Big demand for foreign nurses in Australia

Australia, 2nd May: Are you a foreigner and a certified nurse practitioner willing to move to Australia to work there? Well, this is the best time to do so.

That’s because Australia is witnessing an ever increasing demand for overseas nurse practitioners now.

Booming work opportunities for overseas nurses in Australia— A recent report published by Health Workforce Australia says there is a huge shortage of nurses in Australia.

The report maintains that by the year 2025, Australia will need 109,000 new nurses to fulfill the looming shortage. So, the government needs to take an immediate action to help cater to the growing demand of nurses in Australia, the report affirms.

Health care practitioners including nurses are witnessing an unprecedented increase in demand in Australia. It is the right time to immigrate to Australia for all healthcare professionals wanting to work there, states the report.

Nurses have always been in high demand the world over due to the fact that they offer an important service to the community. However, with increased growth in Australian industries, demand for nurses has grown.

Increased immigration of nurses on 457 visas—Figures for the initial eight months of the ongoing FY(financial year) prove the fact that an increasingly high number of qualified foreign nurses went to Australia on Australian 457 visas.

Those coming to Australia on 457 temporary visas can live and work here for a period of three years. In order to gain eligibility for Australian permanent residency application, one must have stayed in Australia for a minimum of two years and worked in Australia for a minimum of one year.

Relax Australia visa rules for nurses--Meanwhile, several Australian healthcare providers acknowledge that it is difficult not only to allure foreign nurses to Australia but also to retain them especially in remote or far-off regions of Australia.

So, the government still needs to make the process of immigration a bit simpler to enable immigration of more and more overseas nurse practitioners to move to Australia in the times to come, the report suggests.

In addition, foreign nurses must be allowed to stay in Australia for a period extending 12 months.

Current Australia visa rules allow overseas nurses to live and work in Australia for one year.