Overview of nursing jobs in Australia: 3 important steps to start the career
Is Nursing a Promising Career in Australia?
To answer this question, we had an insightful conversation with Helen Hillson about the opportunities available to nursing graduates and her views on why nursing is a rewarding career path in Australia.
Helen is an accomplished scholar, holding a Master of Health Practice and a PhD centered on skill development and progression for health professionals at the start of their career. Her passion lies in aiding the early career journey and advancement of health practitioners, and she leverages her role in academia and research to pioneer in this realm.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2007 from the UQ School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, Helen has accumulated over 16 years of experience as a registered nurse, primarily in the Emergency Care Unit.
Helen: It can indeed seem overwhelming when trying to make the correct career choice. It's important to remember that it's likely you'll experience multiple careers throughout your lifetime, which significantly eases the pressure of deciding where to start.
Nursing equips you with an exceptional foundational knowledge that is applicable in a multitude of settings. It's a respected profession that earns you high regard within the community. Hence, a nursing job in Australia is a career where you can exercise knowledge, practice critical thinking, and provide care for others - often in a dynamic and rapidly evolving environment.
Her advice? "You won't truly comprehend what nursing entails until you've tried it. So, if you harbor a desire to give it a shot, just begin. The sole individual who can determine if it's suitable for you is yourself."
Helen: The first step to embarking on a nursing career is obtaining an education in the field. This can be achieved through a Bachelor of Nursing degree, or if you already possess a certain type of bachelor degree, you might be eligible to commence a master's degree in nursing.
Helen: This is indeed a complex question to address because there are new roles and spaces for nurses that didn't exist during her study years. Upon graduation, there will be even more roles and spaces where nurses can apply their expertise.
Nurses can be found in traditional sectors such as hospitals and primary healthcare, as well as in cosmetic medicine, the travel industry, community centers, and sports. The list is virtually endless.
Some nurses focus on honing their clinical skills, while others gravitate towards managerial or education roles. Other nurses are drawn to political roles, others to advocacy. Some transition into nurse practitioner roles, while others venture into academia, applying their nursing skills to research and higher education.
If your aim is to secure a nursing job in Australia, it's an ideal location. It's a regulated profession with an average annual graduate salary exceeding $70,000.
Data from 2023 indicates that the number of nursing jobs in Australia expanded by 24% between 2018 and 2023. Labour Market insights suggest a diverse career landscape for nursing and promising future industry growth. Some sectors, including primary care, aged care, and rural and remote locations, are grappling with workforce shortages, making job hunting smoother.
While a stable salary and job security are important, nursing also offers an opportunity to make a profound impact on people's lives, which is a compelling factor for many nursing students and graduates.
Start your search for nursing jobs in Australia on Workclass and apply today! A variety of positions are available. You can filter by location, salary, and your proficiency level to find the best nursing career opportunity for you.