All You Need to Know About Nursing in Australia

Emma Bates is originally from the South East of England and came to Australia in January 2004.

Emma has worked in the health profession for nearly 20 years and has held a variety of senior nursing positions both in the UK and in Australia.

Emma has published research in both countries and has taught nursing students who have newly arrived in Australia. Emma has also written two guide books and research papers about overseas nurses migrating to the country and manages a website and forums for nurses newly arrived down under.

Emma trained as a nurse in the UK . She loves travelling and has travelled through many countries. Emma has also travelled around Australia extensively.

Expats Guide: What are the requirements for nursing in Austalia?

Emma: To practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) or midwife in Australia, individuals must register with a state/territory Nursing and Midwifery Board having undertaking initial nurse training (an undergraduate diploma/degree which is comparable to Australian university training) this usually makes a nurse eligible for registration.

Nurses can check their eligibility by visiting their preferred state/territory nursing Board in Australia. A new national registration and accreditation scheme coming into effect mid 2010 will also make it easier for nurses to move between jobs in states and territories without having to re-register.

It's worth also noting at this point that all overseas nurses (regardless of their first language) now have to undergo an International English Language Test to obtain their nursing registration in Australia.

Expats Guide:What types of Australian work visa are available for international nurses?

Emma: There are a variety of visas, but the most popular visas for nurses are working holiday visas (one year) and Temporary Business (457 visa) Sponsorship (four years), but there are many other types, including permanent Residency.

To see which visa international nurses may be eligible for, they can check the Australian immigration website, there is a section specific for nurses and doctors.

Expats Guide:Are there special requirements for registering as a nurse in Australia?

Emma: Registered Nurses must be in good health to work in the Australian Health service and will need to have a medical examination, chest x-ray and blood tests to work in the service.

Expats Guide:Are there any differences in the nursing registration requirements between states and territories, and which state has the most nursing shortage ?

Emma: For now Nursing in Australia is not nationalised, so each state and territory have their own Boards. This can be different depending which State/Territory of Australia you choose, there are eight in total. Some Nursing Boards may require you to undertake an assessment of competence, depending on your qualifications (for example, New South Wales), other States/Territories may not. A new national registration and accreditation scheme is coming into effect in mid 2010.

When researching the nursing in australia book New South Wales in 2007 had the biggest nursing population as a whole and the biggest shortage of nurses in Australia. Queensland appears to have the biggest intake of overseas Registered Nurses on a Temporary Business 457 visa, closely followed by the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia. However, statistic are constantly changing, so the figures may be different for 2010.

Expats Guide:What are the key steps in the process when planning to nurse in Australia, and what should you do first - apply for a visa or find a job ?

Emma: You need to check your eligibility for registration with the relevant State or Territory Nursing Board of your choice, before applying for an Australian visa. A useful government link to find out the different Nursing Boards in Australia can be found at www.nurseinfo.com.au see links section.

You can start applying for a job once you are confident you can obtain both your nursing registration and you are eligible for a visa. My eBook nursing in Australia A Guide to Working and Living as a Nurse Down Under takes your through the process more thoroughly and provides you with a list of details of employer options.

Expats Guide:Is an overseas nurse entitled for medical care in Australia, or would she/he need to purchase a private health insurance?

Emma: Medicare is also available to overseas nurses with reciprocal health care agreements. However all nurses will be subject to Medicare Levy. Higher income earners may be subject to a higher levy, so looking into private health insurance may be of beneficial.

My guide Nursing in Australia Working and Living as a Nurse Down Under explains this in further detail.

Expats Guide: How is the pay for nurses in Australia?

Emma: Currently Registered Nurses can expect to earn approximately AUD$ 24 - $34 per hour depending on experience, although this figure will vary between the different States and Territories and does not include managerial positions.

Expats Guide:You have written an e-book - Nursing in Australia. Could you please tell us a little about the book- who is it written for and how nurses can benefit from it?

Emma: My guide to nursing in Australia Working and Living as a Nurse Down Under is an exciting new eBook which aims to equip internationally qualified nurses with information prior to arriving in Australia and starting work in its health service.

The eBook includes information on preparation international nurses need to undertake (and what they need to know) up front, how much it is likely to cost, where they might think about living and how to obtain the right Australian visa, as well as lots of technical information, from hospital contact details and advice on getting a job, to drug calculation checklists and National Inpatient Medication Charts.

The eBook covers: planning your trip, visas; health examinations; the English language test; what to expect from nursing in the Australian health service; familiarizing yourself with the health service; administering medication in Australia; job grades; nursing salaries; and successfully performing drug calculations in Australia and much more.

You can also download the first 20 pages of the eBook, which includes the contents pages listing all the subjects covered in this 361 page, 3 part eBook Visit http://www.nursingaustralia.info.

Expats Guide: Would you like to add anything?

Emma: On the same website can be found a second eBook called Nursing in the Australian Health Service. This is comprised of the majority of Part Two of the above eBook, with some additional selected information for international nurses not wanting guidance about getting into Australia.

Essentially an in depth guide to the Australian Health Service and how it operates, this second eBook is 186 pages in length. It is a comprehensive guide to the Australian health service and contains valuable information for Australian nurses, new graduates, nursing students and transitional nurses looking to familiarise themselves with the Australian health system.

Expats Guide: Thank You Emma for such a great Interview. I am sure many international nurses who are thinking about moving to Australia will find the information about nursing in Australia that you have provided to be very helpful.