Good News for Aspiring Filipino Nurses: Australia Needs You—Now More Than Ever

Seigfred Dequito
Apr 10
4 min read

Australia has just announced a game-changing move for nurses and midwives who want to build a new life Down Under. In two major updates shared by the Australian Government and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), new steps are being taken to speed up the process for overseas-trained nurses and midwives to live and work in Australia.

According to Health Minister Mark Butler, this is all about getting "more nurses, sooner" into the Australian healthcare system to meet rising demand. By cutting red tape and fast-tracking qualified international nurses through Ahpra's registration process, Australia is opening its doors wider than ever before.

As a consultancy deeply rooted in both Australia and the Philippines, Legacy Migration celebrates this positive news with excitement and hope for many of our kababayans. We’ve already helped many Filipino nurses begin their journey, and now—with these government reforms—it’s going to be even smoother.

Let us share the inspiring story of one of our very own nursing clients, Demi Marie Demonteverde.

Demi's Journey: From Philippines to Australia

"My name is Demi Marie Demonteverde. I am 28 years old from Iloilo City, Philippines. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Central Philippine University in 2013, I worked as a registered nurse for nearly six years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia."

Like many nurses with international experience, Demi had the credentials, the skills, and the passion—but she needed someone to guide her through the complex process of migrating to Australia. That’s where Legacy Migration came in.

“Legacy Migration processed everything smoothly and efficiently. They never got tired of following me up, offering the best of their services, gathering my documents, and assisting me to make everything easy. Thank you—and I highly recommend them!”

Demi passed the Pearson Test of English with flying colours, and with our support, she prepared her documents, applied to her chosen program, and successfully navigated the visa and registration process.

Today, Demi is enjoying her new life and career as a nurse in Australia, continuing her passion for care and compassion—this time, with the added beauty of living in a country she once dreamed of.

“To those who want to start their Australian dream and discover new ventures in their career—or those who want to be reunited with loved ones already here—take that small leap of faith and trust the process. Indeed, at the end of the day, my visa story is a love story. And Legacy Migration loves success stories.”

Fast-Tracked Pathway for Nurses from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore, and Spain

If you're a licensed nurse or midwife in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Singapore, or Spain, there's even more exciting news for you!

As part of the new streamlined process by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), internationally qualified nurses and midwives (IQNMs) from these five countries are now eligible for a fast-tracked registration pathway.

This means:

✅ No need for a bridging program or additional clinical assessments in many cases

✅ Your qualifications and experience are recognized as equivalent to Australian standards

✅ You'll be able to start working in Australia faster and with fewer hurdles

This is a huge win for nurses already working overseas in these countries—especially Filipino nurses who have moved abroad for work and now wish to transfer their careers to Australia.

Whether you trained in the Philippines and gained your license in the UK, or you’ve been working in the US or Canada as an RN, you may now qualify for a much quicker route to registration in Australia.

Why This News Matters Now

The recent announcements from the Australian Government and Ahpra are the best news we've had in years for internationally qualified nurses:

✅ Faster Registration Process: Ahpra’s new streamlined model is designed to assess overseas nurses fairly and efficiently.

✅ Cutting Red Tape: The aim is to reduce unnecessary delays so qualified nurses can start working in Australia faster.

✅ More Support: The government has invested heavily to make sure there's the capacity to process the growing number of applications.

You can read more about these updates here:

How Legacy Migration Can Help You

At Legacy Migration, we believe in your dreams—and we back them with action. Our team of Registered Migration Agents and Qualified Education Agent Counsellors (QEAC) based in Melbourne and across the Philippines are here to guide you from start to finish. Whether you’re in the Middle East, working locally, or planning to start anew, we’re just a message away.

We offer: