Bridging Program in Australia

World Registration

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Hi. I am new here. I don't know exactly where to go. I am a registered nurse here in the Philippines and I am interested in studying in Australia for a bridging course that will help me become a registered nurse there. I need some help on looking for a good school that offers a bridging course.

My aunt told me that a friend of her friend just went to AU to take up a test and in 6 months she's there for a bridging program. and I have this friend who has a friend who became a registered nurse in AU in 6 months time too. This agency is offering me to study for a certificate III aged care with occupational English test for 46 weeks in Einstein College but it costs too much. So now, I am trying to look for a school wherein I can apply by myself and hopefully get in. I am hoping I could leave for AU this June 2011. I am a bit lost on what to do. Can you help me, please? Any suggestions? ? Please help me. Thank you very much. :clown:

(Sydney area would be better since my parents are more familiar and in favor of that place... though other cities/areas will be great too)

I am not a member of the assessment team at AHPRA but I am sure you will not qualify for a bridging program. You are not an RN to bridge to an RN. Part of the application to be an RN is to give details of your nursing board to give statement of good standing. This is not possible if you are not an RN.

I do not know what they will ask you to do to qualify as an RN in Australia. Consider passing your own country's national exam. There would be questions on why you are not qualified in your own country. NCLEX is not part of Australian nursing registration, it would hold no credence even if you passed. AHPRA are only concerned in you Registration as an RN. As I have read you can pass a NCLEX in a state of the USA, does not mean you will become a Registered Nurse and that is the only thing of interest to AHPRA, you being a nurse Registered with a nursing body.

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It will be difficult on getting a work visa in Australia even if you do get Registration as you have no experience. Like every other country, local graduates are having a hard time getting work so a sponsored visa with unexperienced RN would be frowned upon. You would not qualify for skilled immigration if you do not have at least 3 months paid work as an RN or to get the points at least 3 years paid RN experience.

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I'm confused. Once I pass the NCLEX, I would be an RN in the US. You said that I should become an RN to bridge for an RN program. I think my only dilemma now is the experience.

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You never mentioned in your post that you have USA residency. Many have posted that they sit the NCLEX but cannot be registered as they do not have US residency and therefore the nursing boards over there will not Register them without residency, NCLEX passer or not. It is difficult to answer someone without knowing all the background. Without knowing how long since you graduated, english IELTS 7 one sitting and the AHPRA expectation of 20 cpd every year since graduation here are the facts:

After 5 years of non experience since graduation you will not be entitled to bridging program.

Have you got proof of continuous professional development of 20 hours every year since graduation.

Do you think it suitable of yourself to work in foreign country with just a bridging program?

You will find it extremely difficult to get sponsorship visa so that you can work with no experience.

As AHPRA have had a change in policy for overseas nurses and there were no assessments for sometime, the Bridging schools seem to falling over each other for students. This is the one thing in your favour. AHPRA were allowing OS nurses with no experience to do bridging course if they were new graduates IE: only 2 years graduated.

AHPRA assess is wholly on undergraduate education, not where one is registered or where they have worked professionally as RN

No one really knows AHPRA's exact assessments are these days and their advice and mine to you are everyone is assessed individually and no one can really tell you for sure unless you put in your application

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Hi everyone, can you pls. Share your bridging experience.. Thank you it would be greatly appreciated

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Once I pass the NCLEX, am I not a nurse in the USA? I didn't take my local boards, does that mean I am not eligible for the bridging program? Or will they just ask me to study for a longer period of time like for 1 year?

Firstly, where do you really want to work as an RN? You are taking NCLEX yet you want to go to Australia and take bridging program. Why are you wasting money in taking NCLEX if you want to go to Australia? Moreover, you are educated in the Philippines, you cannot bypass IQNM criterion relating to education system. Even if you become an RN in the US, you will still need to take bridging program and as of today you cannot submit an AHPRA app because you are do not have any initial registration elsewhere. Furthermore, AHPRA needs recency of practise of around 3 months to fulfill this requirement. Since you are not registered in the Philippines and/or US, you cannot provide any evidence of such.

Perhaps, since it seems to me that you have money to finance your RN journey, you can take 2 years degree course in Australia. 1 year conversion course needs that you are an RN overseas. Lastly, what will happen you after this? It will be very very very difficult for you to obtain job. You are competing with the experienced locals, experienced UK, NZ nurses. Also, you are competing with your fellow Filipino nurses who have 3-5 years experience yet having a difficult time to land a job and yes I am part of them.

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Specializes in Adult ICU.

Hello! Good luck with the program! I am also interested in taking the bridging program in ACN, do you have any idea when will be the next intake in ACN? and next year intake? thanks

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Specializes in Adult ICU.

Hello! been following this thread and getting a lot of helpful information from this site. My husband and I are both interested in taking bridging. We are both nurses working here in UAE. Although, I plan do it first since I got the required score in Ielts and hopefully he will soon follow. My plan is to take it in ACN, that's in Burwood next year, since my sister live nearby that school. So accomodation would be free. Few of my Indian colleagues are already taking the program. Is it true that after the bridging program, you have to apply for the PR registration in order to get a job? Is it easy to get a job right after the program? My main concern is how fast it is to get a job in Sydney? I have 8 years experience in ICU, and I'm a bit paranoid that I might not get a job in an icu setting.

please enlighten me.

thank you so much for your time.

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Hello! been following this thread and getting a lot of helpful information from this site. My husband and I are both interested in taking bridging. We are both nurses working here in UAE. Although, I plan do it first since I got the required score in Ielts and hopefully he will soon follow. My plan is to take it in ACN, that's in Burwood next year, since my sister live nearby that school. So accomodation would be free. Few of my Indian colleagues are already taking the program. Is it true that after the bridging program, you have to apply for the PR registration in order to get a job? Is it easy to get a job right after the program? My main concern is how fast it is to get a job in Sydney? I have 8 years experience in ICU, and I'm a bit paranoid that I might not get a job in an icu setting.

please enlighten me.

thank you so much for your time.

ICU? 8 years? You'll be fine.

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Yes, it took a year for my application to get the approval. There were no questions nor additional requirements requested from me. It just took so long:crying2:. According to my agent, a lot of applicants were already complaining :down:about the way they handle the applications. Some case managers took a leave, some resigned.... The case manager handling my application resigned, leaving my papers steady for quite sometime. I had to wait for another manager to handle my application (and that took months!):uhoh3:

Once you get the approval from AHPRA (any state), you can choose a state where you want to take your Bridging Course. If you pass the program, you can work any where in Australia. :yeah::twocents:

Do you have relatives in Australia? They can be of big help in lodging your application. Agents are also helpful. My agent is based in Australia. We just communicate through skype. :)

Can you tell me about which agent that help?

THANK YOU

[email protected]

Please Email back to me thank you

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Hello folks! I do have a line-up of educational providers for my bridging program. So my concern is where to enroll. I don't have a gist on the reputation of these schools so I may need to ask for help and assistance in sorting out these stuff. It could be just a recommendation, tip or based on your personal experience. This community has already helped me a lot and I do apologize if I am pushing my luck too much. Anyways, I have these schools:

1.) Australian Centre for Further Education (Melbourne, Victoria)

2.) Lonsdale Institute (Myrtleford, Victoria)

3.) Australian College of Nursing (Burwood, Sydney)

4.) Institute of Health and Nursing (Melbourne, Victoria)

Thank you in advance for helping out a needy and confused folk.

P.S. I'm targeting the September/October intakes.

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Anyone who knows any information regarding cheaper bridging course at the moment? How about bridging course in perth or southern territory, Australia? Thank you in advance! :)

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