General Medical and Surgical Nurses jobs in Australia

Licensing

Licensing by state

Registration is national, not state-based. You register once as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia through Ahpra under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, and it is recognised in every state and territory with no re-registration when you move interstate. What varies locally is the employer (each state's public health system, or a private hospital group), the industrial instrument (most public hospital nurses are covered by a state award or enterprise agreement rather than the federal Nurses Award 2020), the state drugs and poisons legislation that authorises medicine administration and any nurse-initiated medicines list, and the pre-employment checks — police check, immunisation and evidence requirements, and working-with-children or vulnerable-people registration where the role touches children or at-risk clients.

the Australian Capital Territory

Canberra Health Services (including North Canberra Hospital) and the ACT Health Directorate employ public ward nurses under the ACT Public Sector Nursing and Midwifery Enterprise Agreement. Medicines are regulated by the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 (ACT). Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration is required for many clinical roles under the ACT background-checking scheme.

New South Wales

NSW Health's 15 Local Health Districts and specialty networks employ most public ward nurses, covered by the Public Health System Nurses' and Midwives' (State) Award made in the NSW industrial system. Medicines are governed by the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (NSW) and Regulation, including standing orders and nurse-initiated medicines. NSW Health requires Category A vaccination compliance and a National Police Check, and a Working With Children Check for child-related roles.

the Northern Territory

NT Health's Top End and Central Australia Health Services employ hospital nurses under the Northern Territory Public Sector Nurses and Midwives' Enterprise Agreement. Medicines fall under the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2012 (NT). NT wards see a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and remote transfers, so cultural safety training is standard; an Ochre Card is required for child-related roles.

Queensland

Queensland Health employs most public hospital nurses through its 16 Hospital and Health Services, under the Nurses and Midwives (Queensland Health and Department of Education) Certified Agreement rather than the federal Nurses Award 2020, which covers private hospitals. Scheduled medicines sit under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 (Qld) with Extended Practice Authorities for defined nurse-initiated and rural practice. A Blue Card is required where the ward cares for children; all roles require a criminal history check and immunisation evidence.

South Australia

SA Health's Local Health Networks employ public hospital nurses under the Nursing/Midwifery (South Australian Public Sector) Enterprise Agreement. Medicines are governed by the Controlled Substances Act 1984 (SA). Pre-employment requirements include a DHS screening check appropriate to the role and immunisation evidence; a Working with Children Check is required for child-related positions.

Tasmania

The Department of Health Tasmania runs the state's public hospitals, with nurses covered by the Nurses and Midwives (Tasmanian State Service) Award and Agreement. Medicines are regulated by the Poisons Act 1971 (Tas). Tasmania requires Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP), which is broader than a working-with-children check in most other states and commonly applies to hospital roles involving vulnerable clients.

Victoria

Victorian public health services employ ward nurses under the Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement. Victoria is the only state with legislated nurse-to-patient ratios for public wards under the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Act 2015, which shapes rostering and workload. Medicines fall under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic). A Working with Children Check applies where relevant.

Western Australia

WA Health's Health Service Providers — North, South and East Metropolitan, Child and Adolescent Health Service and the WA Country Health Service — employ public hospital nurses under a WA state industrial agreement rather than the federal award. Medicines are regulated by the Medicines and Poisons Act 2014 (WA). WA Country Health Service roles in remote hospitals often involve broader scope and structured medicines arrangements. A Working with Children Check (WA) applies to child-related work.