As a Nurse to Australia : Well-trained nurses are in demand in many countries around the world, including Australia.
Nursing jobs are most likely to be found in rural areas, where nurses are scarce. How much you can earn as a nurse in Australia depends on various factors: education and additional qualifications, work experience and the facility where the nurse works in Australia. In Australia, the average wage is lower than compared to Central Europe.
On the other hand, the social security contributions are also lower, and the cost of living in the big cities is higher. Living in the country is cheaper. Although the labor market situation for foreign nurses in Australia is relatively good, finding a job should not be taken too lightly. First you have to find a job, get a visa, your education has to be recognized by the Australian authorities and you have to be able to prove that you have a good command of English.
Also Read: HOW DO I APPLY FOR A CANADIAN WORK PERMIT IN 2022?
How to get a work visa for Australia
A tourist visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to three months but not to work. Young people between the ages of 18 and 30 can apply for a Working Holiday Maker Visa, which allows them to travel and work in Australia for up to one year. Under certain conditions, it is possible to extend the “Working Holiday Maker Visa” for another year. All other workers are allowed to emigrate to Australia to work there with the Skilled Migration Program. The “Skilled Migration Program” is aimed at those who want to emigrate and have a job that we are looking for in Australia.
The conditions for a visa through the Skilled Migration Program are as follows:
Be younger than 45 years
Completed vocational training or a degree and professional experience
- Good English knowledge
- Have a job that is on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
The Skilled Occupation List as a gateway to employment in Australia
Most visas are issued to people doing a job that is sought in Australia. You can find out what jobs are in short supply in Australia on the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
The Agency’s website has an online registration program called Skill Select, where applicants can apply for a Skilled Migration visa. Among other things, they have the opportunity to state whether they are willing to work in more rural regions of Australia. Since there is often a shortage of skilled workers, the chance of getting a job and a visa increases. The work visa is issued for a period of up to four years. After that, you have the option to apply for an unlimited visa.
Recognition of professional training as a nurse in Australia
In order to work as a nurse in Australia, one must register as a nurse with the Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). In 2014, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia tightened the conditions for the recognition of foreign qualifications as a nurse or midwife. Foreign nurses must therefore meet eight requirements in order to be able to register as a nurse in Australia.
A distinction is made between an “enrolled nurse” and a “registered nurse”. The degree of “registered nurse” corresponds to a 3-year bachelor’s degree, while an “enrolled nurse” has enjoyed a more practically oriented 2-year education. However, one can also become a “registered nurse” without a university degree if one has acquired the appropriate additional qualifications. The requirements for registering as a registered nurse or as an enrolled nurse can be found on the AHPRA website.
Furthermore, all foreign nurses who do not have an English-language school leaving certificate must demonstrate sufficient English language skills:
At least 7 points in all four tested areas (reading, writing, listening, speaking) of the IELTS test or
a completed OET test with grades A or B in all four tested areas (reading, writing, listening, speaking).
How to find Nursing jobs in Australia
There are numerous Nursing recruitment agencies and online job boards in Australia and around the world offering Nursing jobs in Australia. Some of these Australian placement agencies even specialize in skilled migrants.
Among others, there are the following employment agencies and job exchanges:
Healthcare Australia is a leading recruitment agency for healthcare jobs in Australia.
Health Staff Recruitment is a recruitment agency with offices in Australia, among other places, and mediates healthcare jobs in, for example, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Great Britain.
Scholten Medical Recruitment BV is a recruitment agency based in the Netherlands and Switzerland. It arranges healthcare jobs in Australia and New Zealand, among other places.
The 4 best job search sites of 2023
Working in Australia is a job board that also specializes in expatriate healthcare workers in Australia.
Well-known online job boards where you can find jobs as a nurse in Australia are also:
