Meeting AHPRA requirements as a International Trained Nurse from the Philippines

[Silverdragon102]

New thread discussing meeting APHRA requirements if trained in the Philippines.

Resources

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

International registration / Nurses / Home - Nursing Council of New Zealand

Part 1 thread New grad Filipino nurse wanting to work in Australia/New Zealand

Part 2 thread New grad Filipino nurse wanting to work in Australia/New Zealand

I have started a thread in the Immigration for Immigration requirements for Australia/New Zealand

[mae05]

I think its just a hoax..i have heard of that since last year or maybe they are planning to do it,but definitely not next year because AHPRA is still issuing LOE for bridging program

I hope you are right. Do you know what are the required vaccinations?

It is required for what?

Thank you! :)

[jmolina1985]

Hi! It is my first time to make a comment on this thread but I have been following this thread since I applied for AHPRA registration.

AHPRA received my application last October 31, 2013. I am also waiting for my letter of eligibility for more than a year now. I can totally relate in your agony. But recently, my best friend, who is already an AUS RN, told me that AHPRA will abolish the bridging program next year and change it to a one year study program. I am hoping that it is not true because most of us are planning to have our bridging next year. According to her, this will be the last year they will hold the bridging program.

Does anyone know the same news?

A friend of mine (Now an RN Div1) was told by her school that such is the case however, we must look at the facts.

AHPRA had the opportunity to abolish it (BP) during the recent changes, despite this, their rigorous research lead them to conclude that Philippine and Indian trained nurses qualify for the bridging program (and we make up a huge bulk of BP nurses).

Schools are authorized to run the BP, some even until 2019. If AHPRA decided to phase out the BP then it would not have granted such a long-term permit.

BP schools are in full swing on their marketing efforts after the outcome of PH and IN nurses. If the BP would be phased out, these schools would begin divesting from the program and begin structuring for a new business model but instead, they are adding intakes.

The one year study program is informal and depends largely on which university you are dealing with. RMIT and Deakin offers it (not sure with La Trobe) but ACU does not offer it for less than 2 years. Hence, this *suggests* that the one year program is not a standardized framework and is outside or minimally influenced by AHPRA.

In my opinion only, emphasis is given towards credentials assessment, if a candidate fails to meet the requirements then he is referred to a university.

So, there you have it. These are facts and observable trends. So far, I am yet to see anything that points towards the other direction.

[connexion]

Agencies have a role to play, and indeed there are bad apples, and there are good ones. Monash picked the group that it is dealing with after a two-year search, and my understanding is, those taking the Monash IRON have a choice to either enrol in the IRON ONLY, or use all or some of the Monash's agent's services. In fact, scholars will be get free tuition (valued at AU$12,500), and they will also be exempted from paying administrative fees to the agents, unless scholars opt to utilize services in connection with migration, etc.

[connexion]

Absolutely not a hoax!!! The companies have been officially tasked by Monash University to handle the search for, and screening of candidates. There are no harm and no cost in contacting the companies to apply for the scholarship. In fact, scholars will not be charged administrative fees, but only fees for specific services, such as migration advice, if a nurse subscribes to such service or services.

[jmolina1985]

Relax connexion, people are speculative and after my personal experience (and others too) with agencies I do believe I am qualified to advise people to be cautious. You are right that there are good ones but one cannot be too careful. Monash has given me a formal response and had directed enquiries themselves to Auss-One which then pointed me to education linkages. At least I was able to trace the agency from Monash themselves.

I will be popping in their office (Melbourne) tomorrow and will keep you guys posted.

[rina.bella]

@connexion: are you chosen for the monash scholarship? What are their qualifications in choosing scholars? Is it still open for applications?

[rina.bella]

@mae: vaccinations are required by schools before you enroll

[rina.bella]

@jmolina. Yes pls. Drop by at their office and kindly confirm if the scholarship is true.Thank you

[connexion]

There are still scholarships available out of the 100 that will be availed of starting with the 2015 intakes. I quote the information below from the Monash University's and its collaborator-company's announcements when Monash conducted information sessions in the Philippines last July 2014.

Requirements to basically qualify for application for the scholarships:

1. Candidates should have practiced nursing in a tertiary hospital with at least 200 beds of capacity, for a minimum of three years within the five years immediately preceding the application.

2. AHPRA letter of eligibility. (Those who have filed applications to AHPRA and are awaiting their letter of eligibility will be considered for later intakes.)

[connexion]

Hi jmolina1985, yes, indeed, due diligence is very, very important. And it's helpful to many nurses that you are in Melbourne and have the chance to check out the Monash scholarships that will be a huge load off the cost to the grantees. Maraming salamat!

[official02]

I'm looking forward to that scholarship. Haha.

---

This is the reply of my RO to my queries about registration fee refund, application fee, re-application, and other requirements.

Dear Mr Sodium Bicarbonate,

Thank you for your email.

If you do not make a submission to the Board's proposal, your application will be closed after 7 December 2014 and we will refund the registration fee to you. The amount will be $160.

The Board have proposed to refuse your application for registration and advised that you may obtain registration after completion of a bridging program. Therefore, although this was done in the past, we cannot keep your application open indefinitely. You will be applying for registration again after completion of a program. Not all applicants choose to undertake the program.

Your new application after completion of a course will take no longer than 4-6 weeks to complete. You are not required to be assessed as an international nurse again and we will not need to look at your overseas qualification again. We do however, need to ensure you meet the suitability requirements (English language, criminal history etc) at the time you apply for registration. The application process will be much more simple.

It is now a requirement that the application is closed as per our process and you apply again after completion of a program. This is why you will be required to pay the application fee, and other applicants in the past may not have.

AHPRA does not differentiate between states. We have an office in each state and territory but there is only National registration. You can undertake the program in any state you like, and ideally apply for registration in the state you completed the program.

You will only be required to submit documents which are no longer valid; ie certificate of good standing.

These changes have been made to ensure we keep in line with the National Law and all health practitioners who are registered are suitable to do so. I cannot comment on applications from the past, as the process has been subject to change.

I hope this has provided clarification.

Kind regards,

Calcium Carbonate

Registration Officer

[mae05]

There are still scholarships available out of the 100 that will be availed of starting with the 2015 intakes. I quote the information below from the Monash University's and its collaborator-company's announcements when Monash conducted information sessions in the Philippines last July 2014.

Requirements to basically qualify for application for the scholarships:

1. Candidates should have practiced nursing in a tertiary hospital with at least 200 beds of capacity, for a minimum of three years within the five years immediately preceding the application.

2. AHPRA letter of eligibility. (Those who have filed applications to AHPRA and are awaiting their letter of eligibility will be considered for later intakes.)

Hi! Will you please give me the link? Thank you!!!