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Always dreamed of living in Australia and working as a nurse? See my top tips for getting sponsored.
I originally came here as an agency nurse in 2017, had a year of fun and adventure, flew back to London and quickly realised I had to come back. Now I’m sponsored in Sydney as an emergency nurse, flew out on a free flight, free temporary accommodation and a bonus. It is possible!
First things first. Eligibility! It is important to check you are eligible to apply for the visa. There are specific English language, criminal history and medical requirements. (I'm not an immigration expert) so you can check your eligibility on the Australian Home Affairs website.
You will need your AHPRA registration! In order to work in Australia as a nurse you must be registered with AHPRA. This process takes approx 3-4 months (once sent off).
Experience! As well as needing experience for the job you are applying for, the sponsorship visa required you to have two years minimum experience as a nurse in order to apply.
My advice would be to pick where you want to live carefully! Sponsorship means a full time contract with an employer in Australia for 2 years. So have a good think about where you want to be. Sydney, Perth or Melbourne, the choice is yours!
Register with Australian nursing recruitment agencies! It is free and they often have a permanent recruitment team who can review your CV and let you know when positions become available.
Try looking at Healthcare Australia or CPL healthcare!
Get your foot in the door! Before jumping straight to sponsorship, many people first go to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa, where you get a whole year in Australia (or two if you want to do 3 months on a farm). I was mainly there for a year long holiday... but I worked agency shifts in numerous different hospitals around Sydney. You get to know the hospitals and the staff and are more likely to offer you sponsorship opportunities.
Remember! Relocation packages. Many recruitment agencies/hospitals offer 'relocation packages’ including incentives such as free flights, free temporary accommodation and bonus’!
Good luck and see you down under!