TAFE Western Forbes College Team Leader, Stacey Haydon, said a TAFE pathway can allow students to stay in their hometown without moving away for university.

“It offers stability and education in our rural community for those that may not be able to leave home. It allows them to maintain their current lifestyle and family commitments,” she said.

A fully equipped practical nursing room has been installed at Forbes TAFE with beds, dummies and medical equipment, as expressions of interest for a Diploma of EN Nursing are now being taken. “We are wanting to offer people in this area the ability to go further into nursing without having to travel as much.”