U.S. nurse Seeking Registered Nurse job in Australia

Silverdragon102, BSN · Apr 2, 2014

Starting point would be meeting the nursing board requirements. Suggest checking out AHPRA here Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Home only once you have met requirements should you start looking for employer etc

Chuckyart2 · Apr 2, 2014

Thank you Silverdragon102! I will check out the web site you suggest.

I appreciate your help!

katye · Apr 24, 2014

Hi, I too am a RN (BSN) from the US and I am currently working in Australia. My best bit of advice is to get your AHPRA done. I waited until I was here to do it and it made it quite difficult because I needed a lot of things from home, such as a statement of service from my old employer, etc. The application is a bit tedious, but not too bad, and only took a couple of weeks to go through. No further testing is needed here, such as a NCLEX type exam. A US BSN is pretty much recognised here as equivalent! Hospitals aren't interested in talking to you until you have your AHPRA, but after that is done you can always go through an agency to help you with Visas or see about getting sponsored by a hospital. How long have you been a RN? Having some experience behind you would help. Good luck!

Chuckyart2 · Apr 24, 2014

Hi Katye,

Thanks for your post. I am 47 years old and the cut-off age for a working visa on the Australian government website is 50. Have you met other older American nurses? Where are you working in Australia? I am a fairly new nurse with about 6 months experience what do you think my chances of obtaining employment in OZ are, and can you recommend an agency?

My husband spent time in Australia many years ago and we would love to spend a few years there.

Thanks very much for your help.

Chuckyart2

RealityBites · Apr 24, 2014

Hello Chuckyart2,

I'm a Registered Nurse. I went to Australia on a work holiday visa and worked for about a year. I just got back March 01,2014. Healthcare Australia/Nursing Agency Australia (www.healthcareaustralia.com.au) is the nursing agency I started out with. They were okay for the most part. I did receive steady work, however, some of the locations were too far for me to travel. I was based in Sydney. A lot of my assignments were at St George Public Hospital in Kogarah, which is right off the train line. But I was getting calls to work far north in Newcastle and even far south in the Wollongong area, which was too far. The furthest I've gone was Norwest Private Hospital in Bella Vista. Also, keep in my mind I took public transportation, so if you have a personal car you should be able to get around without a problem. I worked for the agency for two months until I was able to find work on my own. If you're looking to stay longer than a year, you can either have your visa extended or obtain sponsorship from an employer. Just to let you know, Australia has a law that states, they have to hire Australians before sponsoring internationals and if they do decide to sponsor an international they need to send the government documentation on reasons for the need to sponsor a person. It's a lengthy and costly process. Also, the employer is responsible for making sure you are paid a reasonable wage and given full time employment. So that means if your sponsorship dictates that your wage will be $35/hr, you'll make that wage and nothing less for the duration of the sponsorship. Also, since you'll be full time you are guaranteed full time hours and that could be 36 or 40 depending on your shift, where you work etc....So let's say your contract stipulates that you work 40 hours and one week you only work 30, by law they have to pay you for the 10 hours you did not work because of your contract. But that's only if its a scheduling decision on your employers part. It doesn't work if you decided to call in sick or go on vacation unless you accrued that time through working.

katye · Apr 24, 2014

I actually am not much help I'm afraid when it comes to Visas and things. I am a permanent resident in Australia (married to an Aussie), we live back and forth between here and the US, so I am free to work without Visas, etc. I can't say I've really met many US nurses at all, mostly English, Irish, and Kiwi. I don't think your age should hinder you at all seeing that the cut off is 50. I would highly recommend getting about one years acute experience under your belt before coming over here to work. It is slightly different here, so get comfortably with your own practice in your own country first. But that means you have 6 months to get everything in order - perfect! I had 3+ years acute experience in the US before moving back to Australia. As far as an agency, there's not one I could recommend, but there is so much info online and here on this website I'm sure you could find something. Wages can be quite good here with casual rates, weekends, etc. I currently work as a shift supervisor at an aged care facility, but picked up that job as something part-time as I just came off maternity leave. I have my interview for a casual position at the local hospital next Wednesday, eek! If you follow the steps I'm sure you could get something without any trouble!

siobe126 · Jan 25, 2015

Hello! I am a US RN with 6 years of acute care experience. I want to move to Australia and work there as a nurse. I was going through the AHPRA website and application for international nurses. One of the proof of identity requirements requires either an Australian Visa or australian passport. Both of which I dont have yet. How do i successfully lodge an application if i dont have a visa yet? Needs help badly! THank you so much