How to move to Australia as a nurse?

Are you looking for a new job opportunity as a registered nurse in Australia?

Are you planning to complete further education in nursing at the Australian university?

Regardless of which career path you want to choose for yourself, moving and settling in Australia is not everyone’s cup of tea. Every year, Australian universities and other employers in the medical field receive thousands of applications from aspiring nurses from around the world.

However, the number is reduced to only a few hundred through a stringent screening process. From verifying the credentials and documents submitted to check the English proficiency level, Australian universities, and other institutes ensure only the best and most deserving nurses can receive the opportunity to join their academic and professional fields. 

So, if you are planning to move to Australia to start working as a nurse immediately or complete your higher education in nursing or related fields, there are certain facts you should know.

Without prior knowledge and a clear picture of the immigration process and the scrutiny mechanism, you may not have a high chance of getting accepted as a proficient nurse in the Australian medical industry. 

What Are The Prerequisites For Moving To Australia As A Nurse?

Whether you already have a nursing license or simply want to join one of Australia’s top medical colleges to complete your nursing training, numerous criteria are there that you have to meet by hook or by crook. Failure to do so will immediately cause your visa or immigration application to be rejected.

Most of these rules and regulations are under the supervision of two most important regulatory bodies, namely the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). Below we have discussed the major prerequisites you should fulfill to move to Australia and establish a golden career in the nursing field. 

Identity proof

You will be asked to provide proper documentation for your identity check, like the biostatistical pages of your passport, a passport-sized picture taken in the recent six months, and any documentation supporting a change in your name. 

English language proficiency

To move to Australia, you will have to take one of the supported English Proficiency Examinations and submit the scores of the same to the nursing boards. Below are the major examinations that are accepted by both AHPRA and NMBA. 

• IELTS: A minimum score of 7 out of 10 will be needed in each of the four groups, including reading, speaking, writing, and listening. 

• TOEFL: The overall minimum threshold score needed is 94, which will be further subdivided as minimum scores for different elements, including 24 in listening and reading, 23 in speaking, and 27 in writing. 

• PTE: Here, the overall minimum score needed is 65, with every language proficiency paper having a cut-off of 65. 

Australian Midwifery and Nursing standards

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has proposed a set of regulations, stating that nurses who have acquired their academic degree from certain countries, including Canada, Republic of Ireland, United States of America, United Kingdom, and others will have to take an evaluation test. Only then they will be able to join the Australian medical field as a nurse with the same standard and academic qualification. 

Professional practice

You will also have to provide proper documentation supporting your professional career as a nurse in your country. These papers must prove that you have been working as a registered nurse or midwife for a minimum of five years prior to the visa application date. 

Fitness certificate

By fitness certificate, we mean a document stating that you do not have any criminal record or disciplinary action record in your entire career of working as a nurse. Also, you need to provide appropriate document that you are not physically challenged or incapable in delivering your services as a nurse or midwife by any means. 

Types of visa applications for a nurse

The Australian government has launched three different visa programs for international nurses to immigrate into the country and establish their career as a nurse or a midwife. These are:

• Temporary Skill Shortage Visa: It will help you to fill in the vacancies in the Australian medical industry caused by the lack of appropriate skills in their local professionals. 

• Employer Nomination Scheme: When an employer directly sponsors you to come and work in Australia owing to your academic qualifications and field experiences as a registered nurse, you can choose this Employer Nomination Scheme for visa. 

• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme: Through this visa program, you can join a vacant position in one of the regional medical institutes or healthcare organization, provided your skillset matches the employer’s criteria. 

Conclusion 

Moving to Australia and establishing your career as a registered nurse seems to be quite tempting. But as discussed above, the screening process is quite stringent and if you miss one factor, your visa application will be rejected immediately. So, be very cautious while applying for a nursing job and ensure to get the documents correct without any compromise. 

If you need assistance with the process or have academic queries related to nursing qualifications, Digi Assignment Help is here to support you. We offer expert guidance to help you navigate the complexities and boost your chances of success.

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