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

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...

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. so maybe someone can answer me....

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!

@ 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/pdf...nt_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

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?

@ 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/gener...ons-inside.htm

Hello hotpotato101,

Yes. The Brisbane expenses I am referring to is the estimated costs for your clinical placement in Brisbane. It applies to both the Challenge test and Education Modules. Both CAS pathways will have the clinical placements in Brisbane.

@ Vanessa81

As I have stated above in my reply to maeriz's enquiry, the 1-year program will not qualify you even for the graduate temporary visa.

About the study units, if they are studying units only then those are non-award courses and would not probably make you eligible for registration. Double check first with the corresponding state regulating authority before taking up those units. They might be taking bridging courses, but if not I'm not really sure about that. I've enquired in so many Universities and nursing boards or councils but none have told me about units that will make you eligible for registration.

To study in Australia, you just need to apply to the Universities. Wait for their letter of Offer (could be final/firm or conditional). After you receive that, you can accept the offer and enroll. You then wait for the Certificate of Enrollment (CoE) from the University. You will be needing this for the application of student visa.

The documents you need for the application includes the following:

- certified true copy of transcript
- certified true copy of diploma (award certificate - degree)
- IELTS result (overall band of 6.5 - 7.0 with no bands less than 6.0 - 7.0 depending on the University policy)
N.B IELTS result can be followed up after you submit your application. Some Universities do not require you to have an IELTS exam when you apply. They will advise you later on after assessment of your application if you still need to provide the said exam or not.

- filled-up application form

Student Visa requirements include the following:

- health check-ups (both chest x-ray and medical)
- character clearance (NBI clearance & police clearance for each country you've stayed at for more than 12 months in the past 10 years)
- IELTS result
- Proof that you can meet the financial requirements (Air fare, tuition fees, and living expenses)
N.B. This can be from your bank statements or bank statements of the person supporting you. Can also be approved loan from a private or government institution.
- health insurance: OSHC (The fee will depend on how long you want the OSHC to be. Can be a few months up to 6 years. It will take approximately 700+ AUD for the whole 2 years.)
- CoE

Hi Aelith,

So nice to see someone as helpful as you are. Just want to ask, why you pefer to take the 2-yr program instead of the bridging course? I already lodged my application to QLD and still haven't heard anything from them..Thanks

Hello thinkerbel,

I know how hard it is for the pinoy nurses and would help in anyway I can

As to why I prefer studying over the bridging course, it is more of a unanimous decision (parents, me and aunt). Studying may be overly expensive but for me, it is the most secure path.

- The bridging program and the sponsorship will take approximately 2 years to finish. The degree will take me 2 years to finish too. And if I choose to take the Master's degree (pre-registration), I would have another title next to my name apart from RN and BSN which is MN or MScN.

- The sponsorship is only good for a few years and is not a permanent or a resident visa. You still need to apply for a permanent visa after.

- After I finish my 2-years course, I will be eligible for a Graduate temporary visa or a Skilled Independent Resident visa.

- I can work while I am studying whereas in a bridging course you cannot (especially during the waiting time for sponsorship visa to finish).

- I can freely choose where I want to work during my studies and after I graduate in Australia. I can even apply for the graduate programs in Australia.

- When a certain hospital or agency sponsor you, you are stuck with them until your sponsorship ends or as agreed upon on your contract.

- Most agencies prefer overseas trained nurses with working experience (at least a year). On the other hand, they accommodate freshly grad nurses from Australia.

So far, that's all I can think of lol. But basically, those are my main reasons. I wouldn't mind studying too as I have not practiced for almost 3 years now.

@ hotpotato101:

Regarding your enquiry on possible job opportunities for you as an inexperienced nurse, I can't really give you a certain answer. I would advice you though, to contact more agencies; agencies all over Australia. As you already know, you can transfer your registration in other states so, it would be a good idea to enquire on agencies outside Queensland. I think they have reciprocity for New Zealand too. You can check on that too. Don't limit yourself to Queensland as all states need nurses. Sydney and Melbourne are pretty good too. The cost of living in Sydney and Melbourne may be higher than that of Queensland but the pay rate is higher too.

Hope that helps.

i also want to ask something..... i still do not have my license. do i still have to wait for my license before i can apply to queensland???


tnx..

tnx aelith for that reply.. it very comprehensive and helpful. so kind of you.