The locally based degree is on the rise with 22 students in this year’s cohort, up from 13 when the course started in 2015.

Several of the group are Lithgow locals and there are also students travelling from Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains region.

Campus coordinator and lecturer, Christine Haley said the fact the course was attracting students from other areas was positive for the town.

"It opens up the community of Lithgow to people thinking about employment in these areas," Ms Haley said.

She said she was in a privileged position to work closely with first year students.

"I'm working with students, whether they're school leavers or mature age students, to introduce them to my profession a profession I've been involved with for forty years," Ms Haley said.

"So it's exciting to pass on those clinical skills and to see them grow."

The future nurses will go on practical placements at Lithgow Hospital and surrounding areas in second session this year.

Ms Haley said the local nursing course placed an emphasis on encouraging students to consider living in Lithgow for future employment.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Lithgow to develop some courses that are going attract people to work here in the future professions that they need in the local area," she said.

“We’ve got excellent facilities here and I guess the drawcard is that students are being able to gain a tertiary education in their local community.”

Mature age student and Lithgow local, Anna Bell, has finally found the chance to study nursing among her family and work commitments.

Mrs Bell said she has always wanted to have a professional working career as a nurse.

She found the course overwhelming to begin with after not studying for the past 20 years but has started to settle into the degree.

“I’m just enjoying the people in the class, the tutors, the professionalism of the course,” Mrs Bell said.

At this stage only the first year of nursing is offered in Lithgow.

Students need to transfer to Western Sydney University campuses in either Hawkesbury, Parramatta or Campbelltown to complete the final two years of their degree.

“It would be fantastic if Lithgow, especially the council, could rally to get second and third year here,” Mrs Bell said.

“We’ve got all these facilities here and plenty of room and it’s not being used.”