SYDNEY – Nurses from six countries, including Singapore, will have their applications to work in Australia fast-tracked from April 2025. This initiative, announced by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), is designed to alleviate the country’s ongoing nursing shortage.
Welcome with Caution
While the scheme has been met with approval from health workers, professionals have also called on the government to address the root causes of the shortage. The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association and the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association both expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, viewing it as a necessary step to ease pressure on the healthcare system.
The Details of the Scheme
Ahpra disclosed that the new policy will expedite the registration process for registered nurses with at least 1,800 practising hours since 2017 from six countries: Singapore, the UK, Ireland, the US, Spain, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario. The streamlined application process aims to reduce processing times from one to six months, down from the current nine to twelve months or longer.
A Critical Shortage
The Australian healthcare sector is expected to face a severe shortage of 71,000 nurses by 2035. Australia faces particular challenges in retaining locally-trained nurses as the population ages and healthcare demands increase. According to the most recent data, about 43 percent of the country’s 38,816 newly registered nurses in the year to June 30, 2024, were from overseas.
Foreign Nurses as a Temporary Solution
The fast-tracked registration scheme is part of a broader strategy to recruit from abroad. Health Minister Mark Butler emphasized that approving overseas nurses sooner would ultimately benefit patients. The import of foreign talent, while crucial in the short term, is a temporary fix for a more systemic issue.
Addressing Retention
Experts stress the need for long-term measures to retain both domestic and foreign nurses. This includes improving pay, reducing workloads, and fostering a supportive work environment. Part-time and online study options could also help increase the number of locally-trained nurses.
Past Migration Trends and Future Prospects
Historically, Australia recruited large numbers of nurses to ease a shortage, but many returned to their home countries due to heavy workloads and dissatisfaction with conditions. Dr. Nicole Blay from Western Sydney University advocates for measures to improve the chances that nurses will stay, noting that retaining the new cohort of foreign nurses will require more than just initial incentives.
Calls for Comprehensive Solutions
Kara Thomas, president of the Nurses’ Professional Association of Australia, welcomes the fast-tracking of foreign nurses but views it as a “band-aid solution.” She highlighted the need to address fundamental challenges such as dangerous understaffing, inadequate pay, and bureaucratic inefficiencies that drive Australian nurses away from the profession.
The Road Ahead
As Australia continues to grapple with the nursing shortage, the fast-tracking scheme represents a significant step towards immediate relief. However, addressing the underlying issues will be crucial for the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system. Health workers and ministers alike must work together to improve conditions and retain a skilled nursing workforce.
- Jonathan Pearlman reports on Australia and the Pacific.
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