Top 5 Nursing Occupations in-Demand in Australia

Australia is experiencing workforce shortages in various key areas and healthcare is no exception. 

 

However, Australia’s healthcare sector is a dynamic industry that is increasing day-by-day with higher-demand occupations. There are numerous healthcare job opportunities in Australia for skilled healthcare workers worldwide, and nursing is among them. 

 

Nurses are considered the heart of the healthcare system, as they provide intense care and comprehensive support to patients in the community. This is why nursing occupations are in-demand in Australia. 

 

If you want to pursue nursing jobs in Australia, you must understand the roles of the most in-demand nursing occupations to make a wise decision. In this blog post, I will share the top 5 healthcare occupations with higher demand in Australia. 

 

Let’s get started.

 

Top 5 Nursing Occupations In-Demand in Australia

Here are the top 5 nursing occupations based on MD105 priority healthcare occupations based on migration program outcomes 2020-2021 to 2023-24 outcomes:

1. Registered Nurse nec
2. Registered Nurse Medical
3. Registered Nurse (critical care and Emergency)
4. Registered Nurse (Aged care)
5. Enrolled Nurse

1. Registered Nurses (not covered elsewhere): ANZSCO (254499)

Registered nurses with ANZSCO occupation (2544) are not classified (NEC) elsewhere in Australia. 

 

Registered nurses provide nursing care to patients in hospitals, aged care facilities, and other community-based healthcare facilities. They are in high demand due to their versatile roles that don’t fall under other specific nursing categories. Further, they can fill gaps in many healthcare settings.

 

Skills and Qualifications Requirments

 

To become a registered nurse in Australia, you must have a Bachelor of Nursing degree and register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Other certifications in specialized areas can also be beneficial (if any).

 

Career Opportunities

• Registered Nurse (General)
• Registered Nurse (Medical)
• Registered Nurse (Surgical)
• Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
• Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
• Registered Nurse (Community Health)
• Registered Nurse (Remote Area Nursing)
• Enrolled Nurse
• And many more

 

2. Registered Nurses (Medical): ANZSCO 254418)

A medically registered nurse provides care to patients with various medical conditions, such as metabolic disorders, infections, and other chronic disorders. This means that registered nurses are required for all health conditions, aged care, and community settings that require medical intervention. 

 

In Australia, medically registered nurses are consistently in demand due to the ongoing need for medical care and management of chronic conditions. 

 

Skills and Qualifications: 

A Bachelor of Nursing degree and registration form AHPRA are required. However, other experiences in medical wards and additional training in specific medical conditions will also be beneficial.

 

Read more to learn about Bachelor of Nursing in Australia

 

Career Opportunities

• Medical Ward Nurse
• Surgical Ward Nurse
• Oncology Nurse
• Cardiology Nurse
• Infectious Disease Nurse
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (Medical)
• Nurse Unit Manager (Medical)
• Clinical Research Nurse
• Community Health Nurse (Medical)

3. Registered Nurses (Critical Care and Emergency): ANZSCO 254415

Registered nurses specialize in critical care and emergency care and provide care to critically ill patients and patients who have unstable health conditions such as following injury, surgery, or acute illness. They work by integrating new technological equipment into intensive care units, emergency wards or departments, and high-dependency units.

 

The critical nature of their work and the need for specialized skills in emergency and intensive care settings are the most important reasons for the most-demanded nursing occupation in Australia. 

 

Skills and Qualifications: 

In Australia, specialized training in critical care or emergency nursing requires a Bachelor of Nursing degree and AHPRA registration. 

 

Career Opportunities:

• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse
• Emergency Department (ED) Nurse
• Trauma Nurse
• Critical Care Transport Nurse
• Flight Nurse
• Cardiac Care Nurse
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Nurse
• High Dependency Unit (HDU) Nurse
• Burn Unit Nurse
• Critical Care Outreach Nurse

 

4. Registered Nurses (Aged Care): ANZSCO 254412

Registered aged care nurses provide complete care to elderly patients in residential aged care centers, health care settings, and community settings in Australia. They manage chronic conditions, administer medications, and support daily living activities.

 

The demand for aged care nurses is rapidly increasing due to the aging population. As a result, registered nurses specializing in aged care have become one of the most in-demand occupations in Australia. 

 

Note: Read more if you want to learn about the requirements to become an aged care worker in Australia 

 

Skills and Qualifications

A Bachelor of Nursing degree and AHPRA registration are required for registered nurses (aged care). 

 

Consult with our skilled migration consultants to know more about the required qualifications for registered nurses.

 

Career Opportunities

• Aged Care Facility Nurse
• Community-Aged Care Nurse
• Home Care Nurse
• Palliative Care Nurse
• Dementia Care Nurse
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (Aged Care)
• Nurse Unit Manager (Aged Care)
• Aged Care Assessor
• Aged Care Educator
• Residential Care Nurse

 

5. Enrolled Nurse: ANZSCO 411411

Enrolled nurses provided basic nursing care under the instructions and supervision of a registered nurse (RN). They work as assistants during patient care, administer medications, and support daily patient care activities in various healthcare settings.

 

As an essential part of an interdisciplinary medical team, enrolled nurses are the most demanding occupation in Australia.

 

Skills and Qualifications

To become an enrolled nurse, you are required to have a nursing diploma and be registered with AHPRA.

 

Note: Read more to know about the best nursing courses in Australia

 

Career Opportunities

• Community Home Care Nurse
• Aged Care Nurse
• Hospital Nurse
• Specialized Program Nurse
• Remote Area Nurse
• Casual Pool Nurse

Top 5 Healthcare Occupations in Previous Migration Intakes and their Outcomes (2020-2024)

In recent years, the healthcare sector of Australia has experienced significant growth and changes. The demand for skilled healthcare professionals has increased based on many factors, like ongoing skilled work shortages, a growing aging population, and even the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why there has been a significant increase in migration intakes, especially in these top 5 healthcare occupations. 

Let’s review the most in-demand healthcare occupations from 2020 to 2024 and their respective outcomes in the migration programs during these years.

 

Anzsco Code	Occupation Units	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
254499	Registered Urses nes	1,422	1,505	3,058	4,566
254418	Registered Nurse (Medical)	344	342	858	1,282
254415	Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)	477	627	1,068	1,245
254412	Registered Nurse (Aged Care)	711	1,451	3,338	1,092
411411	Enrolled Nurse	248	514	925	1,002
	Other	3,777	3,756	7,814	7,385
Total		6,979	8,195	17,061	16,572

 

Skill Assessment for Nursing

If you want to apply for the migration program for the years 2024–25 to secure your migration as a registered nurse, you must undergo a skill assessment first. A skill assessment is necessary for a skilled migration visa application, as it will determine if you are eligible and meet Australia’s set healthcare standards. 

 

For this purpose, you will need to apply for an ANMAC skills assessment. It is a government-approved assessing body that assesses your eligibility and other necessary skills. This assessment is crucial to ensure that you meet the professional standards required to practice nursing in Australia.

 

Consult with Migration Consultants To Get Expert Advice

We know the skill assessment process can be complex for you alone. This is where our skilled migration consultants come in. We at the Migration have experienced consultants who can guide you through each step of your nursing skill assessment process.

 

From requirements to preparing to submit your application, they will be your helping hand in your preferred visa processing journey. They have many years of experience in Australian visa consultancy and immigration-related needs. Get in touch with them to receive personalized support so that you can get the best possible results. 

 

Book your consultation with our expert migration consultants now.

 

 

FAQs

Q: 1 What is the average salary of a registered nurse in Australia?

The average salary for a registered nurse in Australia is up to $85,000 to $95,000.

Resource: SEEK

 

Q: 2 What are high-demand healthcare jobs in Australia?

According to the previous migration program outcomes, the high-demand occupations in Australia include: 

• Registration Nurse
• General Practitioner
• Physiotherapist
• Aged Care Worker
• Medical Imaging Professional 

Q: 3 Can nurses switch from working in nursing to working in healthcare? 

Yes, qualified nurses in Australia can switch their roles to other healthcare roles, such as:

 

• Nurse educator
• Health Services Manager 
• Clinical Research Coordinator 
• Healthcare Recruiter
• Medical Writer
• Public Health Nurse
• Nurse Consultant
• Case Manager
• Health Informatics Specialist