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

[jcrisostomo8]

Hi everyone!!!! I am not an active member (by that i mean, not posting and reading frequently) but hey i've got my referral letter for bp dated Nov. 24, 2014. Okay, so Iodged my application Sept. 2013, documents came to Queensland office October. However, papers from PRC did not arrive (it was a complete hassle because I paid for DHL courier inside the PRC compound, and was so secured that my papers would come on time). So what I did was chose the other way of sending through post (which took i guess 3-4 weeks). After that, I think I was informed that all my documents have arrived and just wait for the result. Come 2014, still waited for an update, but what i would receive would always be a generic response that a registration officer will be in touch once i get a result. End of February, i received a letter from AHPRA that there was a new guideline. However due to personal reasons, I cannot process those papers yet. I asked for a 30-day extension, and was able to send necessary papers on March, receipt of these in the AHPRA office was April. Another waiting time. What bugged me too was i kept on receiving wrong emails from a RO, only finding out after a few months that it was meant for me also. (There was a wrong name, and I've had it clarified, I was told to disregard it, then after I was missent an email again, another RO said that it was for me). It was so confusing and frustrating, that I decided not to wait and not think about this Aussie dream anymore. I was also unemployed already so what I did was look for a hospital to train for again, and hopefully be employed. Then last week Nov. 20, I opened my email and poof, there it was! An update telling me that my application was considered. Nov. 24 my letter of eligibility came, along with the referral letter. Which was just right in time, because this friday, I am supposed to sign a 3-year contract bond in the hospital where I was trained. God is good! Anyway, i need help on steps about what i should do after receipt of LOE and referral letter. Thanks to everyone and, patience patience to those who don't have answers yet! :)

[ordoghaz]

Huh?If you are AHPRA registered nurse (which you would be after BP) you apply for modified assessment. That does not need IELTS anymore. And if it does, it should be academic.I applied for full assessment. Lodged with academic IELTS. No worries.Still waiting for both AHPRA and ANMAC.

where are you applying from? yes you can use general ielts for visa application. although i used academic. provided you already have positive skillls assessment from anmac. but you dont need it, unless you are under 60 points.

[ordoghaz]

i think we should create an independent thread for BP.. just for bp processing, this and that, which schools we are going to, compare and all.

[official02]

@ordoghaz

Hi.

What do you mean by saying "you don't need it"?

Isn't it a requirement that all applicants for a skilled visa need a skills assessment?

Accordingly, we may use general IELTS unless otherwise required by an assessing authority. Our assessing authority is ANMAC which requires academic IELTS.

By the way, there's a long standing Bridging Program thread out there. Check it out. :)

[jmolina1985]

Hi jmolina1985 Thanks for your response. Can I ask have you already started applying or do you have to wait until AHPRA issue the letter? I have noticed that some providers offer less clinical placement time, do you think this will impact employment opportunities? I think that the longer the clinical placement the more ready I will feel to get a job. Do employers take this into consideration?

Yes, most schools will require you to have the LoE first. I highly doubt that the placement hours will be taken into consideration. If you manage to get yourself an interview, they are likely to ask for situations which you were able to utilize your nursing skills along with interpersonal skills. It's matter of selling yourself without overdoing it (in my experience, employers can tell if you're being cheeky so be natural and confident).

Monash's partner agency told me that they are now looking into straight PR options for nurses as 457s are becoming rarer while opportunities for PRs are close to unlimited. It would be beneficial to look into it.

@ordoghaz: you know what mate? I thought about your case... if you did your bp in uk to make yourself at par with UK Bachelor of Nursing then maybe that would suffice as UK Bachelor's is assessed as AQF 7 in Aus am I right? Hopefully you'll be exempt.

@yuistefy: I wouldn't advise having them done as early as now as schools may differ specifically and may have a time period in terms of validity. I suggest waitingnfor your LoE and requesting for your school of choice's requirements. The best time I would say is concurrent with your pre departure visa medical or otherwise advised by your school of choice.

@official: I spoke to immigration a few months back and they told me that as long as we have ANMAC's assessment of suitable for immigration then we can use gt as proof of language proficiency. I would be very happy if someone else were to make another call to confirm that they (immi reps) are saying the same thing.

[official02]

@jmolina1985

Well for now, I should take on "one size fits all" and that's academic. Either way, I don't want to sit for IELTS again. Haha.

I'm still waiting for Monash's partner agency for final update regarding final start date and if I passed the scholarship. I already lodged some of the requirements to them except for vaccination and mantoux test. I am asking them for updates every now and then and they are still waiting for the final words from the Uni. Hoping for the best.

I am meeting someone from them next week about their "new pathway" which is about permanent residency and other concerns such scholarship, enrollment and signing of agreement. Bargaining and haggling time, I guess.

[kat76]

good on you jcrisostomo8....we have almost the same story,but still waiting for my LOE as my RO emailed that they will review my application this coming dec.4 so I am hoping to have it the soonest.

Look for a school to do your BP then apply for your visa....check the past threads where a kind bloke posted some of the schools.Good luck!

[vickynurse003]

It is so great to finally see some movement on applications and agree a thread just about BPs would be really great. I have spoken with a few providers and it seems they are lowering the price just to get students because there havent been many in a long time, but for me I feel most confident with the providers offering clinical placement in a range of settings and can tell me exactly where it will be some have been vague. I think longer clinical placement will mean I will be better equipped to answer the questions in interviews when it comes to that time because maybe Australian employers will want something else in those responses.

If you already have AHPRA registration and ANMAC modified assessment and IELTS has expired DIBP are now accepting other tests for skilled migration too. This is good news for us - might not have to sit IELTS AGAIN!!!

[jcrisostomo8]

@kat76 Why would they need to review?.. Yeah i'm reading previous posts already.. Thank you and I wish your LoE will come soon! :)

[jcrisostomo8]

Does anyone here know something about scholarship programs for bridging? Thanks in advance! :)

[official02]

Monash University's IRON Program will commence on January 5, 2015. This is according to their ELP Australia Director who emailed me earlier. Deadline for passing of requirements is on December 02, 2014. I'm still incomplete. AND no information yet about the scholarship, too bad.

[kat76]

@kat76 Why would they need to review?.. Yeah i'm reading previous posts already.. Thank you and I wish your LoE will come soon! :)[/Q

@jcrisostomo..that's the word my RO wrote that I will email her back again after 4th of Dec to check if my application has been reviewed. :) thanks...been waiting for ages...for the school,I am opting for IHNA,so far the lowest fee hehe..