need an OZ update! us rn seeking to flee country..

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- recently someone turned me onto the idea of moving to OZ to work as a nurse. i'm trying to move out of the country to live somewhere else for a little while (i also recently got my TESOL so i can teach english in other countries). so ive been reading up on things on these forums to see what is going on over yonder.. and it seems that the posts' themes changed rapidly (within a year) from offering info about the plentitude of jobs, to the market for overseas nurses being shut down (the very recent posts).. did something happen that rapidly? or is information just conflicting.. i'd like to know the chances of me being able to get a job (hospitals? agencies?) if i decide to go ahead and register...

me: US Associates RN, 5 years experience in sub acute rehab and long term care

Specializes in Medical.

Thanks Joanna - I missed the part about an associate degree.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Unless you have maybe 20 years experience in a specialty like ICU, an Associates is generally not recognized anywhere. The 2 year program is extinct.

You can check with the Board, but I know that several of my Canadian friends were recruited to OZ a few years back. Our education is very similar, and the BSN is mandatory.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I thought Australia was accepting ADN? Is this something new in APHRA not accepting them?

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Specializes in Medical.

AHPRA's section on internationally qualified nurses and midwives (here) lists under criterion 3:

The criterion for a registered nurse or midwife is met when the applicant has a minimum qualification of a Bachelor degree, or qualification combined with experience that is comparable in duration and content to the nationally agreed minimal educational standard for nursing and midwifery in Australia.

• For registration as a registered nurse the minimum qualification must be a university-based Bachelor degree (or where relevant, a postgraduate qualification) and the minimum length of the course is equivalent to six semesters’ full-time study.

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Yes I googled the word but i was kinda curious if its the same term you're referring to *sounds lame* anyway if i got it right it's the only authority in Australia responsible for registering nurses and 9 other professions right? oh and 4 other more by next year.. So if u wanted to go there u must register first? Actually this is where all the confusion really stems from, I'm not living in Australia right now but I'm planning and someone mentioned AHPRA and how it helped them so without much further ado I just really wanted to know how to start, with the processing and all... I know it's all in the website but isn't this the point of having a forum, to discuss and share things left out in any sites? Advices please and THANKS a lot, you're all a gem..

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Specializes in Medical.
I know it's all in the website but isn't this the point of having a forum, to discuss and share things left out in any sites?

I guess that depends on how you view the forum. I use it, in part, to seek information I can't find in other ways. That would certainly include anything left unanswered by a site like AHPRA, except that if you didn't even know what that was I'd wonder how you know what's information isn't there.

In any case, if you search the AN forums you'll find a fair bit of information about nursing registration requirements in Australia. There are four key criteria that must be met y internationally-qualified nurses and midwives before applying for registration:

1. English language proficiency

2. education to Australian standards (as discussed above, for RN's that's a Bachelor degree or equivalent)

3. recent post-registration practice

4. evidence of fitness to practice (no pending or outstanding disciplinary action, no criminal history, no health problems that would prevent practice).

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I really think you've all been helpful and friendly and informative and as I'm obviously very new here I have a lot to learn but I don't mean to impose I'll just be happy to browse around and learn everything I could from the discussions...

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Thanks to everyone who has added to this link, I am a US nurse thinking about moving to Melbourne and I was wondering if anyone could tell me about Community or Public health nursing in Victoria. My husband is considering taking a job in this area and I am starting my research on what my job prospects would be. We would not move for another year, and I will have a couple of years experience in maternal child health at this point as a public health nurse. Any advice on how to start the job search would be much appreciated.

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In Victoria only, you must be an RN and a midwife and have a Graduate Certificate in Infant and Maternal Health to be considered a Maternal child health nurse.

Other states do not require the midwife bit.

Jobs are very difficult to get in this area, as once you get a job in this area then it is for life.

I have a friend who now has all of the 3 certs she needs and works relieving at maternal health centres. No where near the full time she needs.

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Thanks for the info, these qualifications are more than the immigration websites have lead me to believe. I might have to start looking into other fields of nursing. . . any suggestions? My husband and I are thinking of living in Victoria for 1-2 years, its looking like my prospects for working while I am there are grim, especially if I try to work in Melbourne.

Anyone want to fill me in on the situation in Queensland(urban or regional)? Thanks in advance

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