My Pathway to Becoming a Nurse In Australia

A couple of my friends have urged me to come to Australia. At first, I was hesitant to try as there are a lot of requirements and fees that need to be covered. Finally, I realized that while I am still somehow young, I should try. Metaphorically it was like climbing a mountain for me. But I did not climb it all in one day. What I did is to do things, big or small everyday just to achieve what I want. Here is a summary of what I did.

1. Take IELTS- This is the very first step to be able to enroll to a school. This will also help to get work and visa in the future. For nurses, we are required to get an overall band of 7. An overall band score of 8 is desired if you would like to have higher points for the Skilled Migration Points System (for 189 visa).

2. While waiting and praying for the IELTS result, gather requirements asked for by Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The form to be accomplished is AGOS 40 and is readily available at their website. It is a  straightforward and clear form.

3. Once IELTS results are in and it is satisfactory, have all documents certified as true copy and mail these to AHPRA together with the form. Do not staple all the documents. Also, it will be asking you to include how you would like to pay the total fee of 520 AUD.

4. Wait for AHPRA's email. Sometimes they will email if they need further documents. Otherwise, they will email to let you know of their decision/ recommendation. In my case, I was recommended to proceed to an NMBA (bridging) program.

5. Look for a school that fits the budget and is reputable for the program asked for. My friend studied at IHNA Melbourne so I also chose the same school but I studied in Perth. You will be asked for a set of documents again including immunizations. They can all be sent via email. 

6. Depending on the school, pay for their admin fee and they will give you back a confirmation of enrollment. This will reflect that a slot has been reserved. Their slots were filling up fast so I chose the earliest which was February 2017.

7. You can now start to process for your visa. The school has advised me to get a Visa subclass 600 good for 3 months of studying. I created an online immigration account and followed the instructions. Then, I had a HAP ID as reference to have my medical tests done. I paid 135 AUD for my visa which I got after 3 weeks.

8. Next up was to look for flights and accommodations. The school was offering an accommodation for 200 AUD per week which was expensive. I asked help from family and friends. Luckily, my sister had a classmate living in Perth and I was able to stay at their house. For the flights, it was about 5 months before I had to fly so my ticket to Perth via Singapore was not quite breaking the bank.

9. Save money and make sure that all documents were sent to the school before coming over. I couldn't stress this enough.

10. Pack clothes fit for the season that you are coming. At the same time, make sure that you are within your allowed baggage. This proved to be difficult for me. I had quite a number of things that I really had to leave behind. 

11. Arrive in Australia a few days ahead of the start of classes. This would give time to look around and familiarize with the transport as well as get a simcard, open a bank account and settle in.

12. Be prompt on the first day (and all days). I met Filipino classmates for the program and was happy to make new friendships. Almost half of the class were Indians, and there were about 3 Europeans.

13. Study and work hard to achieve the assessments and requirements of the school and practicum.

14. After the bridging program, gather necessary requirements and accomplish AGBP 40 form from the AHPRA website. Pay the amount of 300 AUD along with their form. I personally went to the AHPRA office in Perth to submit my papers but these can also be sent via post. 

15. Wait for a couple of weeks and they will email you if you need to present more documents or that you have passed all requirements and that you are now a registered nurse! Congratulations!

I still have a long way to go as it is quite difficult to score a company that sponsors a work visa but I know that with God's grace I can make it.

Thank you for reading and 'til next blog :)

Longing for Perth-adise

I studied in Perth for my Nursing Bridging Program. I chose Perth because of my high school friend though I also had friends from other Australian states. School lasted for 9 weeks and on the last day wherein we had to pass our final requirements, me and a classmate went out to sightsee parts of the city. 

First off we went to St George Cathedral which was only a few minutes walk from our campus. This church is the principal Anglican church in the city of Perth and the mother-church of the Anglican Diocese of Perth (Wikipedia). 

I've always loved visiting churches and looking at the pretty architecture inside of them. I also believe that by praying for a wish to be granted in a church newly visited will be granted. Nevertheless, what I always do is talking to God and thanking him for the blessings and hardships that come my way. 

Next up, we visited the City of Perth Library. Now another place that I love visiting are libraries. There is such a whole new world for me when I am surrounded by books and magazines. I would have loved to read but we don't have much time so we just looked around every floor. I used to remember when I was a child that our library was only one floor and most of the books were torn because some children were not careful enough or because the books were always borrowed. 

This particular library has many floors and a lot of tables, chairs and couches were people can comfortably read. I liked that they have a separate floor for teens to have their kind of books (though I am way beyond my teenager years lol).

We chose to go up the floors via the elevator and go back down through the lovely spiralling staircase. 

We then a few minutes across the street where Stirling Gardens is. It is just a small public park with sculptures, lovely flower gardens and benches. It was noon time when we came and we saw people enjoying the sun while sitting on the grasses or benches. 

Just a few minute walk was Elizabeth Quay. It is the perfect place to do people watching, dining or relaxing. As it was so hot that day, we decided to buy some gelato to cool ourselves while taking in all the view.

My classmate and good friend, Clarisse,who was with me during this entire time :)

Another place that I miss in Perth is King's Park. It is such a cool place to hang out with friends, see the city and sunset and have a picnic.

I really had a wonderful time in Perth. Wherever life takes me, Perth would always be the first city I fell in love with in Australia. Thank you for reading and 'til next blog!

Prayer to St Expeditus

image courtesy of molossia.org/stexpeditus.html

(This prayer is to be said daily until your request is granted, Be sure to publish thanking Saint Expedite, so that his name and glory will grow.Please do not post entire prayer in comments section. Thanksgiving, Intentions & Testimonies only)

Saint Expedite, you lay in rest.

I come to you and ask that this wish be granted.

(Mention you urgent request)

Saint Expedite now what I ask of you. Saint Expedite now what I want of you, this very second.

Don't waste another day. Grant me what I ask for.

I know your power, I know you because of your work. I know you can help me.

Do this for me and I will spread your name with love and honor so that it will be invoked again and again.

Expedite this wish with speed, love, honor, and goodness. Glory to you, Saint Expedite!

NOTE: Saint Expedite is the patron saint of those who hope for rapid solutions to problems, who wish to avoid or put an end to delays, and who want general or immediate financial success.Not much info is available on St. Expedite. The most popular and accepted one is about him being a Roman soldier back in the days of the Christian persecution. During his service, he witnessed the martyrdom of several Christians at the hands of their persecutors, and was so taken by their humility, faith, and their requests that their persecutors be forgiven even as their persecutors tortured and killed them, that he chose to convert to Christianity - a choice that caused him to be imprisoned and ultimately killed for his beliefs. He is generally depicted as a Roman soldier stepping on a raven who is saying "Cras" (tomorrow) while holding a cross that says "Hodie" (today.) This comes from before St Expedite was martyred, Satan came to him in the form of a raven saying "Convert tomorrow, convert tomorrow," and St Expedite refused, insisting he be baptized a Christian that very same day and crushed the raven under his feet. The day after, he was martyred for his Christian faith.