Nursing in OZ

gwenith, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2006

Don't worry has US pretty confused too:D

I actually rang the Queensland Nursing Council to try and sort some of this out. Seems that if you are only on a working visa you apply direct to the state registration board, if, however you are thinking of immigrating and applying to immigrate then you go through the Aust. Nursing and Midwifery council.

Clear as mud isn't it?

rems_1017 · May 6, 2006

I am a Filipino nurse, living in Melbourne, Australia. I can help clarify some of the issues about coming to Australia to work but under Australian law, only Registered Migration Agents are allowed to give migration advice. What I can tell you is that there are about 10 different visas for nurses and each has different criteria and restrictions, so it can become very time consuming doing the research and it can take forever trying to decipher the endless information. Some visas are relatively easy to get, cheap and processing can take only a month or two, while other visas are more difficult, expensive and processing can take 6 months or more.

Nurse registration is managed by registration authorities in each Australian state. In Victoria, the authority is Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV). After you apply to NBV for registration, they assess your qualifications and experience, then advise you whether you need to do a "bridging program" which is EITHER a college/university-based course for 3 months (or more) OR "supervised practice" which is hospital-based training for 3 months to assess your competency. Some hospitals provide the supervised practice free while others charge a fee. While you are studying, you can work part-time in a related field such as a personal carer and it is easy to find work once you are here.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) is a national authority who (among other things) assess foreign nurses' qualifications for the purposes of applying for "permanent" visas but ANMC can NOT facilitate registration to allow you to practice as a nurse - that is the job of the state registration authorities.

I'm not an expert but I am living proof that it can be done. I found out how the hard way (endless research online and countless phone calls to Australia). You could spend (waste) a lot of time and money if you do it the wrong way. Along the way I met some very helpful people and I'd be happy to tell you how to contact them if you want to learn more.

bleep073 · Jun 2, 2006

hi! saw your thread, im wondrin if you can give me advice.i currently work

in UK as a nurse. Want to relocate to Oz, for some reason. One is cost of living her in UK is extremely high. What's the cost of living like there? Do you also pay TV license? Is the medical services free there and child education is it free too?

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2006

Cost of living - like other countries - depends on where you live. This might help you compare

http://www.easyexpat.com/mod/cost2_en.htm

This link will tell you more

http://www.healthstaffrecruitment.com.au/nsw-health.php

germaine06 · Jun 20, 2006

hi! i have read your reply and perhaps you could also give me advice with regards to my interest in working in australia..i am a newly BS Nursing graduate here in the PHils, taken the board exams and upto now I am still waiting for the results to come out..

I just want to ask if it is possible that I could get a job once I visited Australia..Can you give me advice as to what are my options..I have visited Australia 3x back when I was 17, and 18 y.o.. I have a sister there who is an Australian Citizen..Please help!thank you and more power! God Bless!!

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2006

My strongest advice is not to try and shortcut the system. You will have a better chance of getting a job though, if you already have some experience post registration. The process can take a loooooong time though. I was talking to a UK nurse who said that it took 18 months to get the initial paperwork sorted but once that was done the actual final review was only a couple of weeks.

lavalin · Jul 30, 2006

I am a Filipino nurse, living in Melbourne, Australia. I can help clarify some of the issues about coming to Australia to work but under Australian law, only Registered Migration Agents are allowed to give migration advice. What I can tell you is that there are about 10 different visas for nurses and each has different criteria and restrictions, so it can become very time consuming doing the research and it can take forever trying to decipher the endless information. Some visas are relatively easy to get, cheap and processing can take only a month or two, while other visas are more difficult, expensive and processing can take 6 months or more.
Nurse registration is managed by registration authorities in each Australian state. In Victoria, the authority is Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV). After you apply to NBV for registration, they assess your qualifications and experience, then advise you whether you need to do a "bridging program" which is EITHER a college/university-based course for 3 months (or more) OR "supervised practice" which is hospital-based training for 3 months to assess your competency. Some hospitals provide the supervised practice free while others charge a fee. While you are studying, you can work part-time in a related field such as a personal carer and it is easy to find work once you are here.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) is a national authority who (among other things) assess foreign nurses' qualifications for the purposes of applying for "permanent" visas but ANMC can NOT facilitate registration to allow you to practice as a nurse - that is the job of the state registration authorities.
I'm not an expert but I am living proof that it can be done. I found out how the hard way (endless research online and countless phone calls to Australia). You could spend (waste) a lot of time and money if you do it the wrong way. Along the way I met some very helpful people and I'd be happy to tell you how to contact them if you want to learn more.

I have no doubt it can be done. Ive seen it happen. Plus comparing the cost of migration to US vs. AUS - I think its more affordable to migrate in AUS. I read some australian migration agent that would charge 3000 AUD for the whole package from start to finish.

lavalin · Aug 6, 2006

i am a filipino nurse, living in melbourne, australia. i can help clarify some of the issues about coming to australia to work but under australian law, only registered migration agents are allowed to give migration advice. what i can tell you is that there are about 10 different visas for nurses and each has different criteria and restrictions, so it can become very time consuming doing the research and it can take forever trying to decipher the endless information. some visas are relatively easy to get, cheap and processing can take only a month or two, while other visas are more difficult, expensive and processing can take 6 months or more.
nurse registration is managed by registration authorities in each australian state. in victoria, the authority is nurses board of victoria (nbv). after you apply to nbv for registration, they assess your qualifications and experience, then advise you whether you need to do a "bridging program" which is either a college/university-based course for 3 months (or more) or "supervised practice" which is hospital-based training for 3 months to assess your competency. some hospitals provide the supervised practice free while others charge a fee. while you are studying, you can work part-time in a related field such as a personal carer and it is easy to find work once you are here.
the australian nursing and midwifery council (anmc) is a national authority who (among other things) assess foreign nurses' qualifications for the purposes of applying for "permanent" visas but anmc can not facilitate registration to allow you to practice as a nurse - that is the job of the state registration authorities.
i'm not an expert but i am living proof that it can be done. i found out how the hard way (endless research online and countless phone calls to australia). you could spend (waste) a lot of time and money if you do it the wrong way. along the way i met some very helpful people and i'd be happy to tell you how to contact them if you want to learn more.

the migrant bridging program is free for some hospitals? wow, thats nice. now i get it, you will undergo the migrant bridging program and some state or hospital charge for this training, am i correct? cost 6000 aud = 4573 usd in nsw for this migrant bridging program.

:uhoh3: