How to Become a Registered Nurse in Australia
The job of a registered nurse in Australia involves maintaining the
health of patients, prevent sickness, both mental and physical as well
as promote health conditions of patients. Before practicing, nurses in
Australia need post secondary education and a registration with the
applicable regulating agency.
Apply for a degree and scholarship
Attend university or any eligible nursing school for a degree in
nursing. You can visit the School of Nursing and Midwifery and contact
the Division of Health Science to attend a graduate program in private
and public health services offered throughout the country. Get 12 to 24
months of clinical coursework in local hospitals, clinics or laboratory
during the program.
You can either go for a full time course or a part time course. You can
specialize in any of the areas in the graduate program like
cardiovascular, critical care or research methodologies.
Apply for scholarships and other financial aids at the time of
application. You can apply for the National Scholarships, Aged Care
Nursing, National Nurse Re-Entry Scheme and the Australian Practice
Nurses Association scholarships. Besides, there are state, university
and professional scholarships available too.
Membership at a regulatory agency
After completing your post secondary education, apply for a membership
with the applicable state or territory regulatory agency. There are
eight agencies that include the Nurses Board of the Australian Capital
Territory in Canberra City, the Nurses Board of the Northern Territory
in Darwin and the Queensland Nursing Council in Brisbane.
Different levels of nursing in Australia
There are generally two levels of nursing in Australia.
- Registered Nurses (known as Division 1 nurses), you need to
complete a Bachelor of Nursing to become a registered (Division 1)
nurse. The course is offered by many Australian universities.
- Enrolled Nurses (known as Division 2 nurses), you need to
complete a Diploma in Nursing or a Certificate IV in Nursing at a
Technical and Further Education (TAFE) or any vocational
institution.
For further information on how to become a registered nurse
(Division 1) and enrolled nurse (Division 2), you have to visit your
state / territory health department website.
Nursing in Queensland
To be a registered nurse in Queensland, you need a nursing
qualification and a license from the Queensland Nursing Council (QNC).
If you are not a registered nurse but school pass out, you need to
complete a three year on-campus Bachelor of Nursing
(Pre-Registration) degree. The entry to this program is through the
Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).
Graduates are eligible to apply for a license from the QNC. All
graduates are eligible to apply for registration in other states and
territories in Australia.
ANMC – The Regulatory Body for Nursing in Australia
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) established in
1992, updates and reviews the regulations affecting the nursing
industry. It also conducts skill assessment programs for
international nurses who wish to practice in Australia.
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