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Nursing Jobs in
Australia (2)
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All nurses registered in Australia must hold
and be able to demonstrate the National Nursing Competency Standards.
Overseas nurses must also be able to demonstrate these standards
to be allowed to practice in Australia but nurses from certain
countries however are exempt from this requirement so check the
ANC website for the latest up-to-date information.
As with most English speaking countries, Australia requires that
all nurses wishing to enter the country and practice nursing there
must have a good understanding of the English language. The two
English language standards that are acceptable as proof of a candidate’s
ability are either the Occupational English Test (OET) for Nurses
or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
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More information about these language standards can be obtained
by contacting the following organisations:
Language Australia,
Level 2, 255 William Street,
Melbourne
Tel: 00 61 3 9926 4779
Fax: 00 61 3 9926 4780
email: annl@la.ames.vic.edu.au
http://sunsite.anu.edu.au/language-australia
IELTS Australia,
GPO Box 2006,
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: 00 61 2 6285 8222
Fax: 00 61 2 6285 3233
email: ielts@idp.edu.au
www.idp.edu.au
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There are two main categories of nursing that you can register as in
Australia – an Enrolled Nurse, or a Registered Nurse (although
in some states in Australia these positions are termed Registered
Nurse Division 2 and Registered Nurse Division 1 respectively).
An Enrolled Nurse carries out his/her duties under the direction
and supervision of Registered Nurse and is accountable to the
Registered Nurse and patients under their care. These nurses are
qualified by means of certificate or associated diploma level
courses in technical institutes or vocational schools.
A Registered Nurse is licensed to practice nursing under the relevant
state or territory Nursing Acts where that nurse is working and
can work without supervision. Registered Nurses can delegate work
to, and supervise, enrolled nurses. Registered Nurses hold qualifications
obtained through university or similar institutions.
Two other categories of nursing for which you may be registered
to practice in Australia are Midwives and Nurse Practitioners.
While the role of a Midwife is reasonably self-explanatory, a
Nurse Practitioner however is a relatively new category of healthcare
worker that has been adopted in some states across Australia.
A Nurse Practitioner is licenced to refer patients to third party
health care professionals, prescribe certain medications, and
other limited, but advanced, duties. The role of Nurse Practitioner
is not available in all states in Australia, so check with your
local Nursing Authority for the area you wish to practice in.
If
you are offered a contract prior to leaving your home country,
make sure that you fully understand the terms and conditions of
that contract before agreeing to it. If you are unsure about any
of the obligations or terms of the contract, you can contact the
Department of
Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA)
for assistance. Always remember that employers, as well as employees,
must meet their obligations under contractual agreements, so if
you feel an employer is not meeting their obligations you should
seek advice from the appropriate organisations. Information about
rates of pay and working conditions for nurses in Australia can
be obtained by contacting the Australian
Nursing Federation (ANF).
To
help you on your way, we've compiled a list of internet resources
to help you find a nursing job in Australia. Simply click on the
'Useful resources' button below. Good luck!
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