Going to Australia

Thinking of Nursing in Aussie? Why not!!!

We may never realize where we are heading to not until we start to plan and focus on making  our dreams come true.  Yes it true that our American dream is worth fighting for.  We should keep still and believe that in due time, in HIS own perfect time, we shall all be there, in the “Land of Milk and Honey”.

But like any other goal mapping, there must always be contingency plans.  With retrogression ON and with the blind tunnel for now, nurses may think of other options instead. Some may stay in their home country and continue their nursing profession, some may venture into other field/industry, some may consider applying in Middle East, in UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, AUSTRALIA,   or any other country where nurses are welcome with arms wide open.  These are wise moves.

Australia is welcoming foreign trained nurses ever since, and till now, the government still did not impose any limitations/restrictions on that regard unlike UK.  The shortage of nurses is also quite pronounced in Aussie if you try to read some Australian news articles online.

Like any other country, they too have their own nursing regulatory boards. To date,  Australia has 7 nursing boards.  Each board has their own requirements for registration.   In almost all the 7 Regulatory boards, they have two common/uniformed requirements, and these are: Proof of good command in English (IELTS) and for the nurse applicants to pass through the ANMC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council)   and undergo a bridging course in order to successfully gain the full Registration with unrestricted license to practice as RNs.

Among the regulatory boards, it has come to my knowledge that QUEENSLAND is the most liberal. The requirements for registration are not tough as compared to other boards. In fact, this is the only board that does not let their applicants go for ANMC since they have this CAS (Competency Assessment Service) specifically for nurse applicants of their board only.  Aside from that, they are also welcoming nurses with no or little clinical experience.  That is the main reason why there are plenty of foreign nurses seeking registration in QUEENSLAND instead of registering to other Australian nursing boards.

Providing the websites of the seven (7) AUSTRALIAN NURSING & MIDWIFERY REGULATORY BOARDs  for references.

1.)    Queensland

http://www.qnc.gld.gov.au./home/index.aspx

2.)    Western Australia

http://www.nbwa.org.au/

3.)    Victoria

http://www.nbv.org.au

4.)    South Australia

http://www.nursesboard.sa.gov.au/

5.)    Tasmania

http://www.nursingboardtas.org.au

6.)    Northern Territory

http://www.nt.gov.au/health/nurse/_mi...e_career.shtml

7.)    New South Wales

http://www.nmb..nsw.gov.au/

Good Luck!!!
 

Thanks for updating the thread, nurseidol.

If anyone knows someone who knows, please refer them here at our forum and specifically with this particular thread.  Thanks.

COMPTENCY ASSESSMENT SERVICE FOR QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

The Queensland Nursing Council mandates foreign educated nurses to undertake  this service in order to be registered with their council unless the applicant had already undergone the bridging course through ANMC.

The COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT SERVICE FOR QUEENSLAND is more simplified and is provided by the CQUniversity and Central Queensland Institute of TAFE on behalf of the Queensland Nursing Council.

The competency assessment has two phases:

1.)    Assessment and verification of applicant’s documents

2.)    Part A (Theoretical test) and Part B (Clinical test) challenge test OR

                        Enrolling in Education Modules (only as required)

The applicant has the choice of whether to take the entire (4) education modules or to take the PART A and PART B challenge tests.

If the applicant is successful in his Part A challenge test, the applicant will then face the next battle, and that is the PART B or the clinical challenge test. At this point, the nurse must have to travel to Aussie for the clinical challenge test that will last for 8 to 12 hours. Then if successful, the applicant is then granted the full and unrestricted license to practice nursing in Queensland.   On the other hand, if the applicant failed the PART A challenge test, CAS will redirect the applicant to attend the education modules, only after the completion of the said modules that the council will grant him/her the license.

As what I have learned, PART A (Theoretical Challenge test) is being offered in the Philippines, in Makati and in DAVAO. They don’t have fix office in the Philippines yet but they are conducting this exam in designated testing centers. You will be well informed by them of the exact place when you are already scheduled to take the exam.

As what T-cell have said, please encourage anyone you know who’ve underwent this procedure or who are presently on the process  to join our forum for more insights.

For More info on CAS, I am providing these links:

http://cas.cqu.edu.au/FCWViewer/view.do?site=21

http://www.qnc.qld.gov.au/upload/pdfs/information_sheets/Registration/Competence_assessment_service.pdf

God Bless and Good luck everybody.

Bringing into the attention and just for the common knowledge of everyone.

Nurses who are presently working in Saudi Arabia and who plans to relocate and work in Queensland Australia, let it be known that the CQUniversity  ( the body administering the CAS) has identified THREE testing centers within the Kingdom. 

Nurse Applicants who are presently working in Arabia may sit for the PART A challenge test in RIYADH, DAHRAN and KHAMIST MUSHAYT Kingdom of SA.  Specific address will be revealed once exam schedule is confirmed.

God Bless
 

hi,

I'm new in this forum and I'm from the Philippines. May I know how much usually does it cost to take the CAS?

thanks

Hello Marge. Welcome.

The QNC application fee is 48 Australian Dollars

The QNC assessment fee is 109 Australian Dollars

The CAS part A fee is 260 Australian Dollars

The CAS part B Challenge test fee is 506 Australian Dollars

I am not so sure if the fees are still the same. It is advisable that you get in contact directly with the Council and CQUniversity (the one that administers the CAS) to get the most recent accurate fees.

God Bless and Goodluck.

to nurse idol,
hi, i have been waiting for US since 2006 but of what happen in their immigration i have decided to apply to australia. Do you know how much is the required band score (IELTS) in applying to australia, specifically, queensland?

thank you so much
winker

hi nurseidol,

I am just inquiring if it is possible for a newly nursing board passer in the Philippines to apply for registration with the Queensland Nursing Board Council.  Is the lack of clinical work experience a hindrance to registration assuming she can undertake the necessary test and hopefully passed them all.

I truly appreciate your reply.

God bless

John