miks103

Congratulations ceridwenRN!!! I remember before when we were still applying for our eligibility until we received it and became classmates @ CON, you were one of those who was soooo anxious and worried, very pessimistic (super nega) lol BUT look at you now!!! See, you got a job after your program and you got a 457 visa now, so count your blessings and give thanks to God, to your loved-ones and friends :) Why don't you try to ask your NUM for another week of extension? Just explain to her your predicament, call her its better to be honest, who knows your stress will be lesser when you do so :) Goodluck my friend! See you in Sydney soon!

i think you are referring to an 'affidavit of support' and not a 'letter of invitation'. i had one made by sister-in-law before who is a pr in oz.

For my 456 Visa I had my medicals in High Precision (Cebu), while for my Skilled Migration I had it in Nationwide (also in Cebu). Check the list in DIAC website for list of accredited facilities. They change from time to time. Yes I am very sure mate, it was exactly what I did and some other forumers here did the same as well. All you need to do is to photocopy your medical receipts and include it in your visa application. No, there is no letter of whatsoever required from the embassy to go for medicals. In the Medical/Health form there is an option which says "have not lodged visa application yet" and another option that asks "where do you plan to lodge your visa application"... fill/tick as appropriate. If you are still in doubt you can call the customer service of DIAC the numbers are in the website and ask whether you can have your medicals in advance, they will certainly say you may.

Murdoch University for the 1 year Nursing Conversion Course do not require IELTS, some institutions don't even require an eligibility letter from AHPRA to do a conversion course, but they would let you know that after the course it is your responsibility to supply AHPRA with the needed requirements for your registration. So please be aware that when you later apply for your registration you will still be required the IELTS, as far as I know and taking the IELTS while in the Philippines (in my opinion) would be a better option. I think its best if you look directly at the DIAC website for the detailed elements needed for the Point System. If you plan to apply for Skilled Migration you have to have your registration with AHPRA first then have ANMAC assess you then apply for Skilled Migration. Each institution have a different design/pathway to gain the nursing registration. Some would offer a Bridging Program, some a Conversion Course and in the case of CON its an Assessment of Competence Program.

That is why its better to have the medicals earlier... its valid for 1 year. Normally, when you go for medicals you would be advised if you have a health issue or not. If you have, they would usually advise you to go for further diagnostic or see a specialist. For women, any blood trace in your urinalysis will not be accepted, they would ask you to repeat U/A after a week. Processing times are in the DIAC website, last time when I applied for 456 it took me 5 days processing (I had medicals 3 weeks before I applied for the visa and I submitted a complete application). Student Visas take longer, higher visa fees).

In the case of CON you have to enroll first before they will give you the Letter of Offer which you will need to include in your visa application. It is better to go for medicals before your visa application so that processing of your visa will be faster. Usually the delay would be on pending medical results or if you discover you have a health issue that require further diagnostics or a period of treatment.

Before you lodge your 456 visa I suggest you prepare for everything needed to come up with a best possible application. The bigger the financial resources you can show the better. It can be in the form of bank accounts, affidavit of support, credit card statements, credit line from a financial institution and the like. In short, the amount of financial resources you can show will prove that you have access to funds to support yourself while in Australia, this will give the embassy a reason to grant you multiple entry/longer stay. If you can get a travel/health insurance the better too. Also you must see to it that you have a complete application because the amount of time for the case officer to contact you of your lack of requirements and to complete them would be a waste of time. Re: job opportunities, you really need to come up with a very impressive resume because its the first thing the potential employer would look at to determine whether they would call you for an interview. Once called for the interview means you are already shortlisted and your chances for employment increases, now you just have to do well during the interview. Be positive, believe in yourself and if you are not sure of a certain question just give emphasis on your ability to learn and adapt quickly. Most of all is to accept that we are only humans and there is a higher being that we can rely on to help us...you need to pray harder... I came back to the Philippines just a week after my program with CON, waited for my registration while here and a week after started applying for jobs. In a months time I got 2 offers for employment (one in a hospital and one in a nursing home) and I am scheduled for 3 more interviews this week for some hospitals. I only have 6 months volunteer experience in a maternity hospital and 7 months in a private clinic. I was considered a beginner in the nursing profession but I never stopped praying and trying, if its meant for me then it will be mine. The road is difficult but the best part is when you've gained something through hard work and merit :)

In Australia scrub suits are worn when you are assigned in the Theatre and everyone wears the same type so I guess its provided to them. Normally student nurses/new nurses wear black/blue slacks and a white/light-colored top, black shoes. Well, that is as far as I'm aware of. When you do the Assessment of Competence Program you are assessed in the general medical ward and at a beginner's entry so you don't need to bring scrub suits.

Yes, you would still need an Australian police check during clinical placement. You would also need it for AHPRA registration and when you apply for jobs.

During your visa application you have to tick the portion where it asks you if you intend to have multiple travels and for what reason (you have to state your reason). You simply cannot request for extension at the initial application stage... Whatever is the result of the Immigration Officer whether you tick that box or not is final as he will base his decision on other factors also like your finances and capacity to stay in Australia. There are 456 Visas with a condition of "no further stay" so definitely you cannot apply for any other visa while in Australia. I suggest you don't bring in your family first. I left my family behind as well to go for the 2 months program in CoN. Doing the shorter program is way more practical than doing a 1 year conversion program that is far more expensive notwithstanding the fact that you have to support and sustain yourself for one year. Having part-time jobs is not an alternative solution as the cost of living is expensive. On a student visa remember you are only allowed to work 20 hours a week. Think about the weekly rentals, utilities, phone/internet, food, fare, etc. After you do the 2 or 3 months program your registration will follow next and you can start looking for jobs... why wait for 1 year? As time passes more and more nurses plunge to Australia or Canada... you wouldn't want to fall last in line won't you? Just my 2 cents :)

Murdoch is 24K I think not 15K... the 15k is only for 24 units. The Conversion Program would require you 36 units. Please check again. :)

sorry for the late reply Mhai. The eligibility letter from AHPRA is the document needed by CON already. Its indicated in the eligibility letter that for Sydney only CON conducts the assessment of competence program.

No more interview. Once you've got the document from them to include in your visa application then you made it through CON's initial entry. What's left to do is just to scan and email them your approved visa and you're ready to go. Goodluck :) P.S. Well that is per April-June 2011 Batch. I dunno if they had recent changes.

Yeah :) Anyway, i hope to go back with an immigrant visa, that is why I had to exit Australia 'coz it was an offshore application. But yeah, my classmates stayed to maximised their 3 months stay and look for employers, go for interviews, have their 457 processed while in Australia. One of my filipino classmate got a job offer on the 2nd day of our clinical placement from the same hospital... lucky... the others even without the AHPRA registration has been called in for interviews. But you really have to put efforts in the job hunting and persevere enough 'coz its inevitable to sometimes feel tired and weary... I never tried the job hunting firsthand yet but I see my classmates go through with it, some are anxious, some are lucky... Piece of advise, its really important to have the proper referees because employers would really call them, so while you're on clinical placement do your best, perform to the highest level, don't stop learning, have good interpersonal relationship :)

Hi Everyone here :) Like macpao, I also got my Registration from AHPRA today, ended my Clinical Placement last 01 July 2011 (took the program in CON). I basically waited 15 days for my nursing registration to come out but I had classmates who had their registrations in 2-5 days. Anyway, I'm back in the Philippines now but I'll be returning back to Australia, meanwhile I'll try to apply for jobs from here. See how it goes