Your Guide to Immigrate to Australia as a Registered Nurse

Australia has emerged as one of the preferred destinations for nurses who desire to settle as international professionals. With a strong healthcare system, high demand for skilled professionals, and attractive lifestyle opportunities, Australia offers excellent prospects for registered nurses from around the world.

Immigrating to Australia as a registered nurse not only opens doors to career growth but also provides a pathway to Australian permanent residency. 

With the increasing demand of qualified nurses in Australia, the country has been imparting some of the highest paying job opportunities in Australia for nurses. 

Who is a Registered Nurse?

Registered Nurse, a qualified skilled professional, second in the line of duty plays a vital role in the healthcare sector. Known for their compassion and dedication, nurses bridge the gap between doctors and patients, ensuring trust and comfort. 

Occupations Under this Unit Group

●     254411: Nurse Practitioner

●     254412: Registered Nurse (Aged Care)

●     254413: Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)

●     254414: Registered Nurse (Community Health)

●     254415: Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)

●     254416: Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)

●     254417: Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)

●     254418: Registered Nurse (Medical)

●     254421: Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)

●     254422: Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

●     254423: Registered Nurse (Perioperative)

●     254424: Registered Nurse (Surgical)

●     254425: Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)

●     254499: Registered Nurses nec 

Tasks and Duties of a Registered Nurse in Australia

●    Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care for patients according to accepted nursing practice and standards

●    Working in consultation with other Health Professionals and members of health teams, and coordinating the care of patients

●    Providing interventions, treatments and therapies such as medications, and monitoring responses to treatment and care plan

●    Promoting health and assisting in preventing ill health by participating in health education and other health promotion activities

●    Answering questions and providing information to patients and families about treatment and care

●    Supervising and coordinating the work of Enrolled Nurses and other health care workers 

Visa options for Registered Nurses to Immigrate to Australia 

The visa options available to immigrate to Australia as a registered nurse:

1.  Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

Subclass 189 allows candidates to immigrate to Australia on the basis of their inherited skills. With this subclass, candidates do not require any nomination either from any state or Australian employer. 

2.  Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

Subclass 190 allows candidates to immigrate to Australia only when they have been nominated by the Australian state or territory, such as New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia. 

3.  Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)

Subclass 491 allows candidates who have been nominated by the regional areas of Australia and later reside as Australian permanent residents. 

4.  Post-Vocational Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

Subclass 485 allows international students who have recently graduated associate degree, diploma or trade qualification relevant to Australian occupation needs and wish to immigrate to Australia.  

Eligible and qualified nurses with relevant education qualifications and work experience, can immigrate to Australia via these above-mentioned subclasses. Whereas Subclass 485, plays a crucial role for qualified nurses, where international students can apply for the job opportunities available in Australia.

 Salaries drawn by Registered Nurses in Australia  

 How to immigrate to Australia as a Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse, highly skilled health professional who plays a crucial role in patient care, assists in treatment and even provides emotional support to patients. Their dedication towards their service is incalculable and cannot be put into words. So, if you are a qualified professional nurse and want to settle in Australia as permanent residents, then learn how you can immigrate to Australia as a registered nurse.

 1.  Check Eligibility

An initial move a registered nurse has to make while processing is to check eligibility required for the application. The eligibility factors are:

❖  65 points:

●    Age

●    Work experience

●    Educational qualifications

●    English language proficiency test score (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL)

❖   Selected occupation to be listed on the Australia Skilled Occupation List with valid ANZSCO Code

  2.  Skill Assessment from Skillset

The following measure in this process is applying for a skill assessment done by the authorized skill assessment authority. A registered nurse needs to submit all the educational credentials to ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council). 

However, candidates with education from outside Australia are required to register first with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), while candidates with education from within Australia do not mandatorily need to register with AHPRA.

 3.  Register EOI

After submitting educational credentials for skill assessment, candidates have to lodge an EOI (Expression of interest), stating the applicant's purpose behind immigration and duration of stay.

 4.  Apply ROI

Applicants applying under Subclass 190 need to register ROI (Registration of Interest), stating candidates' desire for specific state nomination such as to Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and other states of Australia. 

 5.  Receive ITA

The next step in the course of application is to receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA). By ITA, the Australian Government allows the applicants to start submitting their documents.

 These above stated steps, if followed religiously, qualified nurses can immigrate to Australia without any chaos.

Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system, combining skills, emotional support and dedicated care around the clock. Their dedication ensures better health outcomes and comfort for patients, making nursing not just a profession but a noble service to humanity.