CPD Courses and Training for Nurses in Australia
Keeping your CPD on track shouldn't mean hunting across a dozen tabs to find something worthwhile. Below is a curated list of legitimate CPD courses and training providers for nurses, midwives and support workers in Australia, from free government modules to specialty college programs. Whether you're topping up your annual hours or building toward a new area of practice, there's something here for you.
Not sure how many hours you actually need, or what counts?
Free CPD courses and training
- QUM Learning (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care) – Free. Government-run modules on medication safety, antimicrobial stewardship and quality use of medicines, now hosting the programs formerly run by NPS MedicineWise.
- ACSQHC eLearning Hub – Free. Covers the National Hand Hygiene Initiative, national safety and quality standards, and risk communication for patient conversations.
- Aged Care eLearning (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing) – Free. Up-to-date modules on the new Aged Care Act and quality standards, useful for anyone working in or moving into aged care.
- NDIS Worker Training Modules (NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission) – Free. Core and role-specific training for disability support work, including positive behaviour support.
- Health Professional Education Resources (Services Australia) – Free. Practical modules on Medicare, PBS and other health provider services.
- Healthed for Nurses – Free tier, with a paid membership for full access. Evidence-based clinical modules across immunisation, cardiac health, respiratory disease, women’s health and more, with an NMBA-aligned reflection and documentation tool built in.
- State union CPD portals (NSWNMA, QNMU, ANMF Victoria and others) – Free for financial members. Worth checking if you belong to your state or territory nursing union.
College and professional CPD platforms
- Australian College of Nursing (ACN) – Paid, with a range of courses free for ACN members. Broad clinical library spanning aged care, cardiac care, wound management, mental health and leadership, built specifically to help nurses meet NMBA hours.
- Ausmed – Subscription-based. One of the most widely used CPD platforms in Australian nursing, with a large evidence-based course library and a built-in CPD portfolio tool.
- Nursing CPD – Subscription library, with a smaller free section. Content built specifically by and for Australian nurses.
CPD by specialty
- Aged care and community nursing: Aged Care eLearning (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing) and ACN’s aged care course library.
- Mental health nursing: Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) – the peak professional body for mental health nursing CPD and endorsement.
- Midwifery: Australian College of Midwives (ACM) Education – CPD activities endorsed specifically for midwives.
- Community and primary health care nursing: Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) – endorsed CPD and online learning for nurses working outside hospital settings.
- Disability support: NDIS Worker Training Modules – free, role-specific training for disability support workers.
Choosing the right CPD activity
A good CPD activity should tick a few boxes:
- It’s relevant to your current or planned scope of practice.
- It comes from a credible source (a regulator, professional college, university or established provider, not an unverified blog or forum).
- It gives you a certificate or record of completion you can keep for your CPD portfolio.
- If it’s a self-directed activity (an article, podcast or webinar), you can note what you learned and how it applies to your practice, which the NMBA expects for self-directed CPD.
- For a full walkthrough of what counts and how to document it, see our CPD Requirements & Compliance Guide.
Your next steps
Whatever stage you're at with your CPD, just getting started, chasing a specialty certification, or already audit-ready, Nursing Australia is here for what comes next too. Explore flexible roles across hospitals, aged care, disability support and community care nationwide, with a team that understands what your CPD actually represents: real skills, ready to put to work.