Working Holiday Opportunities for UK & Irish Registered Nurses & Midwives
From the NHS to Australia - Start Your Travel Nursing Adventure Here.
Work, travel and earn in Australia - from registration advice to relocation support and ongoing placement opportunities, we handle the details so you can focus on the adventure!
Why UK & Irish nurses choose us
Your Working Holiday, sorted.
Flexible jobs, real adventure
Make the most of your Working Holiday Visa with flexible nursing jobs across Australia. We handle the details so you can focus on the adventure.
Work, travel and earn
Work, travel and earn in Australia - from registration advice to finding the right roles and relocation support, our UK team makes your move simple.
End-to-end support
All the support you need to start your nursing adventure Down Under - from registration advice to relocation and ongoing placements, we handle the details so you can make the most of your time in Australia.
YOUR TRUSTED ADVISOR
Kate will take you the whole way - position, paperwork, plane ticket.
Kate manages every UK & Irish candidate personally – from the first call about AHPRA to your first shift on the ward in Australia. Based in the UK, Kate works your hours and has firsthand experience of travelling Australia on a Working Holiday Visa. She will help you to find the right opportunities, navigate visa requirements and make the most of your time down under.
Book a call with Kate →
Welcome reward
$500 at six months, $500 at twelve months
Complete your first six months of placements with Skilled Nursing and we'll say thank you with a $500 gift card. Stay with us for another six months and we'll add a further $500 bonus - up to $1,000 to celebrate your first year Down Under.
Start your first placement with Skilled Nursing
Complete your first six months - receive your $500 gift card
Stay with us through another six months of placements
Collect an additional $500 bonus - up to $1,000 in total
Your pathway
The Travel Nurse Journey
From the first conversation about moving to Australia to your first nursing contract, and even support with permanent residency if you decide to stay, we'll guide you every step of the way. Here's what your working holiday journey looks like:
- 01
Discovery call
20 minute call with Kate to discuss your experience, visa plans, registration advice and the type of nursing contracts that will suit your goals.
- 02
Visa & AHPRA registration
Support and guidance throughout your Working Holiday Visa (WHV) application and AHPRA registration process.
- 03
Onboarding
Ensuring you have everything you need so that you are work-ready for your arrival in Australia.
- 04
Secure your contract
We'll source the right contracts that suit your experience, travel plans and long-term career goals.
- 05
Relocation
Support with organising your flights, initial accommodation and everything required for a smooth arrival to Australia.
- 06
Work, travel and explore
Whether you want continuous contracts, or to take breaks to travel in-between, we'll have everything lined up for you throughout.
- 07
The pathway to PR
If you decide to extend your stay or become a permanent resident, we'll help you with the next steps beyond your Working Holiday.
- 08
Spread the word
Refer a colleague to us and once they complete six months of work with us, we'll send you a $500 gift card as our thanks.
Where you'll work
Locations.
From tropical Queensland to Tasmania's wild coastline, we place RNs and midwives in hospitals right across Australia. Pick a destination, Kate will find the contracts that get you there.
Queensland
QLDAustralia's sunshine state. Think reef trips, rainforest and a lifestyle built for the outdoors. Strong demand for ED, theatres and midwifery year-round.
Roles in Queensland →
Tasmania
TASAustralia's island state. Community-minded hospitals in Hobart and Launceston with genuine all-rounder roles, and Cradle Mountain, Freycinet, wine country and world-famous produce on your doorstep.
Roles in Tasmania →
Victoria
VICHome to Melbourne, one of the world's great food, coffee and culture cities. Major tertiary hospitals and strong career development, with the Great Ocean Road and the Yarra Valley for your days off.
Roles in Victoria →
Canberra
ACTThe nation's capital. A compact, easy city with excellent hospitals and facilities, and Sydney, the snow fields and the south coast all within a couple of hours' drive.
Roles in Canberra →Visa & Regulatory
The paperwork, handled.
Two big things stand between a UK RN and an Australian ward: an AHPRA registration and a visa. Here's everything you need to get both.
Step by step
How to get your Working Holiday Visa
- 1.
Check your eligibility
Confirm you meet the age, passport and other WHV requirements (subclass 417 info here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417) Or check other visa options here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder
- 2.
Create an ImmiAccount
Register on the Department of Home Affairs portal to start your application: https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/register
- 3.
Gather your required documents
Identity documents, proof of funds (usually $5,000), character documents (an overseas police certificate may be requested), and health documents (a medical examination may be requested).
- 4.
Apply online
Submit through your ImmiAccount portal and upload the required documents.
- 5.
Pay the application fee
The current WHV application fee is $840.
- 6.
Await your decision
Applications for UK passport holders typically take between 2 and 14 days to process.
- 7.
Plan your adventure
Once granted, you have 12 months to enter Australia and your visa is valid for 12 months from the date you arrive.
Step by step
How to get your AHPRA Registration
- 1.
Review AHPRA's IQNM information
Read through the important information for internationally qualified nurses and midwives: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Accreditation/IQNM/Before-you-apply
- 2.
Complete the Self Check
You'll be placed into a stream based on your education - applicants who completed their nursing program in the UK/Ireland are placed into Stream A: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Accreditation/IQNM/Self-check-and-Portfolio/Completing-the-Self-check
- 3.
Pay the assessment fee
The current IQNM assessment fee is $410.
- 4.
Complete Orientation Part 1
An online learning course providing an introduction to Australia and the Australian healthcare context: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Accreditation/IQNM/Self-check-and-Portfolio/Orientation-Part-1
- 5.
Gather your required documents
Certified identity documents, certified evidence of qualifications, statements of service from previous employers, a Certificate of Good Standing (sent directly to AHPRA by the NMC/NMBI), and any further supporting documents relating to criminal history or health declarations.
- 6.
Pay the application fee
The current application fee for general registration is $332.
- 7.
Apply for registration
Complete the required application form and provide all necessary documentation.
- 8.
Await your decision
AHPRA aims to assess applications within four to six weeks of receiving all required documentation - errors or omissions can extend this significantly.
- 9.
Pay the registration fee
The current registration fee for general registration is $193.
- 10.
Receive your registration
Once approved, you'll receive your AHPRA registration and can start applying for jobs in Australia.
Practice areas
Seven specialties.
In every Australian state and territory.
We recruit for RN and midwifery roles across the specialties below. Not sure where you fit? Kate will map your NHS experience to the Australian equivalent on a 20-minute call.
Emergency Department
EDSenior ED RNs are in the highest demand across regional and metropolitan hospitals in Australia.
- Level 3–6 EDs, majors + resus experience welcomed
- Rural generalist EDs offering the largest relocation packages
- Post-graduate ED certificate pathways funded
Intensive Care & Critical Care
ICULevel 3 ICU experience opens doors in tertiary teaching hospitals across Australia.
- Adult, paediatric and neonatal ICU roles
- CVICU and cardiothoracic units in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
- Employer-sponsored 482 visa common for ICU RNs
Theatres — Scrub, Scout & Anaesthetics
TheatresPerioperative RNs and anaesthetic nurses are consistently short-supplied in AU public and private theatres.
- Orthopaedic, general, cardiac and robotic lists
- Recovery (PACU) and day-surgery roles
- Private hospital groups offering sign-on bonuses
Mental Health
MHAcute, forensic and community mental-health nursing roles across state health services.
- Acute inpatient units, PECC and HDU
- Community, CATT and outreach roles
- Post-graduate MH certificate support
Medical & Surgical
Med/SurgGeneral ward RNs with 2+ years post-registration experience are placed across public and private networks.
- Cardiac, respiratory, oncology and stroke units
- Surgical wards - orthopaedic, colorectal, urology
- Team-nursing models with strong educator support
Aged Care
Aged CareResidential aged-care RNs are eligible for Australia's Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement, one of the fastest visa pathways.
- Clinical care coordinator and RN roles
- Fast-track employer sponsorship (Aged Care ILA)
- Metropolitan and regional providers
Midwifery
MidwiferyNMC-registered midwives with hospital-based experience are placed into public maternity units and birth centres.
- Birthing suite, antenatal and postnatal roles
- Continuity-of-care and MGP model opportunities
- Dual RN/RM registration through AHPRA supported
View All Opportunities
AUPermanent and Locum RN and Midwifery jobs are available across Australia. Please view our job boards or contact Kate for more information.
- Wide range of roles
- Rural, regional, metro
- We help every step of the way
Pathway · Permanent
Consider the Permanent Pathway.
Most UK RNs and midwives we place move onto permanent contracts - either directly through employer sponsorship or by converting from a 417 working holiday. Here's the full picture.
- 01
Discovery call
20-minute call with Kate. We audit your specialty, seniority and visa options.
- 02
Hospital shortlist
We shortlist 3–5 employers matched to your specialty and preferred location.
- 03
Interview support
Interview prep, timezone coordination and structured feedback after each round.
- 04
Offer + sponsorship
We negotiate salary, sign-on and relocation. Employer initiates 482 / 186 sponsorship.
- 05
Relocation & start
Flights, initial accommodation and orientation arranged. Kate stays your point of contact for 6 months on the ward.
- 06
Permanent residency
Employer-sponsored roles usually offer a direct PR pathway after your qualifying period.
Pre-departure
Land ready to work.
Your contracts, travel, accommodation and paperwork all organised before you even get on the plane. Here's what we arrange for you:
Employer offer & contract review
We negotiate rates, hours and dates directly with the employers for all your contracts.
Compliance
We'll make sure you are fully compliant with all the checks and paperwork you need to be work-ready.
Travel
We'll arrange your travel to your first contract from wherever you land in Australia, and your travel between every future contract too.
Accommodation
Your accommodation will be booked and paid for (partially or in full) for each contract.
Bank account & Medicare setup
Templates and a walkthrough so you're ready before you leave the UK.
Tax File Number & superannuation
Everything you need to be paid correctly from your first roster.
Referral bonus
$500 for every nurse you refer
Already registered with Skilled Nursing? Introduce a nurse or midwife you'd happily work alongside, and once they complete six months of work with us, we'll send you a $500 gift card. It's our way of saying thank you for helping us find great people.
Share their details with us or ask them to reach out to us directly
Your referral registers with Skilled Nursing and starts a placement
They complete six months of work with us
You receive your $500 gift card
Ready to start?
Kate replies to every enquiry personally, usually within one working day. Send your details or call the London office directly.