Nursing Info

Nursing in Australia

FACT:    The world economy is currently experiencing a downturn.
FACT:    The number of people losing their jobs is increasing.
FACT:    Nursing ranks in the top ten occupations that will continue to be ‘in demand’               regardless of the economic climate

A worldwide shortage of nurses has been acknowledged by the multidisciplinary Global Advisory Group of the World Health Organization. The shortage is caused by an increased demand for nurses, while fewer people are choosing nursing as a profession, and the current nurses worldwide are aging.

 Australia  needs  12,000  Registered Nurses  to  graduate  each  year  in  order  to meet  the needs of the industry.  However, only half of this number is being met.  There are several other reasons for the shortage of nurses not only in Australia, but worldwide.

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One of these is the aging population.

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Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that in 2007, there were 2.4 million people aged between 65 and 84 years in Australia.  This number is increasing annually, and is projected to reach 6.4 million by 2056.  Additionally, the number of people aged over 85 years will increase from 344,000 in 2007 to 1.7 million in 2056.

A study conducted by the University of California shows that Australia will require and additional 40,000 Registered Nurses by 2010.  Currently, there are approximately 966 Registered Nurses per 100,000 people in the Australia.

In addition to the increasing numbers of patients, the Health and Community Services Industry has an above average percentage of people who are approaching retirement age.   46.1 percent of the industry’s workforce was 45 years of age and above in 2007, and by 2020, 90,000 nurses are expected to retire.

The Australian Government recognises this country’s high demand for nurses.  Visa applications for nurses are given priority processing, and a number of visa options are available.  Nurses of all skill levels and varying degrees of qualifications are presented with a multitude of career options.

The opportunities to further your career are unlimited. You can choose to specialise in Coronary Care, Child & Family Health, Intensive Care, Midwifery, Emergency Nursing, Mental Health, Occupational Health, Surgical Nursing, Rehabilitation as well as Rural and Remote Community Nursing.  There’s also the option of moving into a management-based role, education or research.

Based on educational achievement and experience, nurses may work as an Enrolled Nurse or Registered Nurse, or Nurse Practitioner.  In Queensland,  Salary ranges from $40,000 (Graduate Registered Nurses) to over $60,000 and up for experienced Registered Nurses.

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