18 October 2007

Shortage of nurses across Australia

Australian opposition leader Kevin Rudd is promising more money, including cash bonuses, to meet the national shortage of 19,000 nurses across the country. British nurses with Australian visas are needed to fill the gaps.

Australian opposition leader Kevin Rudd is promising more money, including cash bonuses, to meet the national shortage of 19,000 nurses across the country. British nurses with Australian visas are needed to fill the gaps.

A general election is expected in Australia next month and the severe shortage of health professionals is a matter of intense debate. "Across Australia nurses are the front-line troops in our health and hospital system, but right across the country we have a shortage of nurses," said Mr Rudd.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Australia's universities do not have enough places to train more nurses and there are up to 30,000 Australian qualified nurses who are not working in the health sector.

The Labour Party is promising cash bonuses of up to AU$6,000 for nurses returning to work as well as extra funding for retraining.

Australia needs nurses: anyone interested in Australian immigration should complete the Australian Visa Bureau's online Australian visa assessment to see if they qualify for skilled migration to Australia.