Despite the dire shortage of nurses in aged care and hospitals, university admissions to nursing degrees are declining.

Tom Ristoski, Director of Industry Partnerships at Notre Dame University in Perth, said the university’s mid-year intake would normally be filling up by now, but enrolments have been slow. He said the drop in demand may be because of the impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare sector.

"I think the concern for potential students is probably around COVID-19, the COVID-19 impacts and the challenges that they've seen in the industry," he told the ABC.

NDU is trying to help students by organising students paid Assistant in Nursing roles, where they can learn skills on the job.

Charles Darwin University has observed a similar trend in courses for community services workers, leading it to waive fees for its certificate courses in individual support, community services, fitness, mental health, allied health and health services assistant.

Fees will be waived from Term 3, 2022, with CDU College of Health and Human Sciences Dean Dominic Upton saying the initiative will help fill worker shortages in aged care, as well as other areas.

Clare Grieveson (pictured), CEO of aged care provider Southern Cross Care WA, said the decline in demand for nursing qualifications is "incredibly concerning".

"The aged care sector already has a workforce crisis," Ms Grieveson told the ABC.

"The impact of those vacancies is that beds need to be closed.”

"A report that was commissioned by a group of aged care CEOs showed that last year, staff shortages prevented 340 elderly WA residents from entering aged care.”

Clare said Southern Cross Care has 4,000 shifts that need to be filled every week. They have 12 registered nurses positions open at the moment that they have been unable to fill.