Originally Posted by genorm

Exchange:

Overnight, I asked:

@AHPRA What is in Bridging programme that is not in UK Diploma or post grad
exp? What are the exact hours required under Criteria 8?

Their Reply:
@lookmine Comparability of int’l quals with Aus quals is based on
Australian Qualifications Framework. Details: bit.ly/1q0986t (1/2)

@lookmine for Criterion 8, please see our fact sheet at
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - Internationally qualified nurses and midwives (2/2)

It looks like politicians are now answering the questions because they are failing to cover the points raised.

Having lived in Oz for quite a number of years, the cynic in me feels that
it's all part of a plan to reduce the number of overseas nurses, thus
forcing hospitals to employ new Australian graduates. However, the fact that
they are selling the IRON Bridging programme as part of proposed upgrades is
really, quite a joke. As far as I'm aware, the IRON programme runs for 3
months. So how can that equate to an extra year of study in the UK? (Oz Dip
is 2 years, UK is 3 years). Additionally, I get hundred of applications
from new IRON graduates, and the truth is, nobody wants to employ them. My
understanding is that being an IRON graduate means candidates are behind new Australian graduates in the selection process. Yet AHPRA and the
Universities continue to sell IRON places at a cost of $10,000 each.

Another point that has been made to me is that Australian nurses do LESS
than their UK counterparts. This observation came from a GP who moved to Oz from the UK. He said that in Australia he has to take on more tasks because nurses do less than they do in the UK.

With regards to ANMAC, my understanding is that ANMAC is still assessing Dip
HE as an acceptable qualification with regards to Visa verification. This is, in effect, bringing immigrants into Australia to be unemployed. Except they can't get benefits.

I've made contact with a guy who has raised this issue with the Shadow Minister of Health - let's hope it gets raised in Canberra very soon.

Originally Posted by Feather111

Yes - that is an interesting question.

I also have a degree in a differant subject and then did my Diploma in Nursing.

However, my intuition tells me - it might not work like that.

The way I see it - they want to assess your ability as a nurse - and would only be interested in your nursing qualification - if you see what I mean?

WIthout sounding too cynical - so many people have Degrees these days - at my hospital alot of people retrained as a nurse or whatever - having already done a Degree, albeit in Art History or Music. But I really dont think they would be interested in that. Although - I would like to be wrong - obviously