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
Hi everyone! I have a concern regarding the visa application. Since my school doesn't have a CRICOS code, I can't apply for a student visa. That would mean I would go for the 456. Do I really have to go back to the Philippines after the bridging program since the 456 allows only 3 months stay? Or am I always allowed to apply for a tourist visa before the 456 expires and my bp ends?I would really appreciate your help guys. My cousin has been telling me it's too risky and that I should just wait for the January 2013 intake of La Trobe, since they have a CRICOS code.
It depends on the restriction/s imposed on your 456 visa. For me, I got a 456 multiple entry for a year. It means that I can stay in Australia for a maximum of 3 months upon arrival, then I need to leave Australia (go anywhere, New Zealand, Philippines etc as long as you leave Australia) then come back again. But if you will be given a 456 single entry then it means that you're visa will be valid for 3 months after which you need to leave Australia and go back home then apply again for another visa or apply for a tourist visa before your 3 months end. Finally, if you will be given a 456 single entry with no further stay restriction then your only option is to go back home after 3 months and apply for another visa.
If I were you, I will go for the earliest course and just apply for a 456 visa. Anyway, I have not heard anyone who got a 456 single entry with no further stay restriction. Most got multiple entry but of course there are few of those who got single entry. Those who got single entry applied for a tourist visa before the end of their 3 months stay.
I myself would like to work in a fast-paced hospital environment. I've repeatedly affirmed to myself I'm not cut out for long term/hospice care so I'm really hoping I can find work in other areas. How about the intensives? I know the norm is to train in a general ward before getting into the ICU, but are there instances when local ICU experience is considered for placement in the intensives? Thanks for the advice on the bridging programs, I'm pretty eager and open when it comes to learning so an attitude problem is unlikely for me, haha. Plus, I hear that people are generally sunny and nice, so I guess it wont be hard for me work with the team.
You mention you're adequately paid for the job...i hope it isnt asking too much, but I hope you can you give us an idea of how much you're making there, especially while you're still starting out. I'm borrowing money from my mom and aunt, so I wanna make sure I'll be able to pay them off. More importantly, I wanna get an idea of how much time it'll take to do that. How about the standard of living? rent? are you all paying for this on your own now?
Thanks again for the info you share so generously. Godbless!
I assure you that you can pay off whatever you have borrowed from whoever it is...even with interest. I have borrowed also from relatives and from the bank. All of us are in the same boat i suppose. in the first place, if you have P1M in the bank and have been earning much in the Philippines, you wouldn't risk coming here, right?
Anyway, as far as salaries and benefits are concerned, it is standard here in Australia depending on which state you work and live in. Sydney pays a bit higher than Melbourne because the cost of living here is also higher. As for the actual salary package, you can google it. it's all there.
With regards to living expenses, it's safe to say that it will cost you around Aus $1,000 per month either for bp purposes or when you are working already. Most of us here cook our own meals and bring home cooked meals to the school or to our work places. You can definitely save a lot if you are living with relatives rent free. A rough breakdown is as follows :
Homestay (including utilities) - $600
Food (home cooked) - 300
Travelling - 100
I am paying for all my living expenses already. I can save enough money to go home for a 2 week vacation in June and a 1 month vacation this Dec. This is only my basic pay. How much more when I do overtime work, holidays, and weekends. I reckon I can pay back all that I borrowed within 1 to 1.5 yrs. Not bad.
Btw, if an employer sponsors for a 457 visa, how long does the nurse usually have to stay with them? TIA!
It depends on your contract. some have 1 , 2, or 3 year contract. based on my experience, nursing homes sponsor employees for PR after 2 years. hospitals sponsor your PR way earlier. Between 6 to 12 months. And even if you are still in contract with them, you can leave your employer for another company immediately after being granted PR without any legal consequences.
Speaking of ICU, it's the most difficult area to go in for us foreign trained nurses. In my case, I really wanted to go in ICU immediately. But my employer explained to me why they prefer for me to have at least 2 to 3 years experience with them in other wards before being considered for ICU. This is because they use a lot of machines in the ICU that we are not familiar with.
I am now in the critical care unit - cardiac. This allows me to sometimes be assigned in the ICU. And I understand why I need to slowly be exposed to an actual ICU patient. it's really mind boggling how many machines are attached to a patient. This past week, I was taking care of a patient post parathyroidectomy. This is a very simple case. The pt was just put in the ICU because there were no more beds available in the cardiac or medical ward. But the other patients who had heart bypass surgeries were attached to at least 10 machines. And the IV fluid meds were also a lot. I am not competent to look after these types of cases. And you have to constantly record everything on a 15 min to 30 min interval.
hi guys! i'm just new here..it seems that most of the people here know a lot about aphra application. i'm also one of you guys who want to pursue my nursing profession in australia. well, i got a lot of questions regarding the application process so i can go for a bridging program. i just filed my application in aphra-wa. i received an email from them confirming that they have received my application last february 02, 2012. indicated in their email was this:
in order to assist ahpra staff with the assessment process, can you please provide us with the following information:
- if your current australian visa is expiring within the next two months, please provide your visa number, type and expiry date.
- if you have an offer of employment in australia as a nurse commencing within the next two months, please provide a letter of offer from your employer stating the intended commencement date.
- if neither of the above apply, i would be obliged if you could confirm the state or territory where you intend to be employed once you gain registration.
in order that your application can be assessed further, could you please forward a certified copy of the course outline or student handbook from the university or institution where your qualification was conferred. we do not require the whole course syllabus, simply an outline of the courses conducted, and the theoretical and clinical units undertaken within each course.
with regard to this, i'm quite confused on what to answer. first of all, i don't have a current australian visa and an offer of employment. well, right now, i still cannot confirm the state or terriroty where i intend to be employed. how should i answer this?..because i will undergo bp first..please help..
also, i already included in the attachments a certified copy of the course outline. should i submit again another copy or just tell them that i already forwarded it together with my other documents?..
kindly enlighten me regarding this matter. thank you and god bless!=)
it depends on the restriction/s imposed on your 456 visa. for me, i got a 456 multiple entry for a year. it means that i can stay in australia for a maximum of 3 months upon arrival, then i need to leave australia (go anywhere, new zealand, philippines etc as long as you leave australia) then come back again. but if you will be given a 456 single entry then it means that you're visa will be valid for 3 months after which you need to leave australia and go back home then apply again for another visa or apply for a tourist visa before your 3 months end. finally, if you will be given a 456 single entry with no further stay restriction then your only option is to go back home after 3 months and apply for another visa.
if i were you, i will go for the earliest course and just apply for a 456 visa. anyway, i have not heard anyone who got a 456 single entry with no further stay restriction. most got multiple entry but of course there are few of those who got single entry. those who got single entry applied for a tourist visa before the end of their 3 months stay.
ok.. so if i'll be granted a 456 single entry, then i can apply for a tourist visa (before 456 expires) while in australia and while undergoing my bp. but if granted a 456 no further stay, then i really have to go back home immediately after bp ends? oh my. now i'm getting scared. thanks for the advice hotrod. really appreciate it.
but were you an ICU nurse back here in the Philippines? i have been with ICU here for almost 2 years now and have been exposed to patients who had undergone post cabg, with all those contraptions, vasopressors, iabp and other machines attached. i really am hoping our experiences here will be credited there.but good luck to you :) you'll surely get there :)
thanks redhotchilioreo! I sent them my papers october 2011 then got my LOE by november.. im now processing my enrolment in univ of south australia.. i thin you may also take the bp in any area regardless of where you passes you ahpra application.. i hope you pursue with your plans.. good luck too!
"how much is the tuition there? How about your application?when did you send it?
it's College of Nursing. "
i cant send you any pm yet so i have to send it here.. my tuition took 14,700AUD.. and it's a 4month program.. which application are you referring to? i will process my enrolment and visa this week.. so hopefully i'll be approved...
hi! are you now having your bp? it seems that most people here use the 456 visa.. my consultant preferred a student visa for me.. is 456 better? thanks! :)
hot_rod3484
51 Posts
It depends on the restriction/s imposed on your 456 visa. For me, I got a 456 multiple entry for a year. It means that I can stay in Australia for a maximum of 3 months upon arrival, then I need to leave Australia (go anywhere, New Zealand, Philippines etc as long as you leave Australia) then come back again. But if you will be given a 456 single entry then it means that you're visa will be valid for 3 months after which you need to leave Australia and go back home then apply again for another visa or apply for a tourist visa before your 3 months end. Finally, if you will be given a 456 single entry with no further stay restriction then your only option is to go back home after 3 months and apply for another visa.
If I were you, I will go for the earliest course and just apply for a 456 visa. Anyway, I have not heard anyone who got a 456 single entry with no further stay restriction. Most got multiple entry but of course there are few of those who got single entry. Those who got single entry applied for a tourist visa before the end of their 3 months stay.