Working in Health Care In Australia

Interview with Emma Bates, Part 2

Our interview continues with information about working in health care in Australia, as described in Emma Bates' book which is a must read for any nurse wishing to pursue their career in this country.

PREVIOUS: Part 1 - Nursing in Australia

Emma, what process did you follow when you decided you wanted to be involved in health care in Australia?

I had to understand the country, the nursing environment and work out the process of how to apply. Once I learned all these I put the information in my eBook for others to read.

Which is the organisation that assesses the skills and qualifications of nurses that studied and practiced overseas to be able to register in Australia?

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is an authorised assessing authority for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and undertakes skills assessments of internationally qualified nurses and midwives seeking permanent migration in Australia.

Please note it does not register individual nurses and midwives. For more information visit http://www.anmc.org.au/home

The new Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia is responsible for registering nursing and midwifery practitioners and students.

To register as a nurse in Australia you need to visit the Nursing and Midwifery board of Australia.

The functions of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia are supported by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), which is the regulatory body. For more information visit http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au

Once you have your nursing registered you are able to work in any part of Australia.

There is a skills shortage in this profession in Australia. Is this across all health sectors or is there a health area where you felt the number of qualified nurses was much lower than in others?

I can't say what the situation is for the other health sectors, but there certainly is a nursing shortage in Australia.

Did you have second thoughts after you left your home country and did you have a fall back plan in case things were different to what you hoped for?

I didn't have any second thoughts about leaving my home country, but, I did experience a brief period homesickness.

I didn't have a fall back plan, but my philosophy in life is, give it a try.

If it doesn't work out and there is no reason why it shouldn't, you can always go back to doing what you were doing before! That is the beauty about nursing.

Do you have any advice for overseas nurses that are seeking to work in health care in Australia?

Australia is an enormous country and its size and diversity makes it an exciting place to explore. First, you'll need to decide where you are going to live, do you homework on choosing a state or territory, as they vary greatly.

The second piece of advice would be, make sure you pick a large employer, (for example, a large public health service) so you can move around different hospitals and roles, rather than being tied to a smaller employer with only a few roles. That way you can find the role that suits you more and move into it when it becomes available.

Emma, thank you for this comprehensive interview and for sharing your knowledge with us.

PREVIOUS: Part 1 - Nursing in Australia

Whether you are an overseas nurse looking to work down under or a student who prepares to start a career in health care in Australia, Emma has an amazing book for you, packed with all the information and guidance you need.

As an overseas trained nurse, download Nursing in Australia - A Guide to Working and Living as a Nurse Down Under". It has everything you need to know about coming to work and live in Australia.

As a student or a nurse who wants to know more about health care and the work environment, download only part two of the book "Nursing in the Australian Health Service ". It provides a complete guide to the health care system, with all the information, contact details and links you need to get started.

Many other nurses have found the books invaluable. Read their feedback here, on the right hand side of this page.

So, don't delay, download the book you need and start reading it immediately.

Still hesitating? A number of universities and nursing colleges have bought the book and are using it as part of their curriculum. You should have it too.

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