10 Steps Guide to Work as a Filipino Nurse in Australia

These are the 10 steps needed to work as a Filipino Nurse in Australia:

STEP 1: In order to be allowed to work as a nurse, and before you will be able be considered for a migration to Australia based on the fact that you are a nurse, you will need to meet the registration requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

There are five criteria that are used in assessing your application for registration which i will explain to be the STEP 2 – STEP 6:

STEP 2: (Criterion one) – you must establish your identity. You will need to provide a range of ‘proof of identity’ documents.

STEP 3: (Criterion two) – you must meet English language proficiency standards. You must complete the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination with a minimum score of seven in each of the four components – listening, reading, writing and speaking. Or, you must complete an overall pass in the Occupation English Test (OET) with grades A or B only in each of the four components.

STEP 4: (Criterion three) – you must meet the current Australian nursing and midwifery education standards If you are qualified as a nurse in Philippine with a degree or a diploma as well as further education, and you are registered as a first level nurse in Philippine, you will require individual assessment to determine whether their qualifications and experience will be recognized by the Board.

STEP 5: (Criterion four) – you must provide evidence of having practiced as a nurse or midwife within a defined period of time prior to submitting the application.

STEP 6: (Criterion five) – you must demonstrate that you are fit to practice in Australia.

STEP 7: You must prove that there has been no previous proven disciplinary proceedings against you, that there are no restrictions on you arising from mental incapacity, that there are no restrictions on you arising from physical incapacity, that you have no criminal history which would preclude you from working as a nurse or midwife in Australia.

STEP 8: For non-specialty nursing, you must have at least one year’s experience. If your scope is related to Critical Care, Perioperative or Midwifery, you will need to gain at least 2 years’ experience in an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) recognized country.

Step 9: Submit your application for Registration with AHPRA

If you think you meet the criteria in step 1, then submit your application for registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Step 10: Get a VISA

Once you are registered with AHPRA as a nurse, you then need a VISA to be allowed to live and work in Australia. There are a number of VISA’s available:

• If you are able to secure sponsorship by an employer, one of the following VISA types will be appropriate:

1. Temporary Business (Long Stay)
2. Employer Nomination Scheme (Permanent Visa)
3. Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Permanent Visa)

• If you are not sponsored by an employer, you can pursue a VISA under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) provisions of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.