Aussie Public Health

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Hello!

I'm a public health nurse in Canada. I'd like to go to Australia and work in public health. I'm just looking for info about the public health system. I've clicked around some different websites but I am rather confused! Is it even feasible to work in public health as an international grad? What exactly do PHNs do in Australia?

Thanks in advance!

Melis

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i would say that you may have look up the government websites...depending on what state you want to be in. such as the queensland site is www.health.qld.gov.au or the nsw one is www.health.nsw.gov.au etc.

don't know if that helps you at all?

what is a phn??

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

I guess a PHN must be a 'public health nurse'? Whether they work in the hospital, community health or other allied nursing specialities?

First, I think you need to check the immigration site to see whether Canadian qualifications are recognised. I know for us to go there we have to do additional things to meet up with Canada's requirements.

Take the time to check out the Australian Nurses and Midwifery Councils website, as it defines nursing competencies and ethics, and is composed of members of the various state nursing registration boards. There is an international section.

http://www.anmc.org.au/index.php

I'm in the public health system, or should I say, I'm in the Northern Territory public health system, as each health department is State based. Thus the nurses boards are also state based.

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Thank you for your posts!

Sorry for the acronym! A PHN is a public health nurse.

In my province we have public health units out in the community where nurses immunize, provide sexual health services, well-baby visits, teach prenatal, etc. It's not an acute care setting.

But you are saying that public health nurses work in settings other than in the community? That is fantastic!

Thank you for the websites! This is probably a 1 or 2 year plan so I'm just in the information gathering stage right now.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
TSorry for the acronym! A PHN is a public health nurse.

In my province we have public health units out in the community where nurses immunize, provide sexual health services, well-baby visits, teach prenatal, etc. It's not an acute care setting.

A public health nurse here is someone who works in the public health system. I think what you are defining is a community health nurse, palliative care nurses and other specialty nurses who work in the community. Is there a difference in qualifications? Here we have to do our basic degree and then usually either have heaps of experience, or do a postgraduate certificate or diploma to work in the community...

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Ok - now this is making sense!

I have my 4 year Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Other than that I do not have additional qualifications. I was lucky enough to be hired as a community nurse straight out of school.

Most people need heaps of experience before working in the community but I was lucky enough to find an employer that hires and trains people straight out of university.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

BTW any luck re: nursing out here? Are Canadian qualifications readily accepted? I really find this international attitude sad. Why can't countries just assess a person's skills?

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So far what I've been able to see is this:

If you undertook your initial nurse training/undergraduate degree in any of the following countries you will most probably be able to directly transfer your registration.

  • United Kingdom
  • Republic of Ireland
  • New Zealand (fairly hassle free registration for NZ Nurses, can take as little as 10 days depending on which state you register with)
  • USA
  • Canada
  • South Africa **
  • Singapore **
  • Hong Kong **

** Nurses with qualifications obtained in these countries may be eligible to register with Australian Nursing Authorities but will most probably have to show evidence of level of English skills.

So this seems promising! I understand that they want qualified people working but I find it weird that you guys have to do extra things to meet up with Canada's requirements! I've looked at your programs and they certainly seem up to par (if not more intense) than ours!

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

Great! So when are you planning on coming out here?

Have you had any luck in finding out re: grad programmes? I think what you'd need to do is check out various departments of health for the availability of same. I live in the Northern Territory. Up here the graduate programme for RNs is a year. We are rotated around three different specialities. No two graduates have the same rotations. I think that community health can be part of a rotation, but I am unsure about that. You don't always get the rotations you request here anyhow...

BTW feel free to PM me anytime...

Jay

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Dear Nyapa,

I desperately need to ask you some questions..

but I cant find any Private message or email link in your profile..

how do i get in touch with you? :(

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Sorry, but have not seen them posting here in months.

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Thank you so much :)

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