European educated RN wanting to go to Australia

[monty0308]

Hello everyone

I am an Registered Nurse in Germany (educated in Germany) and my education program is consistent with the European Directive 2005/36/EC.

I have been working in Mental Health for one year in Germany. I am highly interested in immigrating to Australia on a long term basis to continue working in the Mental Health field. I would like to go to Sydney or Melboure or Darwin...wherever I could find a job.

Are my education and experience in Mental Health sufficient for The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council/ Immigration Authority and/ or for finding an employer?

I have heard that Mental Health Nurses in Australia have been trained solely to work in Mental Health...and they all have Bachelor's degrees? Is that correct? Will I be allowed to work in Mental Health as a Registered Nurse?

I know that my education is consistent with the EU directive mentioned above to work as a General Nurse. In Australia, does this include Mental Health Nursing?

Please help.

Thank you so much!

[MCGJ2]

Hi,

There is no specific mental health nurse training in Australia. Some nurses do a grad programme in mental health after gaining general registration. I think this is a 12 or 18 month course only where they gain what is called an endoresment. I'm a mental health overseas trained nurse and work in Queensland. Most nurses I have worked with in mental health are general trained with no mental health qualifications so with some experience in mental health you would get an RN possition. Mental health qualifications would be required for a higher possition however eg: Nurse Unit Manager.

[monty0308]

Thank you very much MCGJ2. That programme you mentioned sounds very interesting to me...Do you know or think if it is available for new graduates from overseas? Anybody?

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

http://www.health.qld.gov.au/qcmhl/MHScho.asp

Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Psychiatric) -- various universities