okohjohn193What Are Registered Nurse Jobs in Australia?
Australia faces a big need for nurses right now. Public hospitals, private clinics, aged care centers, and remote health posts all look for trained staff. A registered nurse handles daily patient care. This includes taking blood pressure, giving shots, changing bandages, and writing notes on health progress.
Jobs exist in big cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Smaller towns in Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia also hire. Many places offer visa sponsorship. The employer pays the government fees so you can work legally. After you arrive, you start earning at once.
New nurses get $65,000 a year as base pay. This amount comes before tax. Extra money comes from night work, weekend shifts, and public holidays. With just one year of local work, the salary can rise to $70,000. Senior nurses in charge of a ward earn $85,000 or more.
Why Australia Needs Nurses from Other Countries
The population grows older fast. More people need hospital beds and home care. Government data shows the country will need 123,000 extra nurses by 2030. Local training schools produce 15,000 nurses each year. The gap stays wide.
Rural areas suffer the most. Towns far from cities have few doctors and nurses. Health departments give extra cash to workers who move there. City hospitals also join the plan because emergency rooms stay busy 24 hours.
Private aged care homes expand every month. Each home needs ten to twenty nurses per shift. Owners look overseas to fill empty spots.
Full Pay Breakdown
| Item | Amount (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base yearly pay | $65,000 | Full-time, 38 hours a week |
| Night shift loading | $150 per shift | 10 PM to 6 AM |
| Weekend rate | $200 per day | Saturday or Sunday |
| Public holiday | $350 per day | Double time plus base |
| Overtime (after 38h) | $45 per hour | Common in busy wards |
A nurse who works five night shifts a month adds $750. Ten weekend days bring $2,000 more. Total yearly income can reach $80,000 in the first year with normal extra hours.
Different Nursing Jobs You Can Choose
- General Ward Nurse – Work on medical or surgical floors.
- Emergency Nurse – Treat car crash victims and heart attacks.
- Intensive Care Nurse – Watch patients on life support machines.
- Pediatric Nurse – Care for babies and children.
- Oncology Nurse – Give cancer drugs and comfort patients.
- ** Perioperative Nurse** – Help surgeons during operations.
- Community Health Nurse – Drive to homes for check-ups.
- Mental Health Nurse – Talk to patients and give medicine for mind problems.
- Aged Care Nurse – Feed, bathe, and watch elderly residents.
- Rural Nurse – Do basic doctor tasks in small towns.
Every type accepts foreign workers. Pay stays the same across types for the same experience level.
Visa Types Explained in Detail
1. Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa
- Length: 2 or 4 years
- Employer files the paperwork
- You can bring husband/wife and kids
- After 3 years, move to permanent visa
2. Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
- Permanent from day one
- Needs strong job offer and skills check
- No points test
3. Subclass 190 – State Nominated Visa
- Points-based (minimum 65)
- State government picks you
- Permanent stay
4. Subclass 491 – Regional Provisional Visa
- Live in rural area for 3 years
- Then apply for permanent
Nursing sits on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List. This makes visa approval faster.
Full List of Rules to Meet
- Bachelor of Nursing degree (3 or 4 years) from a known college
- Current nursing license in your country
- Minimum 12 months paid hospital work after degree
- English test:
- IELTS Academic – 7.0 overall, no band under 7
- OET – B in each part
- PTE Academic – 65 overall, no skill under 65
- Age under 45 helps for points visas
- Pass health exam (blood test, chest X-ray)
- Police clearance from every country you lived in for 12 months or more
- Skills assessment from Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)
Complete Application Steps
Step 1: Prepare Papers
- Scan degree certificate
- Get two work reference letters on hospital letterhead
- Book English test date
Step 2: Skills Check
- Send papers to ANMAC
- Pay $500
- Wait 8–10 weeks
Step 3: AHPRA Registration
- Create online account
- Upload ANMAC letter, English result, passport
- Pay $800
- Wait 4–12 weeks
Step 4: Job Hunt
- Make LinkedIn profile
- Update CV to Australian style (2 pages max)
- Apply to 20 jobs a week
Step 5: Interview
- Practice common questions
- Show you know Australian medicine names
Step 6: Job Offer
- Read contract – check salary, leave, super
- Sign and return
Step 7: Visa Lodge
- Employer starts sponsorship
- You fill health and police forms
- Pay $3,000 visa fee
Step 8: Fly
- Book flight after visa email
- Pack scrubs and shoes
Best Job Websites with Live Links
- Indeed – Registered Nurse Visa Sponsorship Australia – 1,200+ openings today
- SEEK – Nursing Jobs with Sponsorship – 900+ listings
- HealthJobsWA – Western Australia Government Jobs – 300 rural roles
- NSW Health Careers – 500 Sydney and regional posts
- Queensland Health Jobs – 400 openings
- Jora – Quick Search Tool – Daily updates
Set job alerts. New roles appear at 8 AM each day.
Top 20 Hospitals That Sponsor Visas
- Royal Prince Alfred – Sydney – 150 spots – $68,000 start
- St Vincent’s Hospital – Melbourne – 130 spots – $67,500
- Princess Alexandra – Brisbane – 110 spots – $66,000
- Royal Perth Hospital – Perth – 100 spots – $71,000
- John Hunter Hospital – Newcastle – 90 spots – $67,000
- Austin Health – Melbourne – 85 spots – $66,500
- Flinders Medical Centre – Adelaide – 80 spots – $65,500
- Royal Hobart Hospital – Tasmania – 70 spots – $65,000
- Cairns Hospital – Queensland – 65 spots – $66,500
- Alice Springs Hospital – Northern Territory – 60 spots – $73,000
- Monash Medical Centre – Melbourne – 55 spots – $67,000
- Westmead Children’s Hospital – Sydney – 50 spots – $68,000
- Gold Coast University Hospital – Queensland – 50 spots – $66,000
- Nepean Hospital – Penrith – 45 spots – $67,500
- Royal Darwin Hospital – Darwin – 40 spots – $72,000
- Launceston General – Tasmania – 35 spots – $65,000
- Toowoomba Hospital – Queensland – 30 spots – $66,000
- Bunbury Regional – Western Australia – 30 spots – $70,000
- Bendigo Health – Victoria – 25 spots – $65,500
- Mount Gambier Hospital – South Australia – 20 spots – $65,000
All these places file visa forms in under 30 days.
Cost of Living Table
| City | Rent (1-bed) | Food | Transport | Total Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $2,200 | $600 | $200 | $3,000 |
| Melbourne | $1,800 | $550 | $180 | $2,530 |
| Brisbane | $1,600 | $500 | $160 | $2,260 |
| Perth | $1,500 | $500 | $150 | $2,150 |
| Adelaide | $1,300 | $450 | $140 | $1,890 |
| Rural Town | $900 | $400 | $100 | $1,400 |
After tax on $65,000, you keep $4,300 a month. In a rural town, you save $2,900 each month.
Full Day in the Life
6:45 AM – Arrive, change into scrubs 7:00 AM – Handover meeting, learn about night patients 7:15 AM – Check vitals on 6 patients 8:00 AM – Give morning medicine 9:00 AM – Help doctor with ward round 10:30 AM – Tea break 15 minutes 11:00 AM – Change wound dressings 12:30 PM – Lunch 30 minutes 1:00 PM – Answer family questions 2:00 PM – Write progress notes 3:00 PM – Handover to afternoon shift 3:15 PM – Go home
Night shift starts at 10 PM and ends at 6:30 AM.
Free Training Programs
- Orientation – 2 weeks paid, covers local drugs and machines
- IV Cannulation Course – 1 day, free
- Basic Life Support – Yearly update, paid time
- Wound Care Certificate – 3 days, employer pays
- Graduate Program – 12 months for new nurses, extra $5,000
Family Rules in Detail
- Spouse gets full work rights
- Kids under 18 attend public school free
- University students pay local fees
- Family visa fee $7,850 total
- Health insurance for family $300 a month
Permanent Residency Road Map
Year 1–3: Work on 482 visa Year 3: Employer nominates for 186 Year 4: Get PR card Year 8: Apply for citizenship
No new English test for PR step.
Tax and Super Table
| Salary | Tax Paid | Super (11%) | Take Home Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| $65,000 | $11,967 | $7,150 | $4,253 |
| $75,000 | $15,967 | $8,250 | $4,920 |
| $85,000 | $19,967 | $9,350 | $5,586 |
Super grows with compound interest. At 5% return, $7,150 becomes $12,000 in ten years.
Best States for Fast Hire
- Western Australia – 40% of jobs in rural areas, $5,000 remote bonus
- Queensland – 35% rural, free flights
- Northern Territory – $10,000 first year bonus
- Tasmania – $3,000 relocation cash
- South Australia – Fast visa processing
Ten Common Paper Mistakes
- Police check older than 12 months
- English result missing one module
- Degree not in English – no certified translation
- Work letters without dates or hours
- Passport copy black and white
- Wrong ANMAC form filled
- AHPRA fee not paid online
- Health exam done in non-approved clinic
- CV longer than 3 pages
- No cover letter for the job
Fix before you send.
Health Insurance Options
- Medicare – Free public hospital after visa
- Medibank Private – $120/month single
- Bupa – $130/month with dental
- HCF – $110/month basic
Driving Rules
- Bring international permit
- Convert to Australian license in 3 months
- Cost $50
- Road test not needed if you have 3 years experience
Banking and Phone
- Open Commonwealth Bank account online
- Need passport and visa grant letter
- Free debit card
- Optus SIM $30 for 40 GB first month
Housing Search
- Flatmates.com.au – shared room $200/week
- Realestate.com.au – one bed flat $400/week
- Bond = 4 weeks rent
- Sign 6 or 12 month lease
Supermarket Prices
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Milk 2L | $2.80 |
| Bread loaf | $3.50 |
| Chicken 1kg | $9.00 |
| Rice 5kg | $10.00 |
| Eggs 12 | $5.50 |
Weather Guide
- Summer (Dec–Feb): 25–35°C
- Autumn (Mar–May): 18–25°C
- Winter (Jun–Aug): 10–18°C
- Spring (Sep–Nov): 15–25°C
Pack cotton scrubs for summer, fleece jacket for winter.
Weekend Ideas
- Bondi Beach swim
- Blue Mountains hike
- Great Barrier Reef trip
- Local farmers market
- Barbecue in park
Career Steps After 5 Years
- Clinical Nurse Specialist – $95,000
- Nurse Educator – $100,000
- Nurse Unit Manager – $115,000
- Nurse Practitioner (after master) – $130,000
Real Numbers from 2024
- 9,200 sponsorship visas issued to nurses
- 94% still work in Australia after 3 years
- Average time from application to first shift: 5.5 months
FAQ
Q: Can I apply without job offer first? A: Yes for points visas, but sponsorship needs offer.
Q: Do I pay for visa myself? A: No, employer pays sponsorship fee. You pay personal visa fee.
Q: Is part-time work allowed? A: Sponsorship needs full-time contract.
Q: What if my degree is 10 years old? A: Still valid if you worked after.
Q: Can I change employer after arrival? A: After 12 months on same visa.
Q: Do I need vaccination proof? A: Yes – COVID, hepatitis B, others.
Q: How much is AHPRA registration renewal? A: $180 each year.
Q: Can I study part-time? A: Yes, many do master at night.
Q: Is car needed in city? A: No, trains and buses good.
Q: Any job fairs? A: Online fairs every month on SEEK.
Q: What if English test expires? A: Valid 3 years – retake if old.
Q: Do rural jobs give housing? A: Some give free house first 6 months.
Q: Can I bring pet? A: Yes, but quarantine 10 days, cost $2,000.
Q: Is resume in English enough? A: Yes, no need local format first time.
Q: How soon can I buy house? A: After PR, banks lend 80%.
Final Tips
Start English test this week. Update CV to two pages. Apply to ten jobs daily from the links. Save all emails. Print visa grant letter. Book flight two weeks after approval. Join Australian Nursing Federation for free legal help.
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