NURSES: What you need to know

YoungJebediah · June 2017

Hi @Cassey, I have a question. How likely am I to get a PR (whether for independent or employer-nominated visas) if I complete the 1-2 year conversion course? What's the risk that I will be sent back home if I can't find an employer or be approved for 189/190?

My partner is debating whether to risk the 3-month bridging course (although I've heard that route is very competitive and options+pay are not as good) or getting a Bachelor's. We'd like to weight the risks for both.

Thanks in advance!

Cassey · June 2017

@cstajan If you are an OR Nurse for 3yrs, there's a big chance that you'll get a sponsorship. My hubby is an OR Nurse too and he was offered a job sponsorship which we declined because the place is a bit far. We didn't regret the decision though because instead of getting a temporary visa, we secured a Permanent Visa instead. If you want to stay in Au to process your PR application, you can apply for another student visa provided that you don't have a "no further stay" condition on your current visa.

Cassey · June 2017

@YoungJebediah Most likely you'll be granted a PR Visa as long as you meet the points for migration, have proper and complete documents and as long as you don't overclaim points. It doesn't matter what route you take whether it's bridging or Bachelor's. The salary would all depend on your overseas experience (recognized by ANMAC) and not with your program of study.
Based on our experience, we had to apply for another student visa to extend our stay here in Au to finish the process for the PR application.

YoungJebediah · June 2017

@Cassey thanks! In your experience, is it worth going through the bridging program still? I heard from friends there that it's a lot less likely to find jobs with just a diploma than a Bachelor's.

Also, is it difficult to find an employer willing to sponsor there? My partner only has less than a year of experience so I'm not sure she can meet the required points for independent PR, or be considered by any company sponsor.

Cassey · June 2017

@YoungJebediah What's good with bridging is that it only take few months to finish. Why would you choose a lengthy study if you can finish at an earlier time. I would say that it would all depend on what your preference is and your purpose as well. If you can't find a sponsor, you can still apply for PR application offshore. Once you are an RN here, it wouldn't matter whether you finished bridging or Bachelor's. Finding a job would all boil down on your experience overseas and how you present yourself. DIPLOMA is different from Bachelor's and Bridging by the way...

With sponsorships, employers normally look for 3yrs or more of overseas hospital experience and they usually get those who have experience in specialty areas. There are still some who offer sponsorships but not a lot like how it was yrs ago. But who knows, right? Sometimes luck can play a part. Our friend got absorbed from the hospital where he had his placement.

If you want to have an idea with your points, try it on this link:
http://pinoyau.info/plugin/page/point-system

YoungJebediah · June 2017

@Cassey really? I was under the impression that bridging will only get you a diploma, while the 1 year conversion gets a Bachelor's. What's the difference between the two and do employers base their hire based on that?

cstajan · June 2017

@Cassey thank you for the reply. Another question, how many months did it took for your husband's permanent residency from the end of his bridging program?

Cassey · June 2017

@YoungJebediah Employers don't base their hiring on what program you have finished. Hiring is based on your work experience and on how you present yourself. Finishing Bridging and Bachelor's would both lead to registration as a nurse here in Australia. The only difference is the delivery of the program. Just think of it this way, bridging is like a shortened Bachelor's... Diploma is different. After finishing a diploma course, one is called an Enrolled Nurse which is different from a Registered Nurse.

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Cassey · June 2017

@cstajan My hubby did a conversion course and not bridging. If I remembered it right, the program finished Feb of 2016 and we got our PR, June of the same year.

YoungJebediah · June 2017

@Cassey thanks for answering!

I'll weigh our options first. From what I've gathered as well, bridging is less costly but you won't be able to work part-time on a business visa so that's a big disadvantage I guess. Yung 1-year conversion mejo mahal but you can work part-time, makakatulong pa funds. Another issue is how to make my partner meet 60 points for 189/190, as she has less than a year of hospital experience pa. In your case, how did you meet your points?

Cassey · June 2017

@YoungJebediah Have you checked the link that I gave from my past post? You can estimate your points there and see how you go.

YoungJebediah · June 2017

@Cassey yeah she just barely made the 60 point mark because she has no points for experience (55). I guess her option would be to get sponsored employment for at least 1 more year, probably from temporary visas if lucky, so she can get points for "Australian work experience".

Cassey · June 2017

@YoungJebediah She can opt for state sponsorship or 190 if she meets the requirements (+5points) or try to get a higher English result.

cstajan · June 2017

@Cassey thanks for the info. Atleast now I have a clearer picture of what to expect with bridging course. May I know why nag conversion course si hubby mo instead na nag 3months program? Ang perception ko kasi is the more lengthy the course the more ang gastos. I have inquired kasi sa isang agency just recently and they offered me to take the masters in nursing instead na yung 3months bridging. Mas magastos. Hope you could enlighten me on this one

YoungJebediah · June 2017

@Cassey you're right, either 190 or a higher english score would do. Too bad Melbourne requires 2 years of experience for 190, but I heard that Sydney doesn't.

How many years of experience do employers usually look at? 1 year? 2 years?

Cassey · June 2017

@YoungJebediah You can go to each of the State's website, normally you can find the information there.
For sponsorship, it's usually 3yrs.

Cassey · June 2017

@cstajan Originally, our plan is for him to take a bridging course but he ran out of time that he didn't have the chance to go for another English test. Plus, andito na ako noon with him sa Au as his student dependent, If he will do a bridging I might have to go home so we decided to go for a 1yr conversion sa Deakin.
With regards to the fees, not necessarily na mas mahal ang conversion. Depende sa school, i saw a post here before na around 13grand lang ang gastos sa conversion which is almost the same with bridging. I would suggest that you go for bridging. Besides from the fact na short term lang siya, less riskier. Immigration rules are not permanent, there has been a lot of abrupt and unexpected changes in the recent months so it's better to finish off early and lodge for PR application as soon as you can.

cstajan · June 2017

@Cassey i see. Thank you for the inputs. Hopefully makastart na ng BP at soon makaacquire ng PR. Napakalaking tulong ng forum na ito..maraming salamat

Cassey · June 2017

@cstajan All the best, Don't forget to have all your documents ready and just a heads up you'll be using the same set of documents that you have used in your AHPRA application for the ANMAC and PR (there's some additional docus though) so while you are in Au make copies of your documents and have them certified here (free of charge)

reenanova · July 2017

@Cassey hi i have a question regarding the student visa. Dba the course is just 3 months? When will the visa expire? And regarding the showmoney, i believe that if you pay the tuition for the BP, it is paid in full so there is no more balance for the tuition fee that you need to add in the showmoney, am i right? Please enlighten me...thank you

Cassey · July 2017

@reenanova Hi, usually nagbibigay sila ng 2 months after the course. Yes, your understanding is right with the show money. You just have to show that you have enough money to cover the living expenses.

yeyel · July 2017

Hello! If I may add, kung mag undergo ng bridging course for 3 months, pwede ng visit visa subclass 600 ang kunin na visa and not student visa. It has 3 months limit na privilege to study, so pasok na dun yung bridging. From what I read here, matagal sila ngayon mag-issue ng student visa. Yung friend ng bro in law ko naka visit visa sa AU ngayon. Dun na din siya nag-apply at naghintay ng ahpra letter. Mag bridging na siya and visit visa ang visa nya. Yung sister naman ng workmate is kakatapos lang magbriding last March, umuwi na dito kasi dito na mag-asikaso ng PR pero ang visa lang din daw during bridging is visa subclass 600.

Cassey · July 2017

To those who are planning to study in Au, do it as soon as you can because at the moment they are developing new means to assess/screen internationally qualified nurses. If this materializes, the process may become harder for new applicants.

http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/News/2017-05-10-iqnm.aspx

credits to @iamyourangel08

kymme · July 2017

@Cassey is this for new RNs coming in? di na tayo affected dito incase ma implement na?

Cassey · July 2017

@kymme sa tingin ko sa mga new applicants na, di pa naman siya nagstart. Naghahanap pa lang sila ng vendor for the test.

kymme · July 2017

@Cassey parang gawin nila same sa UK. may bagong uldate ulit ang NMBA

Cassey · July 2017

@kymme Ahhh, ganun din pala sa UK. Magpupush through na nga talaga siya, inaantay na lang yung implementation.

dy3p · July 2017

thenshow said:
Hi guys, tanong q lng s mga tapos n s IRON course. Ano ang next step? Go home or stay? Will it be hard to get a job after ng course?? Ty s reply

It's easy to get a job offer provided that you have the experience and in a certain field. I've got several interviews and offers during the time I was doing the bridging course. Yes, you can apply even after 2 weeks in the course. Just state in your cover letter the date your are expected to complete the course. Interviews are done thru Skype.

Since the course is between 9-12 weeks, and considering that your visa will be a tourist visa, then you should not stay more than 3 months in AU. Even after being hired or interviewed, it takes several weeks or even months to finalize the process. You still have to reregister with AHPRA and be licensed. Some employers ask for physical assessments with a certain company or even psychological ones. After that all has been finalized, they then offer you a contract. Once accepted they'll apply for nomination which will take about 3-4 weeks then you apply for 457 which will take another 2-3 weeks. It'll take about 2-3 months after the bridging all in all.

One has really no choice after the course but to go back to where they come from. Unless of course, you are a holder of a permanent resident or any other visa which allows you to stay in Australia. Personally, if you're coming to Australia to do the BP as a tourist, then you might as well go back after the course and apply for a PR or a 457 whichever you prefer.

dy3p · July 2017

cstajan said:
Hi. Newbie here. Tanong ko lang po kung madali lang ba makakuha ng sponsorship (employer) after bridging program? I am a nurse here in phils with total of 6yrs experience. I am currently an operating room nurse for 3yrs now. Tanong ko lang din po if what visa i should apply since i dont want to go home sa pinas after the bridging program. Do i need to enrol in another course after BP para lang makastay sa oz? Salamat sa reply

As I've said from the previous post, it's quite easy looking for a job in Australia as a nurse as long as you have the credentials and experience to brag. And of course, if you're not picky on the location.

It also depends on the initial visa you used going in Australia. I had classmates who were already on student visas because they were enrolled in another course. After the bridging, they stayed and continued with their studies at the same time looked for a job to sponsor them. For a 3 month program, I'm not quite sure if they will offer you a student visa though. Please see Subclass 500 for eligibility. May classmate po ako nun na gnyan din, ayaw nya umuwi after BP. Talagang 1 way ticket lang binili nya and he was able to get away with it sa immigration. After the BP though, kahit may tumanggap na sknya na hospital, the time was not enough for him to wait and process all the application kaya he needed to go back home, we were on a Subclass 600. The same with the rest of us. Some went back on a 457 and some went for PR which by the way is the easier path to take.