Nursing Registration in Australia

As of the 1st of July 2010, a National Registration system has been implemented throughout Australia. Formerly registration was dependent on which particular state or territory you lived & worked in, and you had to be registered for each place that you worked.

This new system is known as the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) for Health Professionals.

National registration means that nurses and midwives will only need to hold one licence to practise in order to work as a nurse or midwife in any State or Territory of Australia.

Governing Bodies

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
The newly established National Nursing and Midwifery Board are responsible for:

• Registering nursing and midwifery practitioners and students
• Developing standards, codes and guidelines for the nursing and midwifery profession
• Handling notifications, complaints, investigations and disciplinary hearings
• Assessing overseas trained practitioners who wish to practise in Australia
• Approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study.

State and Territory Boards
State and Territory Boards have also been set up to support the National Board in the new registration and accreditation system. Roles are categorised as follows:

• The National Board is responsible for setting policies and professional standards
• The State and Territory Boards will make individual notification and registration decisions affecting individual nurses and midwives.

For more information, visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, or read the post titled National Registration for Nurses.