Nursing in Australia is a health care profession. Nurses and midwives form the majority (54%) of Australian health care professionals.[1] Nurses are either registered or enrolled. Registered nurses have broader and deeper education than enrolled nurses. Nurse practitioners complete a yet higher qualification. Nurses are not limited to working in hospitals, instead working in a variety of settings. Australian nurses are in demand as traveling nurses, particularly those with advanced qualifications.
Registered Nurses may undertake postgraduate specialist courses, enabling extended practice from areas as diverse as specialist inpatient care to roles in the community, including primary health provision, public health, and research.[2]
Nurse compensation and working conditions are subject to Fair Work Australia; remuneration is dependent on qualifications, experience and seniority. Employment conditions are often better than national award minimums.[3] Additional payments recognise night and weekend/holiday shifts, with paid annual leave reaching 5–6 weeks. In addition, nurse-to-patient care mandated ratios are legislated by state governments .[4]
- ^ "Health workforce". Australian Institute of Health & Welfare [AIHW]. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "Careers as a registered nurse". NSW Health. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "National Employment Standards". Fair Work Australia. 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Act 2015". Victorian Department of Health. 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
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