Pathway Update for International Nurses Seeking to Work in Australia (2025)

 Australia continues to welcome internationally qualified nurses to address healthcare workforce shortages. As of 2025, key updates have streamlined the process for overseas nurses. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), now requires applicants to complete the Self-check assessment. Based on the outcome, nurses may need to complete the Orientation Program, the Outcome-Based Assessment (OBA) (for internationally qualified registered nurses), or provide additional documentation.

The OBA includes a multiple-choice exam and a practical clinical exam (OSCE), ensuring international nurses meet Australian standards. English language proficiency remains essential, with accepted tests including IELTS, OET, and others.

On the visa side, skilled migration remains a viable route, particularly under the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Employer Sponsored visas (e.g., subclass 482). Some states also offer nomination pathways through their own skilled programs.

Australia is prioritizing healthcare workers in its migration planning, making it an opportune time for international nurses to apply. However, applicants should stay updated via official channels such as the NMBA website or Home Affairs.

Sexual assault committed by a nurse

 A sexual assault case was forwarded into the tribunal for investigation and decision published in AHPRA. 

Full details can be found here.

A male nurse who engaged in sexual harassment towards four female colleagues has been officially reprimanded and suspended from practicing for a duration of eight months by a tribunal.

Some readers may find the content of this article distressing. If you are experiencing distress, please seek support from Nurse and Midwife Support or contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 for confidential assistance.

Stephan Harris was brought before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the tribunal) in 2021 after being referred by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (the NMBA). The allegations involved professional misconduct related to the sexual harassment of four female colleagues spanning from 2015 to 2019.

During the July 2023 tribunal hearing, evidence emerged that Mr. Harris maintained a professional demeanor with some staff but crossed boundaries with others he felt more at ease with. Inappropriate actions included poking or tickling individuals under their arms from behind and, in certain instances, patting, slapping, or pinching their buttocks. Multiple staff members reported such behavior occurring consistently during shifts with Mr. Harris.

Additionally, three colleagues received unsolicited text and Facebook messages from Mr. Harris containing love hearts, poems, and statements that made them uncomfortable. Some messages mentioned missing the individual when not at work and commented on their beauty.

The tribunal determined that the proven conduct fell significantly below the expected standard for a registered practitioner of Mr. Harris's level of training or experience. It concluded that such behavior was inconsistent with Mr. Harris being deemed a fit and proper person to hold registration as a nurse. Consequently, the tribunal issued the following orders:

- A formal reprimand.

- Suspension of Mr. Harris's nurse registration for eight months, effective from September 8, 2023.

- Imposition of education and mentoring conditions on his registration.

The tribunal justified the eight-month suspension as appropriate, emphasizing the severity of the conduct and intending to convey to Mr. Harris and other practitioners the importance of upholding professional standards. The tribunal characterized the conduct as uninvited, unwelcome, causing discomfort, guilt (two colleagues), and physical illness (one colleague). The affected women expressed confusion about the nature of the physical contact and the reasons behind suggestive or overly familiar messages.

The tribunal concluded that the education and mentoring conditions on Mr. Harris's registration aimed at specific deterrence, preventing a recurrence of such behavior. These conditions also serve to protect the public and future colleagues. Mr. Harris informed the tribunal that he is currently unemployed.

Improper use of medication of a Nurse case

 A case published in AHPRA about the improper use of the medication of an enrolled nurse in a residential aged care. 

Below is an example of the case that was published. 

A direct link to AHPRA for full details. 

A regulatory body has censured and barred an enrolled nurse from seeking registration for a duration of 12 months due to her inappropriate handling of Schedule 8 medicines and the provision of false and deceptive information to the overseeing authority.

Between November 25 and 27, 2020, Ms. Fiona Peters inappropriately used a portion of Schedule 8 medicines belonging to an aged care resident for personal consumption. This act had the potential to compromise the resident's health management and posed a risk to their safety. On November 28, 2020, Ms. Peters resigned from her position at the aged care facility while denying any wrongdoing related to the medication.

Despite the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) issuing a Notice of Proposed Immediate Action on December 10, 2020, Ms. Peters persistently denied any unauthorized use of medications intended for another individual. However, on September 24, 2021, Ms. Peters admitted in writing to Ahpra and the NMBA that she had indeed taken the medicine. Subsequently, the NMBA referred Ms. Peters to the WA State Administrative Tribunal.

The tribunal determined that Ms. Peters had engaged in conduct amounting to professional misconduct and mandated the following actions:

- A formal reprimand.

- Disqualification from applying for registration for a 12-month period, effective from May 5, 2023.

- Payment of a $3,500 contribution towards the NMBA’s costs associated with the proceedings.

Changes in AHPRA trading hours

 From AHPRA website:

As an interim measure to help boost the Australian healthcare workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve made changes to the presenting-in-person requirements for internationally qualified practitioners.

Applicants, who arrived in Australia before 27 March 2020, and who hold current in-principle approval of registration are encouraged to present in person at their intended place of employment to have their identity verified and to have their identity documents certified by a registered health practitioner.

However, they must have self-isolated for 14 days in the state or territory where they landed upon entering the country, as directed by the Australian Government, before presenting in person. During this time, they must have followed the government’s community safety measures for self-isolation periods, including having no visitors or close contact with anyone else for 14 days. Applicants arriving in Australia from 27 March 2020 must be isolated in mandatory quarantine accommodation at government-designated facilities in the city for 14 days from arrival.

Applicants do not need to attend an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) office.

Ahpra CEO Martin Fletcher said, ‘Ahpra and the National Boards are working with healthcare services to support an increase in the workforce in a safe way during the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘The new interim arrangements are intended to reduce the time to finalise registration and enable more registered health practitioners to join the health workforce, quickly.’

Normally applicants who apply for registration from overseas provide minimum proof of identity when applying for registration and then once they have in-principle approval are required to present in person at an Ahpra office so their identity is verified before their registraion is finalised.

In addition, the Medical Board of Australia requires that international medical graduates present in person to an Ahpra office if they have not previously been registered as a medical practitioner with limited or provisional registration under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme before their limited, provisional or specialist registration can be granted.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working with health service providers to streamline these procedures so that applicants can have their final identity documents verified at their place of employment, with certified copies forwarded to Ahpra for final assessment.

Proof of identity documents need to be certified by a registered health practitioner and submitted to Ahpra via email.

Visit presenting in person outside of an Ahpra office to find out more.

IELTS Consultation

I believed that most nurses should join this public consultation of AHPRA. You can find the information below as copied from AHPRA's website.

From AHPRA site:

Public consultation on a review of the English language skills and Criminal history registration standards

National Boards are undertaking public consultation on a review of the English language skills and Criminal history registration standards.

Released: 25 October 2013
Closes: 23 December 2013

Please provide written submissions by email, marked ‘Consultation - registration standards' to standard.consultation@ahpra.gov.au by close of business on 23 December 2013.

• Review of Criminal history registration standard and English language skills registration standard (571 KB,PDF), Word version (200 KB,DOCX)

The Boards publish submissions received on their websites to encourage discussion and inform the community and stakeholders, unless requested otherwise. There may be circumstances under which submissions may not be published. Please refer to the consultation paper for details of how submissions will be treated. Submissions received in response to a consultation are published under Past Consultations.

What to expect after the Bridging program

Now, you have passed the bridging program, was able to perfect the drug calculations (which is very important, since you can not afford to make any drug errors due to your negligence). What to expect after your bridging program.

After your bridging program or competence program as they call it in NSW. You will need to wait for the education provider to forward their letter of recommendation to AHPRA. Take note, that some of the educational institution will not inform you with regards to the status of your letter going to AHPRA. What you need to do is contact the education provider. There are some schools that will forward your letter after a week or two. But majority will forward the letter after a month, and this is quite annoying sometimes, since most of you are so eager to receive the registration number and start working in your chosen hospital or healthcare institution.

Once AHPRA received the letter of recommendation from your education provider, your case officer or AHPRA will contact you, either with your registration number or further documents (which is mostly your identity check requirements). Sometimes, AHPRA will just give you a call for your identity check, however, remember that majority of the case officer will require a certified copy of your identity documents. Kindly refer to the previous entry for the identity check.

Identity Check

It is important for internationally qualified nurses to contact AHPRA or your respective assigned case officer after your bridging course or competence program. Why? Because, they would always ask for your identity check and at the same time, you try to inform them that you have already finished the bridging program and now waiting for the letter of recommendation to reach their office and have your registration.

Below you will find the information with regards to the identity check. Please note that this content was taken from AHPRA website and you can check it all by yourself. In addition, there was no any changes made on the content below.


Proof of Identity Requirements:

Who needs to complete proof of identity requirements?
Proof of identity needs to be provided with any new application for registration.
Proof of identity is not required for:

• registrants who have transitioned to the national scheme
• renewal of registration.

What evidence of proof of identity is required?

Applicants for registration must provide sufficient evidence of their identity. At least one document from each of categories (A, B and C, and D if necessary) is required.
Documents applicable in category A and B may be used in other categories.
Note: The requirements for persons who are applying from overseas, or have recently arrived in Australia are detailed later in this document.

For a complete reference kindly click on this link http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Process/Proof-of-Identity.aspx

AHPRA eligibility is useless

Many overseas trained nurses that applied in AHPRA who happened to received the eligibility letter and mostly, their eligibility letter expires for a year or less.

This eligibility letter either permits overseas nurses to undergo a bridging course so that they can register as Australian RN. However, although these people have an eligibility letter, they where having hard time looking for an institutions that will accept them in the bridging program, since all the schools that is conducting the program required an IELTS of 7 in all categories and it excuses no one, eventhough that you have been exempted by AHPRA.

This has become the traumatic experience of all nurses, and AHPRA would even claim that schools will accept nurses without IELTS, but it is not true at all.

Maybe AHPRA is waiting for another file to be filed against them in the Senate. From the drastic changes of the English language requirement to improper dissemination of information, it makes the dream of the overseas nurses to practice in their own profession.

There was one article that was written that although Australia is not showing how they discriminate other Races, they somehow, show it through implementing rules that will prevent other Races to succeed.

So sad that AHPRA and Australia is a big needle pin in the heart of aspiring nurses.

Conflicting IELTS of AHPRA

All information that you will find in here was not altered or revised.This statement was taken from www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/haa/overseasdoctors/subs/sub110.pdf.

To,

Senate Finance and administration Committee

Parliament House

Canberra

Subject: Problems in regarding to the registration as a Nurse with AHPRA.

Dear SirlMadam

My name is Samjhana Kunwar and I completed my Bachelor of Nursing from the USQ,

Toowoomba in July 2010. I am currently registered in AHPRA with condition and working

as a RN in an aged care. I am writing this letter in response to the letter sent to me by QNU

about your inquiry with the AHPRA. I have faced so many troubles with AHPRA regarding

my registration. So I found this as a great opportunity to express my feelings regarding the

trouble and frustrations I faced with ARPRA.

Firstly, the reception staffs of the AHPRA are not friendly and they never gave me the correct

information when I needed. Every time I went to ask them a question, I never get any

satisfactory answer from them. They always told me that they are not sure and they are

working on it and they will let us know which they never did. Neither they let us to speak

with any other staff who may know the answer; instead they said we are not allowed to talk

with anybody inside.

Moreover, at that time (July20 I0) there was no confirmed rule about the English language

test system for the student from overseas which was the most confusing matter. Because of

that I am still facing plethora of difficulties in getting my full registration. Intheir website, it

was clearly written that we need to get Academic level 7 IELTS result to register with them;

it was not written that they need 7 in each module of the IELTS. I asked more clarification

with them about this but again they did not tell me the correct answer. They said they are

working on it. Keeping that in mind, I thought it will be worthy to apply for registration early

so that I can get my registration quickly and I also thought there will be no harm giving them

the result of IELTS where I got overall 7 because there was no indication of each band 7 in

IEL TS anywhere. So I submitted my application at the end of July with that IELTS result.

Unfortunately, the rule changed after about a month that either they need each band 7 in

IELTS or if we have completed our year 12 in English medium then we don't need to sit for

the IEL TS test. It was very good news for most of the international student because in Nepal,

most of the educational provider have the English Medium Study. I also completed my

diploma in English medium in Nepal. So I was sure about getting the registration. After that,

I also submitted the letter to prove that I have completed my study in English medium and

waited for the response from them.

After 6 weeks, I received a letter from AHPRA saying that according to the result submitted

to them, I haven't got each band 7 in IELTS so that I must sit for and IELTS test and I need

to submit that to get my registration. I was shocked and thought that it might be a mistake

because they might not have received my letter (proof of English medium Study). So I went

to speak with them again and the lady in reception said that it is a mistake and she asked me

to resubmit that letter. I did whatever she said and came back. After 3 weeks, my friend told

me that she received the same letter and she went and spoke with them and they did a big

counselling with her and told that she must get each band 7 to get the registration because

there is no use of English medium study if you can't get the each band 7. So I was amazed

again and I went and asked the same lady in reception and at that time she told me the same

answer as my friend told me. I asked her why didn't she tell me before and she replied she

didn't know that I have submitted the IELTS test. But I have told her everything in previous

visit but there was no point of arguing with her so I left their office quietly.

At that time, I felt I was the most unlucky person in the world because all of my friends who

complete the same level study with me got their registration because they did not submit any

IELTS to AHPRA and our big mistake (according to AHPRA) was submitting the IELTS. On

the other hand, my visa was about to expire in September so I had to do something before it

expired. But again they said it is not their problem. Only option I have left at that time was to

go to the union (QNU) and ask the senior legal officer to speak on our behalf with AHPRA.

So we (my friends with the similar situation) did the same and the senior Legal officer of the

QNU had a board meeting with AHPRA and they decided to register with condition and the

condition was to get the each band 7 in IELTS before 31st may 2011 and work under the

supervision ofRN and also notify the employer about the condition.

It was a bit of relief however I always feel that it is an injustice because my entire friend with

the same qualification and same or less skills of English competency got the full registration.

I am 100% sure that nobody will get each band 7 in IELTS after completing the study in

English medium because they are two different things. The way they test English in IELTS is

totally different. There is very limited time and variety of tasks (totally different than your

course) to complete. I can also guarantee that not even the people with English speaking

background can get each band 7 in IELTS easily. All of my friends who now got the full

registration were also struggling to get the each band 7 before AHPRA's new rule. How can

AHPRA believe that they are safe with them and not with us? It is a very big injustice with

us.

Finally, my problem is that I am unable to get each band 7 in one sitting till this date and my

registration is due to renew in this May. I don't know what will happen next. If! don't get my

registration renewed I will have to return to my country with empty hands as there will be no

value of my 2 years study without registration. I have tried about 15 times to get each band 7

and every time I get more than 7 in 3 bands and alwys6.5 in one band and that band is

different each time for e.g. If it I get 6.5 in reading this time then next one will be writing and

after that it will be speaking and so on... the exam is so frustrating because I cannot go to

work on that day, I lose $317 for one test and I have to face the stress of exam. I wasted

thousands of money in IELTS and the results are always frustrating. I have even got 8 and 8.5

in different band in different time but not at once. So I don't know what sense it makes ....

In conclusion, some of my unanswered questions are:

1. Why doesn't AHPRA trust the University study of its own country? How can a

student pass 2 years bachelor level study in Australia without being competent in

English language? And how do they pass the placement without it? If they have

passed why do they have to again sit for this IELTS test for registration?

2. How can it be believed that whoever did finish year 12 study in English medium is

totally equivalent to the Each band 7 in IELTS? Where I have seen all those people

who got registration now were struggling to get the each band 7 before.

3. How can the 3 hours test prove that the person is totally competent for the English

language test while considering the time limit and different topics of essay in every

test and all those irreverent topic in speaking every time?

4. What is difference of getting 7 in two sitting than in one sitting? Does person's

capacity changes every week? For e.g. If! get 6.5 in speaking this time and get 8 in

next week, does that mean my skill improved a lot this week than last week or vice

versa? Exactly same thing happens to me. So I am getting 8 in one band this time and

6.5 next week in the same band. What does that prove? Does it prove that my

capacity changes every week or it is because of different exam question and different

exam condition every time?

5. Why didn't my application considered according to the previous rule when it was

submitted before the new rule? Even if the new rule applies why I was excluded even

when I was still qualified for the registration? How can they think that all the people

who didn't submitted the IELTS are capable of getting each band 7 when everybody

(all of my friends of same batch) witnessed them sitting for an IELTS test? Why

can't they notice the record that there were thousands of students qualified for an

EEN 1-2 years before but were not registered because of not being able to get each

band 7 IELTS and they were suddenly registered with AHPRA with their new rule of

the alternative for IELTS? Isn't this sufficient enough to realise that studying English

medium is in any way not equivalent to the each band 7 IELTS? If they know why

can't they be practical?

6. Even at work, I have to deal with all sorts of communication issues with resident

(especially resident with dementia), doctors, staff and family in an aged care. Is it

possible without the incompetency of English? What about the documentation? Ifmy

manager, staffs, residents and family are happy with my English skills why can't

AHPRA come and evaluate? If my registration doesn't get renewed, will I be

suddenly disqualified from nursing after May? What about my work experience? No

value for this?

To sum up, I think I am writing too long. You can understand by now that how much trouble

and frustration I faced with AHPRA. I am really worried about my registration and the time I

spent in my studies. Registration is the key point for all this because I won't be able to apply

my knowledge from my study in anywhere in the world without it. I have finished my study

with the help of the loan from bank, which I am not able to pay back yet. If I will have to

return to my country I will have nothing with me. So please consider this letter even if it is

too long but this represents the trouble of hundreds of international students who come to

study in Australia. I wrote this letter in behalf of my other friends as well who are in the same

situation. Finally this was my great opportunity to express my feelings with you. I will be

very grateful for your help in solving these issues with AHPRA. I hope this will bring the

positive outcome and there will be no nurse like me in future facing similar situation with

AHPRA. I am looking forward to hear back from you.

Thanking you.

Yours Sincerely

Please note that the name was not disclosed for privacy purposes

Schools for Bridging in Australia is NOT well informed

There are numbers of foreign nurses with eligibility letter from AHPRA or NMBA, stating that they are eligible to do the bridging course,however, almost 99% of school in Australia that is offering an IRON program or Competence program is not well updated by the new language proficiency of AHPRA. Up until now, most school stick to the policy of having 7 or higher in all band for IELTS, where they missed  the other language proficiency that was stating that "or" have shown any proof that the language used during their secondary and tertiary education was in English. Currently, there is only one school in Australia that accepts student without IELTS and through the honoring the letter of AHPRA.

This will be so odd, since most English language proficiency was based on the standard of AHPRA, however, schools missed the other point. When will the school learn?

Currently, there is a hearing in the parliamentary government that was questioning the IELTS or OET, which is good, since there is no evidence that being a good nurse is having a higher score in IELTS or OET.

Conflict

Just an additional information. Although, AHPRA will waived your English language proficiency, however, most of the institution will not accept an applicant for a bridging course that has no IELTS result or OET.

We do hope that by the 1st of July 2011, there will be a clear communication between the institution and AHPRA, since most of the institution does not honor an exemption rule of AHPRA.

New Logo and Banner

As AusPhilRN opens its door again, it is time to change the logo and the banner of this blog. You will see above the new picture logo and below was the previous one.

Have a wonderful day!


-Admin

AHPRA

The blog is now again open to share everything that has something to do with registration in AHPRA or otherwise known as Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for nurses and any updates.

After a long months of not being active in this blog world. This blog is now open to help you.

As the first step, all you have to do is click on the logo below  and it will directly bring you to the website of nursing and midwifery board of Australia.

Have a wonderful day!

May this blog last.

To God be the Glory!!!

Just click the ⇪ LOGO to go directly to AHPRA website