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Your step-by-step plan to nurse in Australia

Moving to Australia can feel like a lot — AHPRA, visas, documents, checks, travel plans. The good news? It’s completely doable when you follow a clear pathway. Here’s the simplest, nurse-friendly plan to get registered, get cleared, and get working in metro or rural Australia.

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Your move in 6 steps

Follow this clear step-by-step pathway for how to move and reach your goal of nursing in Australia.

CHOOSE YOUR PATHWAY

Choose to start working in one of our cities, regional areas or off the beaten track in a rural and remote location.
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STEP 1

START AHPRA PROCESS

Follow the new streamlined process to gain AHPRA registration and be one step closer to nursing in Australia.
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STEP 2

UNDERSTAND YOUR VISA OPTIONS

Learn more about the various visa pathways that allow international nurses to live and work in Australia.
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STEP 3

GATHER YOUR DOCUMENTS

Use our checklist to gather the personal and identification documents, registrations, clearances, certificates and evidence required for credentialing.
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STEP 4

COMPLETE CHECKS & COMPLIANCE

Complete online induction modules, familiarising yourself with compliance, clinical governance, and safety when working with Lumia Care.
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STEP 5

ARRIVE & SET UP QUICKLY

Relocating to the other side of the world can be daunting. Check out our "First 30 Days" checklist that helps you get the essentials set up quickly.
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STEP 6

What most nurses wish they’d done earlier

Start the AHPRA registration process earlier. Gathering documents takes time, better to be organised that leaving everything til the last minute.

Create an “Australia folder” to keep track of all the documents required for the process.

Build a realistic arrival budget and timeline. Setting up in a new country is expensive, and Australia is no different. Build a buffer into your budget, so this period goes smoothly.

Know which Australian state or territory you are most interested in working in initially, as checks/requirements vary.

Choose your "starting point"

Nomadic - Working Holiday

You want fun, flexibility and lots of opportunities to travel.
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Purposeful - Rural & Remote

You want meaningful, impactful work and broad skills exposure.
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Resources

Relocation Readiness Checklist

Download our checklist to help ensure you are ready!
Download

AHPRA Checklist

Make sure you have everything required by AHPRA to gain Australian Health Practitioner Registration.
Download

Credentialing Checklist

Download our credentialing checklist to ensure you have are work ready.
Download

Frequently Asked Questions

Costs vary a lot by location and lifestyle. The best approach is to decide your preferred state/setting first, then build a budget around housing options and transport.

Your pay is determined by your qualification, how many years of experience you have and the applicable award or enterprise agreement. The biggest lever for increasing earnings is working outside of standard working hours and earning penalties. 

Shift lengths and start times vary by facility. Many workplaces, such as hospitals, run morning/afternoon/night rotations, with penalties for evenings, weekends, and public holidays (depending on the applicable agreement). Smaller clinics may operate during normal working hours, whilst rural/remote locations may have on-call staff to ensure equitable access to services.

Contract lengths are commonly between 4 and 12+ weeks duration, with variances dictated by location and role.

You can often choose from a mix of metro hospitals/clinics, regional facilities, and rural/remote contracts. Metro can offer a city lifestyle and variety; rural/remote can offer adventure, broad scope, and unique clinical exposure. The choice is up to you!

 

Typically, you tell us what type of clinical setting you prefer, and we match you to suitable contracts. If you are happy to proceed, we will provide you with pre-contract guidance and support, and then you start your placement. Contract lengths are commonly 4 to 12+ weeks (varies by location and role).

Sometimes, especially if accommodation support is included. In very remote locations, daily essentials can be more expensive than in the city due to the cost of delivering them to isolated regions.  We’ll talk you through what’s typically included for the contract type you’re considering.

Requirements include AHPRA registration, at least 2 years’ experience (often in your specialty), two professional references, work rights, relevant clearances, and vaccination/competency evidence.

Often, there is some level of travel/accommodation support, but it depends on the individual contract. Details should be confirmed upfront before you commit.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.

We will always provide you with clear escalation pathways, check-ins, and access to clinical support. We find this especially important for our first-time rural/remote nurses.