dental Therapy. Their studies commenced in 2017, and is part of the TMO drive to recruit and train employees to meet labour shortages in the oral health services in the Pa Enua.
For the ten nurses who graduated with a Diploma in Nursing, this was the end of a three year journey and will earn them Cook Islands nursing registration status. Another nine nurses graduated with a Diploma in Advanced Nursing Practice, which is the first stage in their process to become a Nurse Practitioner. Ten Registered nurses graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing through the University of South Australia.
The upskilling of the TMO employees is necessary to keep the workforce relevant and responsive to the changing health needs of the Cook Islands community.
End.