Due to recent changes regarding applications for International nurses to Australia and the combining of the nursing boards to one central nursing board in Australia AHPRA I have started a new thread for people to discuss the new process on working in Australia.
Currently New Zealand is not accepting new applicants from International trained nurses except those that meet the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement {TTMR} this will be updated once the New Zealand nursing board reopen their books to International nurses.
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency AHPRA
Today, i feel so blessed!! Why? this is what happened: I had an interview by ACFE last week and on the same day, i read in their website that they will be going to send the offer letter for their successful applicants on Dec. 5. During that day, I wasn't expecting but i just can't stop myself from hoping to receive an offer letter. Unfortunately, i didn't! I was been a couch potato for the whole day till midnight just to wait for the offer but it never came ..On the following day, i decided to find other schools and placed more effort and time so i could find one. Yet, no one replied, oh my gosh!another hurdle to take?? but i never stop praying! Upon waking up yesterday, something was pushing me to send an enquiry to ACFE regarding the result of my interview. I was never expecting this much, but i received an email from the school offering me the January intake instead of March. i was overwhelmed:eek: especially my hope was almost vanished thru a thin air.
By now, i am busy as bee preparing everything esp my visa application.Hoping i could finish everything weeks before my class commences..
For all forumers here who helped me from the start till now, thank you very much!
You are on the same boat as I am. I just finished my BP last week with ETEA. I have about 2 years work experience in ER. I was fortunate to do my clinical placement in NSW (Sydney) and visit my cousin in Brisbane, QL after the BP.
There are lots of job vacancies at present in NSW. There are some in QL also. I didn't bother applying for jobs in Victoria because the job situation here in Melbourne is a bit tight for the moment. The government has been doing budget cuts for the health sector. It really didn't discourage me though because I find Melbourne too cold.
Anyway, I have sent on-line applications to at least 20 job vacancies in the government sector. I have also sent job applications to private hospitals. Some employers are picky. They emailed me that they prefer applicants with "very" extensive work experience. Some have also given positive responses initially. But since I applied for jobs even without my license (my school told me that my RN license will be released in 2 to 4 weeks time), they still have to wait until I get it before they could seriously consider me for the job and start processing my visa sponsorship.
The thing is, an applicant should not be picky and choose only places that they want to work in. Be prepared to accept job offers in the rural area. One employer is offering me an ER job in a rural area 4 hours away by train from Sydney. I didn't decline the offer initially. As what my cousin advised me...."collect, then select" .
I am flying home to my family before the Christmas holidays. I will be staying on until 1st or 2nd week of January. Still haven't booked my return light to Aus though because I still don't know where I will be working. I'm fortunate to have a multiple entry 456 visa so I don't have problems flying back to Aus anytime.
By the way, if you really want to work in ER (like me ), you could enroll in Advanced Life Support (ALS) here after the BP. It's just a 2 day course. It could help, because they asked me if I have one. They prefer an Ozzie course though. The one I got is already more than 2 years old .
It's really best that RN's like us have some work experience before coming over here. AHPRA requires 3 months but most of the BP schools require at least 1 to 2 year work experience before they consider you for a slot. And employers are looking for extensive work experience also. There are no short cuts. But if some insist, then by all means. Nursing homes can also be an option. Some don't require work experience at all. But I prefer hospitals though. I am a person that gets bored easily. I like the fast-paced environment of the ER or critical areas because time flies so fast when you are busy.
I hope to have given you a clearer picture of the job market.
Hi joiemike! I have just finished my BP course last week, but unlike you, I was not able to go home for the holidays because I only have a single entry. Hmm, regarding the sponsporship, if you're not too picky, I know a nursing agency who sponsors overseas nurses. They're affiliated with a number of public institution in NSW. It wouldn't be easy though because you will be sent to different institution every now and then. Well, if you're interested, let me know, I'll give you the details.
And to everyone, the immigration is getting stricter nowadays. When I first applied for my Visitor's Visa in NSW, they asked me so many questions and then were just giving me 4 weeks NO FURTHER STAY, so I withdrew my application and tried applying here in Melbourne instead. Luckily, here in Melbourne, there were no questions asked and I was granted 2 months without the NO FURTHER STAY condition. Some of my classmates were just granted 4 weeks though. Oh well, to everyone wanting to take this route...it's getting tougher, but with God's help, nothing is impossible! :)
Hi joiemike! I have just finished my BP course last week, but unlike you, I was not able to go home for the holidays because I only have a single entry. Hmm, regarding the sponsporship, if you're not too picky, I know a nursing agency who sponsors overseas nurses. They're affiliated with a number of public institution in NSW. It wouldn't be easy though because you will be sent to different institution every now and then. Well, if you're interested, let me know, I'll give you the details.
And to everyone, the immigration is getting stricter nowadays. When I first applied for my Visitor's Visa in NSW, they asked me so many questions and then were just giving me 4 weeks NO FURTHER STAY, so I withdrew my application and tried applying here in Melbourne instead. Luckily, here in Melbourne, there were no questions asked and I was granted 2 months without the NO FURTHER STAY condition. Some of my classmates were just granted 4 weeks though. Oh well, to everyone wanting to take this route...it's getting tougher, but with God's help, nothing is impossible! :)
Hi isingrn,
I'm interested with the nursing agency you're referring to. Can you send me the details through PM? Thank you
hi guys, i have a 6.5 in writing (IELTS) and im planning to lodge my application to ahpra at the moment. while still waiting for the papers, im planning to retake ielts, and hopefully send the results afterwards. do you think this is a good idea? i wanted to try this option to save time. at least while completing for the other requirements, my papers are already being assessed or so. in other words i'm already on the line.
i also heard that they allow registration even without ielts as long as you can provide a proof that you've been using english as your medium of instruction. how true is that?
i'm a bit confused right now because i have a friend in victoria undergoing a BP. she claimed that majority of her classmates didn't take ielts but just provided a proof that english is their medium at school.
hi guys, i have a 6.5 in writing (IELTS) and im planning to lodge my application to ahpra at the moment. while still waiting for the papers, im planning to retake ielts, and hopefully send the results afterwards. do you think this is a good idea? i wanted to try this option to save time. at least while completing for the other requirements, my papers are already being assessed or so. in other words i'm already on the line.
i also heard that they allow registration even without ielts as long as you can provide a proof that you've been using english as your medium of instruction. how true is that?
i'm a bit confused right now because i have a friend in victoria undergoing a BP. she claimed that majority of her classmates didn't take ielts but just provided a proof that english is their medium at school.
please please help me be enlightened thanks :)
Your friend wasright. Emphasis on the "was" I'm afraid. Most (about 99%) of the Indian classmates I had didn't go through the IELTS route. But sad to say, AHPRA stopped this option starting Sept 19 of this year. Only those who had at least 5 years education in US, UK, Canada, Aus, NZ, South Africa are exempted from the test.
So, it's only the IELTS for you.
Anyway, you can tell the difference between the Filipinos and the other nationalities in our class. Since all (about 99%) of the Pinoys took the IELTS, we were more eloquent in both written and oral English. The other nationalities were difficult to understand and had difficulty understanding written and oral English. This is especially true when we went on clinical duty. The others felt discriminated against by hospital staff and patients. But no Filipinos felt this though. I would surmise it was just their English speaking capability.
That said, I encourage you to review, practice, practice, and practice. Then, take the IELTS again asap. As to your plan to submit your application to AHPRA, it's entirely up to you. It does make the process faster to submit your papers while undergoing the IELTS test. But just make sure that you get the required scores soon. Once your papers get assessed, the registration officer will email you to ask for outstanding documents. And you usually are required to submit them in 30 to 60 days time. Although you can ask for an extension from this initial deadline if you give a valid reason. Let's just hope you pass the IELTS in your next try. Cheers!!!
Hi Jo! Are they passing these nurses that are having trouble with English?
This is the trouble as a preceptor of students is we say the do not understand English and are therefore incompetent to Practise in English, then we are called racists.
Hope no one dies through poor communication skills.
AHPRA. Are fully responsible for this.
Well done those who did the IELTS anyway nomatter what the policy at the time.
Hi Jo! Are they passing these nurses that are having trouble with English?
This is the trouble as a preceptor of students is we say the do not understand English and are therefore incompetent to Practise in English, then we are called racists.
Hope no one dies through poor communication skills.
AHPRA. Are fully responsible for this.
Well done those who did the IELTS anyway nomatter what the policy at the time.
Yup they do. Only the ones that are really bad in English are sent packing. And that's about only 1 or 2 students per batch. Of the 8 of us assigned to this particular hospital, there were at least 2 or 3 that had difficulty both in written and oral English. Our preceptors kept on reminding them to be careful about their documentation especially the nursing progress notes. They keep on interchanging their tenses. What they meant when they've done this particular nursing intervention came across as having not done yet because the verbs they used were in future tenses (hahahahahaha). Although it's hilarious..., it's definitely wrong and won't stand up to scrutiny during investigations. And they don't even understand basic English words much less use them.
Anyway, correct me if I'm wrong but AHPRA is soon to make a requirement for those foreign trained nurses that have already been given their license to prove their English speaking and writing capability through the IELTS test (This is only for those who did not go through the IELTS route during the registration process). It might sound unfair to some but it's necessary to ensure and maintain high quality nursing care.
Filipinos are fortunate though that our English is good enough and even surpass the minimum score in some IELTS components. Some of us have to just better our English writing skills some more. All it takes is to review, practice, and be conscious of our tenses and grammar which we have learned from primary till high school.
Why? this is what happened: I had an interview by ACFE last week and on the same day, i read in their website that they will be going to send the offer letter for their successful applicants on Dec. 5. During that day, I wasn't expecting but i just can't stop myself from hoping to receive an offer letter. Unfortunately, i didn't! I was been a couch potato for the whole day till midnight just to wait for the offer but it never came 
..On the following day, i decided to find other schools and placed more effort and time so i could find one. Yet, no one replied, oh my gosh!another hurdle to take?? 
but i never stop praying! Upon waking up yesterday, something was pushing me to send an enquiry to ACFE regarding the result of my interview. I was never expecting this much, but i received an email from the school offering me the January intake instead of March. i was overwhelmed:eek: especially my hope was almost vanished thru a thin air.
.
ishtin
116 Posts
sorry but i wasn't able to receive it. can you send it back to me...thanks again :)