Just got registered with AHPRA...advice needed on nursing work please :-)

[Lily1985]

Hey,

 

I'm currently in Oz on a working holiday visa; I came over in October 2014 and planned to stay for a year and do some travelling before returning home and to nursing. In the meantime I met my partner, and decided to stay for longer so began my AHPRA application in June 2015. Unfortunately, it has taken until now to be approved so I am in a position where I am now registered but have not practiced since September 2014. I am really concerned that I am going to struggle to find work due to this gap. I am currently working as a community carer but this obviously does not count as nursing in any way! If anyone has any advice as to how I can approach this problem I would be very grateful. I was considering joining an agency as my first step but many of them want 2 clinical references within the last 12 months which obviously I can't provide. Thanks for your time!

[kyliedonut]

I think your best bet would be agency work. Explain that you have been here since 2014, offer references from UK, even though they will be a bit older....and a reference from your current job - at least it is still in healthcare. HCA seems like quite a big agency over there, but I have heard that this time of year is the quiet time when trying to pick up agency shifts. Worth giving a few agencies a call even if just for their advice too. Good luck!

[NursestoAustralia]

Hi I can't seem to PM you! Can you tell me where you are and what area of nursing you work in?

[Guest Priscilla101]

I know AHPRA are slow but why did it take a year?