Avista partners with Trinity to offer intellectual disability nursing student placements

Posted on: 02 October 2025

Pictured from left to right. Front row: Fidelma Korcell, Catherine O'Mahony and Alanna Kennedy. Back row: Professor Éilish Burke, Dr Niamh Mulryan, Katrina Byrne, Lisa Lavelle, Dr Martin McMahon, Lorraine Macken, Mariola Nadola, Dr Jan De Vries, Professor Damien Brennan, Glynis O'Connor, Martina Berkery, Pauline Thompson, Michelle Cleary and Paul Horan.

Avista and Trinity College Dublin have signed a new academic partnership, which designates Avista as an affiliated health service provider for Trinity’s Bachelor of Science in Intellectual Disability Nursing programme.

From September, Avista will facilitate clinical placements for 10 intellectual disability nursing students on an annual basis.

These placements will include rotations in various Avista residential settings, supports and services across Dublin, offering the students rich and diverse learning opportunities in the care of people with an intellectual disability.

The Intellectual Disability Nursing students will be supported throughout their clinical placements with Avista by experienced Registered Intellectual Disability Nurses (RNIDs), Clinical Placement Coordinators, a Nurse Practice Development Coordinator and a Student Allocation Liaison Officer.

Lectures and clinical skills training will be provided at Trinity and in the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences on the St. James's Hospital campus.

Head of the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Professor Damien Brennan (pictured above on right) said:

“We are proud to partner with Avista, our long-time research collaborator, on the clinical education of our Intellectual Disability Nursing students. Our students will benefit greatly by gaining experience through placement across Avista’s diverse supports and services.”

Head of the Intellectual Disability Nursing Discipline, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dr Martin McMahon said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the School of Nursing and Midwifery to partner with Avista which shares our vision and objectives in meeting the current and future needs of children and adults with intellectual disabilities.”

CEO, Avista, Lorraine Macken (pictured above on left) said:

“We are delighted to welcome students from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin as they embark on their nursing career. Avista’s vision is to work together with people to live their best lives through the delivery of quality services. We look forward to working alongside future Intellectual Disability Nurses and showing them the value of ensuring respectful, rights based, person centred care.”

Director of Nursing, Avista, Lisa Lavelle said:

“Avista are excited to play our part in supporting the development of Intellectual Disability Nursing in Ireland. Our nursing teams across Dublin have a wealth of knowledge and experience and they look forward to empowering students with specialist skills to work alongside children and adults with disabilities for many years to come.”

ENDS

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