In a dazzling event on Friday night, Flinders marked 50 years of nursing, celebrating five decades of leadership, innovation and impact in shaping one of South Australia’s most vital industries.
Hosted at Ayres House, the evening brought together staff, alumni and the wider university community to celebrate and reflect on Flinders’ 50-year legacy, which has seen more than 21,000 nurses graduate.
With a new online nursing degree being launched next year that will expand student access, and work starting on Flinders’ state-of-the-art HealthCARE building, the celebrations come at a perfect time to reflect on the foundations that have led to a new chapter of growth.
The 50-year milestone recognises Flinders’ pioneering role in 1975, when the Sturt College of Advanced Education, where Flinders’ Sturt campus now sits, introduced the Diploma of Applied Science (Nursing). This was the first tertiary nursing course in South Australia and only the third in Australia.
Vice-President and Executive Dean of Flinders University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences Professor Tracy Humphrey says Flinders’ nursing graduates have made an extraordinary contribution to health care in Australia and internationally.
“Since 1975, more than 21,000 nurses have graduated from Flinders, with many going on to leadership roles across hospitals, aged care, community health, policy and education,” says Professor Humphrey.
“Our programs now span undergraduate, postgraduate and research pathways, and we are always evolving, to ensure the best possible education and support for our community.”
Deputy Dean (Nursing Leadership and Engagement) Associate Professor Karleen Thornton says the 50th anniversary is both a celebration and a time to look ahead at what’s to come.
“Flinders University’s 50-year legacy in nursing education reflects a deep commitment to preparing nurses who lead with compassion, critical thinking and clinical excellence,” says Associate Professor Thornton.
“This milestone honours the visionaries who shaped the profession and celebrates the generations of nurses who continue to transform healthcare across South Australia, Australia, and beyond. It is a moment to reflect, reconnect and look forward to the future of nursing with pride and purpose.”
Associate Professor Thornton spoke with ABC Radio Adelaide on Friday morning about the celebrations and explain what’s on the horizon; you can listen to the interview here.
Read more about the anniversary on the Flinders news blog: https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2025/10/23/celebrating-50-years-of-nursing-education/