New grad Filipino nurse wanting to work in Australia/New Zealand

World Immigration

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Hi everyone, please help me.

I graduated last march 2007 here in the Philippines and I have my license here already.

Because of oversupply of nurses here, it's too difficult to find a job.

That's why I'm looking forward to working in Australia or New Zealand.

However, I'm confused. Esp about Australia.

I already have my bachelors degree here.

When I go there in Aus to work as RN, must I take a diploma in nursing first? can I work while studying?

After obtaining my diploma there, am I already a registered nurse?

Thank you!

thank you very much aelith, your such an angel. Yes I will be very glad to know the difference between doing it your own or getting help from an agency.:)

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thanks for the reply aelith. so what would you recommend?? the one year pre-registration or the 2 years? can the tuition fee be paid on an installment basis (if that is the right word for that) or we should pay immediately for the whole tuition fee??? i am weighing things so that i can choose if i would have my pregistration course or the CAS. tnx.

by the way... can i apply without my license number??? you see.. i will get my license in about 3 months and that would be a long time for me to wait. hope to read a reply from anyone. tnx.

it is very hard to find jobs here... :no::cry::crying2::bluecry1:

what to do? what to do?? what to do??? my mom is killing me!!! keep on telling me to find a NURSING job well in fact she does not know how hard it is.. any way. thanks...

God bless us al :D :redbeathe :nurse:

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hi hotpotato101. there is this training school that i just discovered which claims to be the only one which gives review in the phils. the reviewers, in fact, come from queensland nursing council (qnc) itself. this school also acts sort of an agent to qnc. btw, what is name of the agency you have attended in the past, maybe we are referring to the same thing.

has qnc responded to your application yet? how much time did it take for them to respond?

shish and hotpotato101,

hi:p just want to ask what school/review center are you referring to that offers review for the challenge exam? if there's someone here who had taken the part a, can you please share your experience and where the exam took place..thanks :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe

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Thanks so much for the reply aelith! Is it possible to get a graduate visa after finishing the 1 year course then work part time during my 18month extended stay there? I have also heard of nurses taking up units and not the entire degree to be able to work as a nurse in Oz. Is this possible? My mom is already bugging to study in Oz. What are the first steps that I should take to study there? I'm really clueless. I'm interested in Brisbane since you said its cheaper.

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Thank you so much for your reply aelith! If I took the one year course only, is it possible to get a graduate visa after finishing the course and work during my 18 month stay there? I have also heard of Pinoys taking up units only and not the entire course there. Is that possible to work as an RN? What are the first steps to take to study in Oz? Sorry for the many questions

I'm just really clueless about this.

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Thank you so much for your reply aelith! If I took the one year course only, is it possible to get a graduate visa after finishing the course and work during my 18 month stay there? I have also heard of Pinoys taking up units only and not the entire course there. Is that possible to work as an RN? What are the first steps to take to study in Oz? Sorry for the many questions I'm just really clueless about this.

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and also. to add to her question. may i know the tuition for the one year course? does that equate to the enrolled nurse that their website describes??? i really want to pursue my career there and your help will be very much appreciated. also, if you could pm me your e-mail so that i can ask you personally for my further question, that will be very helpful. thank you and hope to read a reply soon. :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

I NEED WORK!!! AS A NURSE!!! :cry: :no: :crying2: :bluecry1: :sniff: :argue:

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Hey guys,

Sorry been busy this past few days :(

I am just going to reply to each one of you so hold on lol. Let me just prepare a reply for each enquiry. :)

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Guys, Just want to share the thread that i created. since no one is answering there ill just post it here perhaps someone can see this and answer me... :D

Thread: Does QLD accept QLD overseas nurse w/o experience?

Funny cos i already lodged my application with them (QNC) without having a full understanding of what will my status be once i pass the competency assessment test. tongue.gif so maybe someone can answer me....rolleyes.gif

Im wondering, IF, hopefully we lodged our application, passed the assessment test and got hold of our license, definitely, we will start looking for a job by then. Im curious if the recruitment agencies/hospitals are willing to sponsor us even if we are registered yet UNexperienced nurses? I am aware of the divisions and grading of nurses in Australia but what i'm not sure of is if it applies to overseas nurses as well..?

I started having second thoughts when i tried to get in contact with two nursing agencies in Brisbane. I raised my concern and my situation. They replied back and said that entry-level program/nursing only applies to "Nurses who had their education/training inside Australia"

Apparently this got me confused and worried. I hate to sound cynical and negative since I myself am putting all my hopes in here. So if anyone has a "reliable" not an "assumption/hearsay" information, please post them here. I know this will be a great help to all nurses like me who dreams of working in OZ. Thanks!

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@ Trion08:

I would give you an estimate only as prices really vary and could increase by the time you finally apply.

CAS Fees:

Written Test: 165 AUD

Clinical Assessment: 475 AUD

Source: http://www.qnc.qld.gov.au/upload/pdfs/information_sheets/Registration/Competence_assessment_service.pdf

Education Modules: 902 AUD

Source: http://www.cas.cqu.edu.au/FCWViewer/view.do?page=655

Subtotal:

Challenge test: 640 AUD

Education Modules: 3608 AUD

Brisbane Expenses:

Accommodation: 100-120 AUD/week (shared accommodation)

180-250 AUD/week (one bedroom to two bedroom accommodation)

Food: 80-100 AUD/ Week

Electricity & Gas: 20 AUD/week

Phone: 20 AUD/week

Transportation: 20 AUD/Week

Airport pick-up: 100 AUD

N.B. Contact the University for this to verify the price. They may or may not arrange this for you.

Subtotal weekly expenses: 340 AUD (minimum)

Total Monthly expenses: 1360 AUD

Miscellaneous: 500 - 1000 AUD

N.B. The above money is more like an emergency money or shopping money. Can also be used for tours if you choose to avail those during your stay.

Air Fare (roundtrip): 800 - 1000 AUD

N.B. Fare depends on the flight carrier. The quoted price above includes possible taxes and other surcharges.

Subtotal other expenses: 1300 AUD - 2000 AUD

Total Living and miscellaneous expenses: 1640 AUD - 2340 AUD

Visa Expenses: 100 AUD (tourist Visa)

Overall expenses (CAS and Living expenses):

Challenge Test: 3400 AUD - 4100 AUD

Education Modules: 6368 AUD - 7068 AUD

Just a quick note: As far as I know, the agency in Manila will only pay one-way of the air fare and will not pay for the modules. :) Double check if the agency's rate is really 380k Php or 10k AUD. 4k AUD VS 10k AUD :)

Hope that helps!

For foreign exchange rates check: http://www.xe.com

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Hi Aelith,

May i know if the Brisbane Expenses you are referring to is when you'll have your Challenge test B or the Education Module?

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@ maeriz:

Personally, I would go for the 2-year program. I'll give you a comparison of the two.

1-year program:

PROS:

- less expensive (tuition ranges from 18-23k AUD for the whole year)

- shorter length of study (1 year)

- don't need to study the basic core subjects again

CONS:

- Entry requirements varies but usually require a license, related working experience and at least 3 year post secondary studies related to nursing.

- highly competitive with limited places to offer

- would not qualify for either Skilled - Graduate Temporary Visa (subclass 485) or Skilled Independent Residence Visa (subclass 885)

2-years program:

PROS:

- Entry requirements varies and do not require related working experience or license. A previous bachelor degree in Nursing will be the only one required (apart from English requirements).

- would qualify for either Skilled - Graduate Temporary Visa (subclass 485) or Skilled Independent Residence Visa (subclass 885)^

- Some Universities offer a pre-registration course at a Master's degree level.

CONS:

- more expensive (tuition ranges from 18-23k AUD per year averaging 36-46k AUD for the whole degree)

- longer length of study (2 years)

- have to study some of the basic core subjects again

- highly competitive with limited places to offer

Basically, it all depends on whether you want to stay in Australia after you graduate or not. And if you can shell out more cash for the additional year or not.

I would recommend the 1-year program if you can apply for another visa (e.g. family sponsored or partner visa). Also, you can still choose the 1-year program if you are willing to wait for another 8-12 months for your sponsorship visa (business visa types or skilled sponsored visa) to finish. I am not sure though, if you can lodge for the latter visa types while you are in Australia. Either way, you will still not be able to work during the waiting period.

Regarding tuition fee payments, it varies and would depend on the University's policy. Some require full payment while others would accept bi-semestral or semestral payments. To confirm this, you may want to contact the University you are planning to go to. I've contacted 3 Universities in Sydney, 3 Universities in Queensland, 1 University in Melbourne and 1 National University with campuses both in Sydney and Brisbane. All of the Universities I've contacted are in the metro area as I'm not planning to live in the rural areas.

Enrolled Nursing course is different. It is comparable to LPN or LVN. You can be eligible for enrollment in the Nursing Council or Board if you finish an Enrolled Nursing Diploma (it's never a degree). TAFE offers this course as well as Certificate III (Aged care). The Enrolled Nurse course will take 18 months to finish or 1 1/2 years.

^ http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/visa-options-inside.htm

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