Australia have a scarcity for competent nurses and with the ever increase of senior citizens’ ailments and health issues and the increase of health in the maternity sector, the requirement is fast increasing on a day to day basis.
The demand for nurses in Australia is on a major high and exceeding, As per the Australia’s Future Health Workforce (AFHW) – Nurses reports. The actual statistics suggest a scarcity of 85,000 nurses by 2025 and 123,000 nurses by the year 2030, which is a huge shortage.
Thus, qualified nurses from foreign countries have a large scope of job opportunities in Australia, knocking on their door.
Nurses should be humane and caring towards the patients, even in tough situations.Also, nurses should possess great communication skills. Prior to starting your nursing profession, candidates would be exposed to different degree programs conducted by renowned educational institutions in Australia.
Australia offers wonderful job options to foreign students with its institutions/universities catering to their requirements. Multiple programs can be pursued at the same time. A Bachelor’s degree increases your chances, in case you are a Registered Nurse. Mentioned below are some useful degree programs –
Diploma of Nursing – To improve your ability
This degree program of approximately 2 years, will Horne your skills through theoretical based as well as practical knowledge, wherein you are guide by an experienced registered nurse.
What do you require to enrol?
- Class 12 completion in your home country/abroad.
- IELTS score of an overall 7with (7 in each band).
Bachelor of Nursing
This program has a time frame of 3 years, where you get thorough exposure in the surroundings and are exposed to physiology, health assessment, professional and legal issues and research orientations that will be an enriching experience for you.
What do you require to enrol?
- HSC degree in your home country/overseas.
- IELTS score of 7 overall (6.5 in each band).
Master of Nursing
In the Master of Nursing degree program you have the options of either doing a 2 year full time course or a 4 year part time course. This program exposes students to work along – side healthcare professionals and get proficient in the requisite skills of nursing.
What do you require to enrol?
- Bachelor degree completion.
- IELTS score of 7 ( 7 in each band).
IRON Program for Overseas Nurse
This course is of a 3-month duration of Initial Registration of Overseas Nurses (IRON) study. This course is recognized by NMBA (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia), helping students to boost your existing credentials and gives you more experience to get hold of great job opportunities in Australia.
Multiple programs – Bachelor and IRON program mainly helps you to become a Registered Nurse, enhancing your career opportunities, through a 2 year full time or a four year part time course duration. Registered Nurses are high in demand and have bright and successful future prospects.
Once you have successfully finished these degree programs, Registered Nurses get employment opportunities in hospitals, private clinics or medical institutions and the ever growing demand is increasing by the day.
If you are looking to being a trained nurse in Australia, it is mandatory to be registered under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), along with at least 5 years of experience. Kindly follow the given guidelines –
- HSC degree is compulsory with the age being over 17 years for you to apply for Registered Nurse course.
- Both theory as well as practical education is mandatory.
Hard work and dedication will ultimately take you far. Prior to a degree program application, you must partake a basic course and work as a community care worker, side by side,that enables you to enrol as a nurse before applying to a university of your preference.
What is the criteria to become a Registered Nurse?
Your main priority is to complete the Registered Nurse course, after which you may apply to AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), ultimately enabling you to become a registered Nurse in Australia. If you are already a foreign qualified nurse, a short program is essential, where you get experienced assistance from experienced team mates.
Are you an aspiring nurse pursuing further studies in Australia? Do you want to avail Permanent Residency benefits? Some of the many aspects to secure a Residency in the country include in seeking comprehensive information from our team of resourceful immigration experts and educational consultants. Cosmos Consultancy will help you chart a strategy especially at the time of securing the best visa migration pathway!
How do I get my Visa?
you can apply for visa options mentioned below to avail of part time or permanent job opportunities in Australia. But this applies once you become a registered nurse. Please go through the following –
- Employer Nomination Scheme
You need to be below 50 years of age, possess 3 years of related experience and the English language knowledge, unless it is not required, you can avail a permanent visa in this section.
This visa is specially made for Australian employers who are in dire need of people for their business and hence are willing to sponsor a skilled worker from abroad.
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme
This also requires your age to be below 50 years and candidates need to be chosen by an approved Australian employer, to work in one of the regions in Australia, except Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong or Melbourne.
- Skilled Independent Visa
Whether you have a sponsor or not,, you can apply for this visa. But, submission of an Interest needs to be sent from your end and after which you need to receive a letter of invitation from the Department of Home Affairs to be able to apply for this particular visa.
In order to avail of this visa, a Point Test is required from your end, wherein you will be assessed on different factors including your age, English language competency and relevant work experience.
- Working Holiday Visa
If you wish to mix work with a holiday, in Australia, this visa allows you to stay in Australia for 1 year. During this period, you can work as a nurse with any employer upto 3 months.
Candidates need to be be above 18 and younger than 31 years in order to get this visa. Besides, you must have a passport from an eligible country and are not allowed dependent children along with you during your stay in Australia.
- Skill Matching Visa:
There are many skill scarcities in Australia, thus there is a demand for skilled people from abroad who may qualify for this visa. Age, set skills and English language proficiency are the basic criteria to avail this visa.
All the visa options have great career prospects for experienced foreign candidates in Australia, but those who are not empowered with requisite skills, and are not a registered nurse; the IRON program is the next best option.