Live and Work in Australia: An immigration guide for overseas-trained nurses

Live and Work in

Australia

as an overseas-trained nurse A guide to registration, immigration and settlement

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

CONTENTS

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1. KEY ORGANISATIONS

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2. REGISTRATION STANDARDS AND QUALIFICATION CRITERIA FOR NURSES

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3. APPLYING FOR REGISTRATION

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4. APPLYING FOR MIGRATION

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5. LOOKING FOR WORK

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6. GETTING SETTLED

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7. USEFUL LINKS

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So you want to work in Australia as a nurse? To help you, we’ve put together an informative guide that gives you an overview of how to register as a qualified nurse, organise your visa, find work, and live in Australia.

The first thing that you need to know is that nurses and midwives who want to work in Australia must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). To do so, overseas-trained nurses and midwives must meet a list of requirements, including passing an English test such as OET, which proves that they have the right level of English to provide high quality and safe care.

Along with registration, you’ll have to think about applying for a visa, registering for tax, arranging a place to live and opening a bank account. It might seem a bit overwhelming right now, but if you take it one step at a time and do your research, you can reach your dream of living and working in Australia.

Moving to a new country and starting a new life is both exciting and scary at the same time. We recommend you do as much research as possible before you arrive – the more prepared you are, the smoother your move will be. And of course, you have this guide to help you along the way!

We’ll give you heaps of information and pointers on what you need to do, as well as an explanation of some systems and terms you’ll need to know.

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

01. Key Organisations

KEY ORGANISATIONS

You will come across a number of organisations when you decide to register in Australia as an overseastrained nurse. It can be confusing at first. Each of them has a different role and you will come across them at different times when you register and move to Australia.

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A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

01. Key Organisations

Use an Migration Institute of Australia member registered migration agent or legal practitioner

Legal practitioner status can be checked through the websites of the legal societies in each Australian state:

Migration and the visa system is governed by the Migration Act 1958, associated Migration Regulations and policy.

Visa application charges can be very costly and are generally not refundable where an application is refused.

A registered migration agent or legal practitioner is skilled at negotiating this legislative maze.

Australian migration laws and practice change constantly and quickly in Australia. Registered migration agents and legal practitioners are qualified professionals who are required to remain up to date with these many changes. They are also required to maintain professional indemnity insurance to protect consumers.

The Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) is the peak professional association for registered migration agents and legal practitioners in Australia. Members of the MIA are additionally subject to the MIA Members’ Code of Ethics and Practice to ensure the highest standards of professionalism are maintained. In choosing an MIA member you are assured of receiving the highest professional level of service from your migration advice practitioner.

MIA member registered migration agents and legal practitioners can be identified through the ‘Find an Agent’ search function on the MIA website (www.mia.org.au/).

You may also check that your registered migration agents registration status through the OMARA Search for a Registered Migration Agent (portal.mara.gov.au/searchthe-register-of-migration-agents/)

New South Wales www.lawsociety.com.au/for-the-public/find-a-lawyer

Australian Capital Territory www.actlawsociety.asn.au/find-a-lawyer

Victoria www.liv.asn.au/find-a-lawyer

Tasmania www.lst.org.au/find-a-lawyer

Queensland www.qls.com.au/For-the-community

Northern Territory lawsocietynt.asn.au

South Australia referral.lawsocietysa.asn.au/start

Western Australia www.lawsocietywa.asn.au/find-a-lawyer Please Note: It is illegal to provide migration advice or assistance in Australia, unless the person providing that advice is a Registered Migration Agent authorised by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) or an Australian certified legal practitioner. A person who provides migration assistance without this authorisation can be fined and imprisoned. If you use a person not authorised to provide migration assistance, you may put your application at risk.

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A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

01. Key Organisations

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Organisations and their roles Below is an introduction to these organisations and their roles:

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au

The NMBA regulates nurses and midwives in Australia.

It’s responsible for making sure nurses and midwives have the required training, education and skills, as well as the right level of English, to work safely and effectively.

All nurses and midwives must be registered with the NMBA before they can work in Australia. The NMBA is not involved in any immigration or employment processes.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) www.ahpra.gov.au

Ahpra works in partnership with the NMBA to process registration applications from nurses and midwives in Australia. When you’re ready, you’ll lodge your application for registration with Ahpra.

Ahpra is responsible for maintaining the registry of 15 healthcare professions in Australia, managing complaints about health practitioners, and ensuring that healthcare practitioners follow professional standards.

Ahpra does not provide any advice on employment, visas and immigration.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) www.anmac.org.au

The ANMAC is appointed by the NMBA to accredit and monitor nursing and midwifery education in Australia.

All nursing and midwifery programs of study in Australia must meet accreditation standards by the ANMAC.

All nurses and midwives must register with NMBA to work in Australia

The ANMAC is the authorised body to undertake the required skills assessment for nurses and midwives applying to migrate under the General Skilled Migration program.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) www.homeaffairs.gov.au

The DHA is responsible for immigration and customs border policy in Australia. All visa and citizenship applications are lodged through the DHA. Depending on your country of citizenship, you may need a visa to enter Australia so you can complete assessments by NMBA/ Ahpra such as exams, to start working, or to stay long-term.

Occupational English Test (OET) www.occupationalenglishtest.org

To register to work in Australia, you will need to prove that your English is good enough to allow you to look after patients safely. One of the ways to do this is by taking a recognised English test. You can choose from several different tests, but OET is the only test that has been created specifically for nurses (the others test general or academic English skills, not the kind of English you will face in the workplace).

GENERAL OR ACADEMIC ENGLISH TEST

Writing Write an essay on a general topic

Speaking Structured interview on a general topic

OET

Writing Write a healthcare letter, usually a referral letter, based on case notes

Speaking Healthcare professional to patient role-plays

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

01. Key Organisations

Why do nurses choose OET? Nurses and midwives who want to work in Australia choose OET for many reasons, including: OET is recognised by Australia’s NMBA, Ahpra and the Department of Home Affairs OET helps you prove you have the right level of English, while at the same time learning the kind of language you’ll need every day at work OET uses real healthcare scenarios so you’ll feel more confident on test day OET is widely recognised and well respected It’s easy to prepare for the test using the OET Preparation Portal. (www. occupationalenglishtest.org/preparation-portal) OET tests all four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.

OET tests all four language skills:

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“

I am so grateful that I took OET. OET helped me to continue my application and pursue my goals.

Aside from that, it has enhanced my English communication skills and has boosted my confidence in catering to patients with quality care.

Nurse from Philippines

“ “

I wanted to register for AHPRA. OET helped me in making my dream come true.

Nurse, Leonila Rotairo from Australia

It was a dream when I decided to continue my profession in Australia. Today I am very grateful to tell you that by being successful in OET I am on my way to the most beautiful place in the world.

Saba Rouhipour – General Practitioner

Listening Listening

Reading Reading

Writing Writing

Speaking Speaking Find out why Hardik, a nurse from India, chose OET to help him fulfil his dream of living and working in Australia: youtu.be/wiHQh2NsCsI

Writing Writing

Speaking Speaking

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

02. Registration standards and qualification criteria for nurses

REGISTRATION STANDARDS AND QUALIFICATION CRITERIA FOR NURSES

Before you can work in Australia, you must register with the NMBA. In Australia, nursing is a regulated health profession. This means that there are requirements that you need to meet, guidelines that you must follow, and assessments that you need to complete.

02 1. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WORK IN THE UK

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A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

02. Registration standards and qualification criteria for nurses

The first thing you need to know is that you must meet a number of registration standards as well as qualification criteria set by the NMBA. It’s useful to understand these standards and criteria to see whether you’re eligible to register.

Registration standards

1. English language skills You need to have the right level of English proficiency in order to register.

There are three ways for you to meet the English language requirement set by the NMBA.

Primary language

a

b Tertiary education in English

c Test pathway (OET)

Primary language

If English is your primary language, you completed part of your primary and secondary education in English, and your nursing qualification is from a recognised country, then you might satisfy the English language requirement by declaring that it is your primary language.

For more information, refer to the NMBA website. www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/RegistrationStandards/English-language-skills.aspx b

Test pathway (OET)

Another way to satisfy the English language registration standard is by taking an English test. We recommend OET, the only test that is specific to nurses.

Download a factsheet about OET.

Overseas nurses and midwives must meet required standards in order to be registered to practice.

a

c

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Tertiary education in English

If you have studied in English full-time at a university/ other tertiary education institution for at least five years and your nursing qualification is from a recognised country, then you might satisfy the English language requirement by showing evidence of this.

For more information, refer to the NMBA website. www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/RegistrationStandards/English-language-skills.aspx

You’re also welcome to use OET’s Preparation Portal (www. occupationalenglishtest.org/preparation-portal/), where you will find many free preparation materials like sample tests, writing guides, and live Q&A sessions among others.

2. Recency of practice You must show that you have enough of a connection to nursing, through a valid overseas nursing registration and recent experience working as a nurse.

3. Professional indemnity insurance arrangements Before you can practice, you will be required to have a professional indemnity insurance in place. Professional indemnity insurance covers you in case you’re sued for negligence or malpractice.

You can have access to professional indemnity insurance through your employer, by applying for it independently, or by joining a professional body or trade union like the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) (anmf.org.au/)

4. Fitness to practice All health professionals wishing to register in Australia must declare any information that impacts their fitness to practice. This includes their criminal history in all countries they’ve lived in, including Australia.

When you apply for registration, you will be asked to disclose this information.

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

02. Registration standards and qualification criteria for nurses

Qualification criteria

A note for nurses with valid registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ)

The minimum level of qualification for registered nurses in Australia is a bachelor’s degree. Because different countries may have different programs in nursing, your overseas qualification needs to be assessed for equivalence to the Australian standard. This means checking your university, what you studied in your nursing degree, and whether your registration is valid.

Your qualification is assessed based on the following criteria:

Qualification recognised for registration The NMBA will check if the nursing regulatory/licensing authority in your country has recognised your nursing qualification and that you have completed any registration requirements, including licensure exams.

Quality assurance and accreditation You must have a qualification that’s recognised and accredited by the regulatory body in your country.

The NMBA has a list of countries that are likely or unlikely to meet this criterion.

Academic level of qualification Australia has two levels of nursing: registered nurse and enrolled nurse. Registered nurses in Australia hold an equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Enrolled nurses, on the other hand, hold an equivalent of a diploma in nursing.

If your country only has one level of nursing, your qualification will be assessed against the standards for registered nurses (bachelor’s degree).

For more information on Australian qualifications, please check the Australian Qualifications Framework (www.aqf. edu.au/aqf-qualifications).

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If you are registered in New Zealand, you can apply to register in Australia under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997. This law allows nurses and midwives who hold a valid registration in New Zealand to register and work in Australia and vice versa.

You still need to register with the NMBA before you can practice. You can download the application form here (www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/ Registration-and-Endorsement/Forms.aspx).

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

03. Applying for registration

APPLYING FOR REGISTRATION

Once you’ve understood the registration standards and qualification criteria for nurses and midwives in Australia and decide to move forward with your application, you will need to apply through Ahpra.

03 1. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WORK IN THE UK

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A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

03. Applying for registration

While NMBA is responsible for the registration standards and qualification criteria, Ahpra processes registration applications for nursing.

b. Orientation

In 2020, the NMBA has implemented a new assessment model for internationally qualified nurses and midwives wanting to register in Australia. This new model replaces the Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses bridging program.

The new assessment model has several stages:

Completing the self-check The first step is to complete the self-check tool from Ahpra’s website. You will need to provide some information such as your identification details, education history, and nursing qualification. Make sure that all information you enter during the self-check stage are accurate and current.

Ahpra will check these details during the assessment stage.

The self-check process identifies the next steps that you need to take if you wish to proceed with registration.

It’s not an assessment of whether you’re eligible to register.

Once you complete the self-check tool, you’ll be prompted to create an Ahpra web portal profile. If you already have a profile, you can just log in.

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The orientation program developed by the NMBA is an introduction to the healthcare system in Australia.

This online program consists of two parts. You must complete Part 1 of the orientation program after your initial assessment. Part 2 must be completed within 6 months of getting registered.

Once you complete all the necessary assessments, you can now apply for registration.

Stream B If your qualification is considered as relevant but not substantially equivalent to the Australian nursing qualification, you may be advised to provide additional information and complete some assessments.

a. Starting the assessment Similar to Stream A, you will be advised to proceed with the initial assessment and pay a non-refundable assessment fee before Ahpra formally assesses your qualification, English proficiency, and relevant work experience.

b. Portfolio review

Once logged in, you’ll see your application dashboard, which shows the application stream you’re assigned to. Each stream has different stages. You must follow the directions provided by Ahpra. Do not complete any assessments until you have been advised to do so.

As part of Ahpra’s assessment, you will need to provide supporting documents showing details of your nursing qualification, initial nursing registration, and proof of identity. These documents must be certified. Any documents not in English need to be translated.

Stream A

c. Orientation

If your qualification is considered as substantially equivalent to the Australian nursing qualification, you may be advised to proceed to the next stage of your application.

Similar to Stream A applicants, Stream B applicants are required to complete the two-part orientation program.

You must complete Part 1 of the orientation program after your initial assessment. Part 2 must be completed within six months of getting registered.

a. Starting the assessment If you’re in Stream A, you will be advised to proceed with the initial assessment and pay a non-refundable assessment fee. Ahpra will formally assess the details you entered during self-check and documentation on your nursing qualification, English proficiency, and relevant work experience. Once this stage is completed, you will be advised to proceed to the orientation.

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

03. Applying for registration

d. Outcomes-based Assessment (OBA)

If you are located outside of Adelaide, you need to organise for your travel and accommodation.

If you are applying outside of Australia, you need to travel to Australia. This may involve applying for a temporary visa, staying for a short period in the country until you complete the exam, and paying for all expenses associated with your stay. For any questions on visa, you need to contact the Department of Home Affairs.

Unlike Stream A applicants, those in Stream B will need to complete the OBA. The OBA is a two-stage assessment process that includes a computer-based examination and a practical examination.

If you’re referred to undertake the OBA, you must complete the following: i. Multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ) examination After completing part 1 of the orientation program, Stream B applicants must sit a multiple-choice examination called the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

This is a computer-based examination that will test your nursing knowledge. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing in the US develops and administers the NCLEXRN together with Pearson VUE. NCLEX-RN is the same licensure examination used in the US and Canada. There are testing centres across many countries, and you may take this exam in your preferred location, in or outside of Australia.

For more information on the MCQ, you can check Ahpra’s MCQ Frequently Asked Questions. (www.ahpra.gov.au/ Search.aspx?q=MCQ+faq)

For more information on the OSCE, you can check Ahpra’s OSCE Frequently Asked Questions. (www.ahpra.gov.au/ Search.aspx?q=OSCE+faq) Once you complete all the necessary assessments, you can now apply for registration.

Stream C If you hold a qualification that is assessed as not substantially equivalent or relevant to an Australian nursing qualification, you may be advised to complete a qualification upgrade.

a. Qualification upgrade If your qualification is assessed as not equivalent to the nursing registration you’re applying for, you will be required to complete a qualification upgrade. You will need to study a nursing degree that’s substantially equivalent or relevant to an Australian qualification.

ii. Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) Once you’ve completed the MCQ examination, wait for Ahpra’s advice on when you can proceed to do the OSCE. This is a practical examination that will test your nursing knowledge and competence as well as communication skills.

The testing centre for the OSCE is located in Adelaide, South Australia. You need to travel to Adelaide to sit this exam.

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A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

04. Applying for migration

APPLYING FOR MIGRATION

Once you’re registered, you’ll need a visa with work rights in order to enter and work in Australia. As a nurse, there’s a range of visa categories that you’re eligible for. You may choose to stay temporarily or permanently through one of Australia’s skilled migration programs.

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A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

04. Applying for migration

Finding the appropriate visa

Compared to employer-sponsored migration, these visas do not require an employer to sponsor you. However, you need to be invited to apply for these visas through SkillSelect (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-inaustralia/skillselect).

You can explore your visa options on the Department of Home Affairs website (www.homeaffairs.gov.au). The DHA has a Visa Finder (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-avisa/visa-finder) tool that can help you identify which visa you’re eligible for and is appropriate to your plan.

Nursing is one of the occupations needed in Australia.

It’s in a number of skilled occupation lists (immi.homeaffairs. gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list) used by the DHA to choose people who are eligible to migrate to Australia based on their skill. As a nurse, some visas that you may apply for include:

Employer-Sponsored Migration Visas (Temporary or Permanent) An employer may sponsor you, either on a temporary or permanent visa.

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/ temporary-skill-shortage-482

To be eligible for this visa, you need to be sponsored by an employer, have at least two years of relevant work experience, meet the English language requirement, and have your skills assessed.

This visa allows you to work in Australia for up to four years. You may be eligible to apply for a permanent visa afterwards.

Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/ employer-nomination-scheme-186

To be eligible for this visa, you need to be under 45 years old, be sponsored by an employer, have at least three years of relevant work experience, meet the English language requirement, and have your skills assessed.

This allows you to stay in Australia forever.

General Skilled Migration Visas (Permanent) There are other options for you to apply for permanent skilled migration. You may choose to apply independently or seek nomination from a state or territory government.

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Through SkillSelect, those who are interested to apply for permanent skilled migration complete an expression of interest (EOI) to migrate to Australia. This EOI includes information on your age, language skills, qualifications, and employment history. You also need to specify what type of visa you’re interested in.

Points are assigned to these factors and you need to meet a minimum number of points to be eligible for different types of visas. After completing an EOI, you’ll then wait for an invitation to apply.

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/ skilled-independent-189

Commonly called the points-tested stream, you’re eligible for this visa if you’re under 45 years old, your occupation is on a skilled occupations list, your skills are assessed as recognised, and you’re invited to apply.

Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/ skilled-nominated-190

You’re eligible for this visa if you’re under 45 years old, your occupation is on a skilled occupations list, your skills are assessed as recognised, and you’re invited to apply. You need to be nominated by a state or territory government for this visa.

Working Holiday Visa (Temporary) If you’re under 35 years old and from an eligible country, you may be able to enter and work in Australia on a temporary working holiday visa (immi.homeaffairs.gov. au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417). This visa allows you to work for 12 months at a time and can be renewed thrice if you meet some required conditions.

You can apply for a visa on your own with enough research and preparation. Follow recent updates from the DHA for any changes in policies, eligibility or requirements.

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

04. Applying for migration

If you find the process difficult, too time-consuming or confusing, you can get a professional to help you.

However only select individuals can provide assistance on immigration matters. These include migration agents, legal practitioners or exempt persons (immi.homeaffairs. gov.au/help-support/who-can-help-with-your-application/ overview). Note that migration agents must be registered with the Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority before they can practice and provide migration advice.

If you decide to work with a migration agent, make sure that they have a valid registration (portal.mara.gov.au/ search-the-register-of-migration-agents).

4. Professional practice

For more information on visas, immigration and citizenship matters, please visit the DHA website (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Applying for a skills assessment for immigration purposes If the visa you’re applying for requires a skills assessment, you need to contact ANMAC (www.anmac.org.au). ANMAC is the authorised body in Australia to undertake skills assessment for nurses and midwives.

You must meet the following five criteria to be eligible for migration to Australia.

ANMAC assessment criteria

You should have practiced as a nurse in the last five years before you apply to ANMAC. You need professional references to show that your experience is valid and relevant to the occupation you’re planning to migrate under.

5. Fitness to practice You must provide a certificate of good standing or fitness to practice to ANMAC to meet this requirement. If you’re using your nursing registration from outside of Australia, this certificate must be sent directly to ANMAC by the nursing regulatory authority from your country. If you’re using your nursing registration in Australia, ANMAC can electronically verify your fitness to practice through Ahpra.

Assessment process ANMAC undertakes three types of assessment for nurses, depending on where you have a valid nursing registration.

1. Modified skills assessment If you’re registered in Australia through Ahpra or in New Zealand, then you’re eligible to apply for a modified skills assessment.

2. Modified PLUS skills assessment

You must provide a copy of identification documents like your passport or birth certificate.

If you’re not registered in Australia or New Zealand but you hold a current nursing registration overseas and have a ‘Notice of in principle approval of registration subject to proof of identity’ from Ahpra, you’re eligible for a modified PLUS skills assessment.

2. English language proficiency

3. Full skills assessment

1. Proof of identity

You need to pass a recognised English test like OET to show that your English is good enough.

It’s important to note that ANMAC only accepts test results that are up to two years old. You might have taken an English test when you started your application for your nursing registration, but if the results of that test are older than two years, you’ll need to sit a new English test.

Book OET (www.occupationalenglishtest.org/book-oet)

3. Educational equivalence Your nursing qualification must be equivalent to the Australian nursing educational standard. You need to provide copies of your graduation certificates and transcripts to ANMAC so that your qualification can be assessed.

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If you’re not registered in Australia, but your Bachelor of Nursing qualification was obtained from Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, the UK, or the US and you’re registered in the same country, you will require a full skills assessment.

ANMAC will provide you with a Letter of Determination once your skills assessment is completed. This document is one of the requirements in permanent migration.

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

05. Looking for work

LOOKING FOR WORK

If you found an employer to sponsor your immigration to Australia and have obtained one of the employersponsored visas, you can now move to Australia, start settling in, and begin working as a nurse.

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A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

05. Looking for work

If you received another type of visa, don’t worry.

The important thing is you now have your Australian nursing registration and can move to Australia to start looking for work.

Note that these are not the only places that employ nurses. Other institutions like schools or private companies also employ nurses to work on research, clinical trials, or to provide first aid and emergency care.

There are a few ways to search for jobs. Because your nursing registration is recognised nationally, you can apply for jobs anywhere in Australia once you’re registered.

You may want to work in major cities like Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane. Alternatively, you may choose to work in regional and rural areas. It’s up to you!

Full-time, part-time or casual work

Job search in Australia You can start by searching for vacancies through websites like Seek.com.au and CareerOne.com.au. You can also sign up for notifications from these websites, so that you can receive updates in your email in case a job comes up.

Jobs are also advertised on employer websites. If you are targeting a particular employer, check their website to see if they have any vacancies.

Job advertisements in Australia usually include a description of the role, its responsibilities, and a list of ‘essential’ and ‘desirable’ selection criteria. Make sure to read them thoroughly to see how your skills and experience fit.

Once you find a suitable job vacancy and decide to apply, carefully read the instructions on how to apply. Most employers ask you to include a cover letter, a resume or curriculum vitae, and a statement against the selection criteria. This statement is your answer to each selection criterion listed for the role. You can find resources online that provide examples or tips on how to prepare this document.

Different types of health facilities in Australia There’s a range of health facilities in Australia where you can work as a nurse. For example, you can work in hospitals, general practice clinics, or aged care/ residential care facilities.

Hospitals provide services that include medical and surgical services in both emergency and elective admissions, maternity, acute and sub-acute care. General practice clinics provide primary care. This is usually the first point of contact for people in the community who don’t require emergency care or who need long-term management of an illness. Aged care or residential care facilities provide long-term care for the elderly or those with chronic disability.

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Full-time employment usually involves 38-40 hours of work per week. Anything lower than that is considered part-time.

When you’re looking for jobs, you’ll see how many hours are involved in a job vacancy. The advertisement might say 1.0FTE (which means 100% full-time equivalent) or 0.8FTE or lower (which means part-time as it’s 80% of full-time equivalent). Full-time and part-time work have guaranteed work hours. Casual work, on the other hand, is irregular and not guaranteed.

Both full-time and part-time employment include benefits such as sick leave or annual leave. If you’re employed as casual, you don’t usually have access to these benefits.

Differences between agency nursing, bank nursing, and direct employment When looking for nursing jobs, you’ll see different types of employers posting job advertisements.

Direct employment Hospitals directly look for and employ nurses to work across different clinical wards and specialties like emergency, theatre, medical-surgical, acute, or sub-acute.

When directly employed by a hospital to work in a specific clinical ward, all your shifts will be in this area, allowing you to be familiar with the routine and to develop your skills.

Usually you’ll be employed in either a full-time or part-time arrangement. This means that you have a guaranteed number of shifts per fortnight (two weeks), depending on your contract.

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

05. Looking for work

Nurse banks and agencies

Shift work in Australia

Hospitals may need additional nurses from time to time to fill in temporary vacancies or when additional staff is needed. Some hospitals might have their own nurse

Unlike in other countries where nursing shifts are usually in 12-hour blocks in either day or night, many hospitals in Australia will have morning (8 hours), afternoon (8 hours), and night shifts (10 hours).

bank, where they have nurses employed on a casual basis. Other hospitals might contact nursing agencies and request for additional staff for a shift or more.

When working in nurse banks and agencies, you will usually be allocated nursing shifts depending on your availability and the hospitals’ need for additional staff.

You may let them know your preferred area of practice or expertise (e.g., acute, medical/surgical, or subacute), so that they can consider this when allocating available shifts.

You might consider working in nurse banks or agencies if you want work flexibility since you can choose to work as many or as few nursing shifts as you’d like to fit your schedule or lifestyle.

Difference between fixed-term and ongoing contracts You’ll likely see if an advertised role has a fixed term or ongoing contract. The main difference between these two is that fixed-term contracts have a definite end date.

After your contract ends, it depends on your employer if your contract will be renewed or not. Ongoing contracts end when the position is terminated or when you resign.

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Shifts are organised through a roster. If you’re hired on a full-time or part-time position, you will most likely have your roster scheduled two weeks or a month in advance. Your roster can include combinations of morning, afternoon, or night shifts.

Registering for income tax To work in Australia, you need to register for income tax and get a Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation Office. This is a unique reference number assigned to individuals who work in Australia.

You can apply for a TFN and register for income tax here. (www.ato.gov.au/individuals/tax-file-number/apply-for-a-tfn/)

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

06. Getting settled

GETTING SETTLED

Once you have the necessary visa, you can start planning your travel to Australia. The information below covers a few things that will help you prepare for your move or settlement.

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A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

06. Getting settled

Types of accommodation

Superannuation

When it comes to housing, there are several options available to you. Your choice will depend on your finances, and whether you want to share accommodation with others. You can browse websites like RealEstate.com.au or Domain.com.au to give you an idea on options.

On top of your salary, your employer contributes to your superannuation (or ‘super’). Usually you first enroll in a super fund on your first employment in Australia.

Your super goes towards your pension when you retire.

Your employer contributes a percentage of your salary to your super. This money is then invested and managed by your super fund.

Below are the common types of accommodation that you can find: Studios have a bed, sofa and kitchen all in one room with a separate bathroom.

Apartments or units have one or more separate bedrooms and share a common entrance from the street.

Houses have their own entrance from the street.

Alternatively, you can look for a shared accommodation (a room in a house sharing a kitchen, bathroom and lounge).

You’ll also need to look into transport options between your accommodation and work. Find out if it’s near a train station, bus line or if you’re able to walk – use a mapping website to figure out your route.

When you first arrive, you might not get paid straight away so make sure you have enough funds to pay for: Temporary accommodation Bond/deposit and your first month’s rent (rent is paid in advance) Mobile phone and internet access Tax, transport and food

Utility bills Water, gas and electric bills will normally need to be paid monthly. To find out more, take a look at energy company websites and compare them to see which suits your needs.

Websites such as Canstar (www.canstar.com.au) and iSelect (www.iselect.com.au) can help you compare prices and make an informed choice.

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Later on, you can choose to manage your superannuation or change super funds as you like. It’s important that you keep a record of your super, especially when you change employers or have multiple employers. You might also lose track of your super when you change your name or address. Your super fund can report you as a ‘lost member’ if they cannot contact you or they haven’t received any contributions in the last five years.

For more information on super, visit the Australian Taxation Office website (www.ato.gov.au/individuals/super).

Healthcare and health insurance Only Australian citizens and permanent residents have access to Medicare, Australia’s universal health insurance scheme. If you’re on a temporary visa, you’ll need adequate health insurance (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/helpsupport/meeting-our-requirements/health/adequate-healthinsurance) during your stay in Australia.

You can purchase a health insurance policy from a range of insurance providers. When choosing health insurance, make sure that you consider your health needs and what the insurance covers. This may include ambulance transport, emergency care, in-patient and out-patient services for you and your family.

A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

06. Getting settled

Transport

Language and diversity

You may need to rely on public transport to travel to work and you can use online tools like Google Maps (maps.google. com) to get an idea of the cost and time of travel between your home and workplace. You can also use available online public transport guides for each state and territory:

The official language in Australia is English. However, Australia also welcomes people from different cultures and backgrounds. Other than English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi.

Victoria

ACT

New South Wales

Western Australia

Queensland

Tasmania

Northern Territory

South Australia

Consider that as a shift worker, you’ll sometimes need to travel in the early hours of the morning or late at night.

Check the schedule of available public transport in your area to make sure that you’ll have options at different times.

You may want to purchase a car or motorbike, especially if you plan to live outside of the major cities. Each state or territory has specific rules on buying and selling as well as maintenance requirements. Make sure you check these before you make a purchase.

You will need to apply for an Australian driver’s license if you want to drive in Australia. In some cases, you can convert your overseas driver’s license to an Australian one.

You can check the transport authority (info.australia.gov.au/ information-and-services/transport-and-regional/roads-androad-transport/authorities) in the state or territory you’re in for more information.

Banking and currency To open an Australian bank account, you will be required to provide both proof of identity and proof of an Australian address (for example a utility bill or rental contract).

To find the right account for you, visit each bank’s website and book a consultation with staff to make sure you understand the benefits, terms, and conditions.

The currency in Australia is the Australian dollar.

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Australia is also home to a large indigenous population, who are the traditional owners of the land. Indigenous Australians include people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.

As a nurse, you can expect to meet and work with a diverse group of people on a regular basis. It’s important to be sensitive and respectful of other people’s cultures and beliefs.

Climate Temperatures vary greatly throughout Australia’s eight states and territories. However, there are four seasons across most of the country as well as wet and dry season in the tropical north.

Summer: December to February Autumn: March to May Winter: June to August Spring: September to November

Migrant settlement services If you need help settling down, there are services offered by the government and other organisations to help newly arrived migrants in Australia. Community organisations and programs like Settlement Services International (SSI) (www.ssi.org.au) in New South Wales or LiveInMelbourne (liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au) in Victoria provide guidance and information on job search, establishing peer networks, and translation services.

A guide on to registration, registration,immigration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

06. Getting settled

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NMBA’s recommended pathway to employment in Australia for overseas-trained nurses Credit: Courtesy of the NMBA: www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Accreditation/IQNM/Beforeyou-apply/Immigration-and-employment.aspx

Assess your ability to meet the registeration standards and qualification criteria

Receive registration

Assess your ability to meet immigration requirements

Complete self-check

If Stream A

If Stream B

Successfully complete orientation part 1

Successfully complete orientation part 1 and OBA

Fill in the application form and provide documentation to Ahpra

Your application will be assessed by NMBA to determine whether you meet the requirements for registration

Apply for immigtation to Australia

Start working

Emigrate to Australia

Obtain employment

07 08 A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

04. Useful links

USEFUL LINKS

CONTACT US

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (Ahpra) www.ahpra.gov.au OET www.occupationalenglishtest.org Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) www.anmac.org.au/ Department of Home Affairs (DHA) www.homeaffairs.gov.au Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) www.anmf.org.au Seek.com.au CareerOne.com.au RealEstate.com.au Domain.com.au

05. Contact Us

If you have a question about OET, please visit the Helpdesk. (support.occupationalenglishtest.org/hc/en-gb)

You can also follow us on Facebook facebook.com/OfficialOET Instagram instagram.com/officialoet/ Youtube youtube.com/c/OfficialOET

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A guide to registration, immigration, and settlement in Australia for Nurses

AUSTRALIA LIVING GUIDE FOR NURSES Postal address The OET Centre PO Box 16136 Collins St West VIC 8007 Australia Telephone AUS +61 3 8658 3963 UK +44 1202 037333 US +1 855 585 0125 Website www.occupationalenglishtest.org

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