Working in Australia
Nursing opportunities are plentiful in Australia with small to large private and public hospitals and Aged Care facilities with a reputation for high quality medical care.
Shift times vary depending on the facility, however shift times are usually as follows:
- AM 0700-0730 to 1330-1530
- PM 1300-1500 to 2100-2230
- ND 2100-2200 to 0700-0730
Some 12hr shifts are worked in specialist areas such as ICU/CCU and Emergency Department
Before you can start working in Australia it is necessary to register with the appropriate Nurses Registration Board/Council and it is highly recommended that you register before you arrive in Australia as the initial process can take 6 weeks to 4 months. Each state or territory has it’s own registration authority, however you only need to register with one and then simply transfer your registration when you would like to move states.
If you undertook your initial nurse training in the following countries, you will probably be able to directly transfer your registration.
- United Kingdom
- Republic of Ireland
- New Zealand
- USA
- Canada
You will need to submit a Tax File Number application form to the Australian Taxation Office. This paperwork can be collected from any post office. The contact details for the various Nurses Boards can be found in “Useful Links” page.
