Thank you very much for sharing your experiences with us all, it does help and I am sure some are a little relieved to hear that it is possible. After doing my own research also, I too found that the Grad program is not mandatory for nurses or midwives. All these things are just for if you want it. The Grad Program is extra support, so yes it would be fab, but to be honest if they know you are NQM/N and from another country they are not just gonna say - go crack on with it and not give you any sort of orientation or induction.
Congratulations on your job, how are you finding it working there after almost a year? Where in Australia are you?
Thank you again, personal stories are always invaluable.