Are you considering a career in nursing and wondering where to start? Australia may be the answer you’re looking for! As one of the fastest-growing industries in the country, nursing offers an exciting and rewarding career path. But that's not all - studying nursing in Australia comes with a plethora of benefits.
From world-class education to diverse cultural experiences, there are plenty of reasons why Australia should be at the top of your list. In this article, we'll take a closer look at why studying nursing in Australia is an excellent choice and explore some of the many opportunities that await you. So, whether you're a local or an international student, let's dive in and discover why studying nursing in Australia is a smart and fulfilling career move.
What’s the Current Situation of the Nursing Industry in Australia?
More than 20,000 international students who have nursing registration have been granted special permission to work more than 40 hours a week, the highest allowable working hours in Australia for international students. This scenario is just a snapshot of the demand Australia has for nursing professionals' services.
Nursing is among the occupations that provide service-minded individuals with a high degree of work satisfaction. A nursing career is more enriching than anywhere else, especially in a developed country like Australia, due to the high quality of life in the country, better working conditions, safety, and better remuneration.
Is There a High Demand for Nursing Professionals?
Every year, Australian universities generate a large number of nursing graduates to meet the need for nursing practitioners both in Australia and around the world.. Australian nursing graduates are well-known for their work in a global setting.
For instance, students who have completed nursing courses will be qualified to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and prevention and rehabilitation programs. Every year, the Australian government increases its spending on vital healthcare services.
Research reports from Australia's Department of Health Forecast the demand for nurses to be 85,000 by 2023 and more than 123,000 by 2030. One of the reasons why the country remains a top option for international students to study nursing is this rising demand.
Some of the renowned nursing schools reside in Australia, here are some mentionable names are Griffith University, Western Sydney University, University of Adelaide, and many more. These universities offer generous scholarships as well, Griffith University offers up to 50% Scholarship, the University of Adelaide up to 50% scholarship, ACU offers up to 50% Scholarship, Charles Darwin University offers up to 50% Scholarship, and many more.
What Are Some of the Nursing Jobs in Australia?
In Australia, there are several types of nursing roles, including:
Registered Nurse (RN): Becoming a registered nurse will allow you to work in a setting where you’ll be responsible for providing direct patient care, admin medications, and developing care plans for your patients.
Enrolled Nurse (EN): An enrolled nurse usually works under a registered nurse, where you’ll be under the supervision of an RN and provide basic medical care to patients.
Nurse Practitioner (NP): A nurse practitioner is a licensed nurse with advanced practices when you have acquired further education and training to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries.
Nurse Midwife: As a nurse midwife, you’ll be responsible for providing care to women, as well as their babies during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
Clinical Nurse: As a clinical nurse you can specialize in pediatrics, emergency care, cancer, neuroscience, cardiology, and geriatrics, among other areas. However, clinical nurses typically hold a master's degree in their field.
To work as a nurse in Australia, you must first acquire a bachelor's, master's, or postgraduate degree, after which you can begin your registration to become a registered nurse in Australia.
As a registered nurse (RN), you can work in a variety of healthcare settings, for instance:
Healthcare Setting |
Description |
Public and Private Systems |
In this setting, you can work in hospitals, clinics, and community health centers. |
Trauma and Emergency Care |
In emergency departments, you’ll provide care for patients with critical injuries or illnesses. |
Home Care Nursing |
As a home care nurse, you’ll be providing care for patients in their own homes, such as post-operative care or ongoing chronic disease management. |
Health and Education Fields |
You’ll be able to teach nursing or provide healthcare education in universities, schools, or at health promotion organizations. |
Community Nursing |
Community-based settings will allow you to provide care to patients in their homes or in community health centers. |
Aged Care |
You’ll be able to provide care to elderly patients in nursing homes or residential aged care facilities. |
What Is the Average Salary for Nursing Roles?
Australia is one of the world's top 5 countries that give nurses a high pay package. According to data from the Australian Government's Employment Outlook website, we have provided a table below that provides an overview of the average earnings for various nursing roles in Australia:
Nursing Role |
Average Salary (AUD) |
Registered Nurse |
$75,000 - $95,000 |
Enrolled Nurse |
$50,000 - $70,000 |
Nurse Practitioner |
$100,000 - $140,000 |
Nurse Midwife |
$85,000 - $105,000 |
Clinical Nurse |
$85,000 to $110,000 |
Benefits for Nurses in Australia:
Job Security: In the healthcare industry the need for nurses or doctors is essential and expected to continue to grow in the future. Therefore, qualified nurses will be in high demand for potential career opportunities.
Competitive Salaries: When you become a nurse in Australia, you’ll be able to earn competitive salaries. Moreover, with experience and additional qualifications you can even earn more.
Career Growth: Nursing offers a range of career paths and opportunities for growth, including specialty areas such as aged care, pediatrics, mental health, and more.
Work Flexibility: As a nurse, you’ll be offered flexible work arrangements, including part-time and full-time options, shift work, as well as the opportunity to work in various locations and settings.
Personal Fulfillment: You’ll be influencing a positive impact on the health and well-being of your patients by providing medical care, comfort, and support as needed.
Professional Development: You’ll have access to training programs and workshops to help enhance your skills and advance your career.
Additional Benefits: Employers will offer additional benefits and perks to you, these benefits include paid leave, health insurance, and retirement savings plans.
It’s a Pathway to Permanent Residence
Compared to many other occupations, the PR route is comparatively simpler for nurses in Australia. One has to select the correct route to quickly obtain PR. Living as a permanent resident for 4-6 years in Australia could lead to nurses becoming citizens.
According to the Migration Report of the Department of Home Affairs, Registered Nurses are among the top three occupations that have been granted PR in Australia. As of the first quarter of the Migration program year 2022-2023, Registered Nurses remain in high demand and are currently the most sought-after skilled occupation. Thus, Nursing courses are consistently in high demand, often filling up quickly due to their popularity in facilitating the acquisition of a Skilled Visa 190 or Skilled Independent Visa 189.
Studying in Regional Areas of Australia Can Offer Several Benefits:
To address the skill shortage in regional areas, the Australian government is encouraging qualified workers to migrate to these regions. Studying in a regional field can be particularly beneficial for several reasons:
You will benefit from an extra 5 points awarded for studying in a geographical area on the points-based scheme.
Priority processing is provided for regional visas.
You will be exempted from the minimum wage required ($53,900) on the new 494 and 491 visas if you were to obtain a job in a specific DAMA regional area.
From 2021, international students studying in all locations outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane will be offered an extension on the current two-year Post-study work stream of the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa (TGV), which applies to Bachelor and Master by coursework graduates.
Let’s Wrap Up!
Healthcare has been the most sought-after service worldwide, and it's essential for the well-being of people. In Australia, the healthcare industry is constantly rising, and there are almost 30,000 new openings for nursing jobs each year. The incomes of nursing professionals are among the top 20 percent of all Australian employees in all sectors with high earnings.
If you wish to excel in your nursing career, consider studying at one of Australia's top universities for nursing courses. With proper guidance and educational counseling, you can opt for the best-fitted university that is according to your preference. Additionally, many universities offer scholarships and financial assistance to support your academic journey.
Please reach out to us at +610396201773 (Melbourne), +610283784282 (Sydney), +610870992258 (Adelaide) for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How is life as a nurse in Australia?
Answer: The working week in Australia is 38 hours long. Nonetheless, most midwives and nurses work an average of 33 hours per week. Keep in mind that most nurses work an average of 38 hours a week, but there are numerous opportunities for overtime. When a nurse is just starting out, they can work up to 12-hour shifts three days in a row.
What is the Scope of Practice (SoP) in nursing in Australia?
Answer: This definition serves as the basis for the definition of the scope of nursing practice that follows. The range of duties, functions, responsibilities, and activities that a registered nurse is trained, competent, and authorized to undertake is referred to as the scope of nursing practice.
Is it easy to get PR in nursing in Australia?
Answer: Employer-sponsored visas are less prevalent for registered nurses because they require employer nomination approval and willingness to sponsor personnel. The PR Route for an employer-sponsored visa typically takes 3-4 years from Temporary Visas 482, 494 to Permanent Residence Visa subclass 186,191.
What type of nurse is most in demand in Australia?
Answer: A Mental Health Nurse is a professional healthcare specialist who specializes in treating clients with mental health disorders; this is one of Australia's highest-paying nursing jobs.