Graduate Nurse Programs in Australia

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hello everyone!

I searched the net hoping to find employment opportunities in Australia. I found this program offered in most hospitals - The Graduate Nurse Program. I found it really interesting since im a Newly Registered Nurse here in the Philippines with no relevant Hospital experience yet. I would really really love to start my Nursing Career in Australia and get a World-class training in hospitals there.

I would like to ask, if you are enrolled in that program, will you be paid or it will just be pure volunteer work for you? if it really is just volunteer work, how will you support yourself in Australia? will you be allowed to work outside the hospital?

Thank you very much!

Best Regards,

Heparinlock, RN

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Specializes in Medical, Paeds, Ob gyn, NICU.

Hi I am on the Graduate Nurse Program in QLD

It is the first year out of Uni. At my hospital it is a full time position, so yes you get paid.

We are doing 3 rotations through different sections of the hospital and you get recognised as being a 'new' nurse so get a bit more support than if you just start work at the hospital as an RN.

These positions are highly wanted, so can be hard to get into though.

(hope this makes sense, have just finished doing 4 night shifts so my brain is a bit fuzzy LOL)

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hello Tina!

Thank you very much for the info.

I applied for the Graduate Nurse Program 2008 for Epworth Healthcare VIC, however I am still applying for Registration in VIC. Is is really hard to be included in that program?

Thank you very much!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hi Tina,

I would just like to ask if I would have to register first at ANMC prior to applying for registration at the Nurses Board of Victoria?

Thanks much!

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As a new grad from the Philippines, this program is not for you. There are specific requirements that you need to meet in order to get licensed there, and that includes a bridge program.

They also require that you have experience in your own country as well for most.

Thread moved to the International Forum since it is specific to foreign trained nurses wishing to work in Australia and they have a completely different set of requirements to be met.

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Hi Tina,

I would just like to ask if I would have to register first at ANMC prior to applying for registration at the Nurses Board of Victoria?

Thanks much!

You actually need to go thru a bridge program before you will be able to get licensed there.

Suggest that you take the time to do some reading on this forum for the requirements that you are going to need to meet. Applying for any new grad program at this time will not do you any good as they cannot offer you a position without you being ready for licensure there.

You need to go thru the licensure process first and meet the requirements for that first. Since you did not train in Australia or have Aussie citizenship, then these programs are not for you. You will be required to be licensed first, and therefore the Graduate Nurse program would not apply for you.

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Specializes in CTICU.

The Graduate program 2008 started at the beginning of this year, so you are too late for that.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Thanks suzanne!

I am already starting to process for my initial registration in Victoria Australia. I am planning to join the Graduate Nurse Program for 2009.

How long will that Bridge Program take place ma'am suzanne? will I be allowed to work when i'm enrolled in that program? I'm considering Epworth HEalthcare.

Thanks and best regards;)

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Thanks suzanne!

I am already starting to process for my initial registration in Victoria Australia. I am planning to join the Graduate Nurse Program for 2009.

How long will that Bridge Program take place ma'am suzanne? will I be allowed to work when i'm enrolled in that program? I'm considering Epworth HEalthcare.

Thanks and best regards;)

Sorry, but you are approaching things completely wrong. There is absolutely no way that you will be able to join a graduate nurse program in just six months, you need to go thru all of the procedures to be able to get licensed there first as well as immigration. You are looking for jobs that are specific to graduates from there that do not need to go thru the immigration process at all.

No, you cannot work while you are in the bridge program as it is full-time and you are expected to pay for the bridge program. Suggest that you take the time to do some reading here on this site and find out all that you need to know. It is apparent that you are not aware of the processing that is required.

Also not sure if you have experience as an RN yet in the Philippines, or anywhere else as of yet; they will not grant permission for you to do the bridge program without that either.

Exactly, what type of experience do you have before you start doing things and paying for things that are out of one's reach at this time?

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
Thanks suzanne!

I am already starting to process for my initial registration in Victoria Australia. I am planning to join the Graduate Nurse Program for 2009.

How long will that Bridge Program take place ma'am suzanne? will I be allowed to work when i'm enrolled in that program? I'm considering Epworth HEalthcare.

Thanks and best regards;)

Which hospital are you planning to do your graduate programme in? In the Territory, our graduate programmes are run with three intakes, but the positions are very hard to get into. There are also the ONCAP programmes which allow you to be recognised in Australia.

I think you need to contact a hospital you are interested in. Maybe if you go through the Victorian Nurses Board - send them an email or ring them - they may be able to help you, because I'm not sure if you have to do a university component as well...

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These graduate nurse programs are for someone that has already completed the bridge program so that they can be able to get a license. None of the states will let one go into any of these programs without having done the additional training that is required beforehand.

These programs are geared towards graduates of Aussie programs as well, they are always going to get the best chance at getting one and if they are hard to get into for an Aussie, for a foreign trained nurse it is going to be almost next to nil.

This is the point that I am trying to make. One first must go on the student visa and complete the requirements. The graduate nurse programs require that they have a full visa to work there and they will not be able to get one without having the program done first.

Immigration plays a big part of this.

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At the risk of sounding harsh, I don't think the New Graduate Programs should take foreign trained RNs. Australia and NZ have their own new grads who have been trained to work with the local population and they should always have priority. Australia and NZ need experienced nurses, not new graduates from a foreign country, who require substantial acclimatisation and further ongoing supervision and training.

I believe every country should foster an environment of teaching and support of its own nurses and active measures to continue to keep those nurses as they become skilled and experienced.

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