The Children's Hospital at Westmead

Overseas Nurses

The Children's Hospital at Westmead is a pre-qualified overseas business sponsor with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) enabling us to offer sponsorships to experienced registered nurses.

The Children's Hospital at Westmead can offer sponsorships for Temporary Visas, Permanent Residency and Working Holiday Visas.

Overseas applicants must obtain nursing registration prior to a visa being approved by DIAC.

Sponsorship for Temporary Visa

A temporary sponsored visa allows registered nurses to travel to Australia and work at the Hospital for a minimum period of one year to a maximum period of four years. A spouse and dependents may travel and work on this visa as well.

Sponsorship for Permanent Residency

Sponsorship for permanent residence is only offered to applicants to settle permanently in Australia. An application for residence may be considered whilst on a sponsored temporary visa.

Selection Criteria for all Sponsorships at CHW

Applicants must meet the employment selection requirements of The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Sponsored nurses are entitled to the same employment conditions as Australian nurses.

The selection process will include a personal interview or telephone interview by conference phone. A Nursing Unit Manager and a Clinical Nurse will conduct the interview and it will relate to practical situations in the applicant's area of nursing expertise, skills, competencies and safety issues.

Reference checking will also be carried out and applicants should include the contact details of two referees who can support the application and provide information regarding the applicant's recent clinical work. Contact to referees by email or fax is preferred.

An offer of employment will be issued to successful applicants and the salary level will be at level one under the Nurses and Midwives (State) Award. The salary provided does depend on years of relevant fulltime experience and proof of service will be required for salary to be adjusted.

A contract and relevant employment paperwork will be issued once the applicant has arrived in Sydney with the appropriate work visa. Employment will be conditional on securing registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), a Criminal Record check, Working with Children check and relevant health checks.

The whole process from initial application to issue of the visa usually takes a minimum of three months.

Further information

If you have any further queries please contact Katie Patrizi, HR Consultant in Staff Services Department via email staffser@chw.edu.au

Click here to download the position description of a registered nurse.

Useful links and contacts

Working Holiday Visa

If you are visiting Australia on a working holiday visa, you can only be employed for a maximum period of 6 months at CHW. You may be eligible to take up a temporary contract or casual employment during this period, subject to registration with the Nurses' Registration Board and satisfactory reference checks. You must also have at least 12 months post registration experience and have all IV administration competencies.

It is helpful if you apply for a position before coming to Sydney as this will assist us to commence you at work as soon as you arrive (if required). Email your current CV with the names and contact details (fax or email addresses preferred) of two professional nursing referees to Renee Burkey HR Consultant at staffser@chw.edu.au

For further information on Visa conditions contact your nearest Australian Embassy or High Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can nurses from overseas apply for promotional positions?
Yes, but it is usually advised that nurses coming from overseas requiring sponsorship should apply for a registered nurse position in the first instance, unless you are being directly employed from overseas into the position. This is because sponsorship can often take up to 6 months to process and if nurses have been successful in obtaining a promotional position, this position won't be filled for this amount of time, making it unfair on local nurses. Once international nurses have arrived at CHW you can certainly apply for promotional positions.

If I come on a temporary visa can I have it changed to a permanent visa?
Yes, if you are sure you want to settle in Sydney. Your Nurse Manager must be happy to support your application, ie your performance appraisals have been satisfactory, and a vacancy exists that cannot be filled by an Australian nurse. In this case CHW can assist in sponsorship for permanent residency.

Can I be considered for a position at CHW without having NSW Nurses Board Registration?
No, we cannot consider employing any nurse without their NSW Nurses Board Registration.

How long does it take to get a visa through sponsorship?
The whole process from initial application to issue of the visa usually takes four to six months.

Am I guaranteed to get my visa granted?
CHW can not guarantee that your visa will be granted, however nurses are given priority by the immigration department.

Does CHW pay for my visa application?
No, CHW is responsible for the nomination to the immigration department. Once you have your nomination approval letter you may lodge your visa. Check with your local Australian Embassy or the Immigration Website for specific information.

How much tax will I be paying?
Check out the Australian Taxation Department's website for further information. You can also apply for your tax file number at this site.

Is there a pension scheme available?
In Australia we refer to this as Superannuation. The employer is required to pay a certain percentage of your wage into a Superannuation Fund. This is not taken out of your pay, it is a payment above your wage. You cannot access this money until you have retired. You can elect to "top-up" your superannuation fund by paying extra money into your fund. See www.healthsuper.com.au for more details.