Australia needs Nurses

Good news to Filipino registered nurses(RN), licensed practicalnurses (LPN) or midwives.
The Australian governmentis dire need of nurses thus seeking applicants from the Philippines.
Jenny Anastasi, Program Director of Central Queensland University(CQU) based in Australia, said their countrypresently needs around 40,000 nurses.
Anastasi along with CQU lecturers Duncan Bray and Lydia Mainey werein Iloilo City recently to spread the good news.
They intend to tie up with Central PhilippineUniversity (CPU) for the conduct of assessment for prospectiveapplicants.
Anastasi said application is open for all RNs, LPNs and midwives(with Bachelor's degree) in the Philippines providedthey obtain an overall passmark of 7 in the International English Language Testing System Academic module (IELTS).She said, there is no age limit for the applicants.
The applicants will then be required to pass a nursing competencytest (theoretical and clinical) before gettingregistered as nurse in Australia.

Anastasi said they will conduct a nursing test in Manila, Cebu andIloilo this coming July and September for free.
On top of the theoretical test the applicant will be required toundertake a four-week clinical test to be held in Australiain which the expenses will be shouldered by the applicant. Anastasi said they could help with the accommodation ofapplicants who will take the clinical test in Australia through their linkages with the Filipino community there.
Anastasi urged Filipino RNs, LPNs and midwives to try Australia as the processing time for a working visa is shorter compared to that of the United States of America or the UnitedKingdom. She said the processing time for a working visa to Australia for oneyear up to four years could be as short as sixweeks.
She added that the Filipino nurses working in Australia are allowed to include their entire family (spouse anddependent children below 25 years old) in their permanent resident visa. Also, once they get permanent resident visa then it will open the doors to the migration of their brothers,sisters, nephew, nieces and other relatives.With regard to compensation, Anastasi said that nurses in Australia get as much as A$50,000 (P1,925,000 atP1=A$38.50) a year exclusive of overtime pays and other benefits.Their salary also increases depending on their work experience and expertise.Mainey, on the other hand, stressed that nurses are one ofAustralia's most highly respected professional groups.
She said, they are recognized as skilled health care providers,combining education and professionalism with a caring concern for patients.