Question 1

Which agencies are you with?

Accepted Answer

Healthcare Australia, Cornerstone, Redstone, Medacs, E4 and Serco (WA). You don’t need to be with this many! For my first contract I was only with one but overtime I have joined up with more or have been reached out to by some. I find being with a few gives you more options at finding a contract that suits your preferences. However the agencies will always ask if you have been put forward for a contract  with a different agency before submitting you (you can’t be put forward for the same contract by multiple agencies)

Question 2

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

I began by googling Travel Nursing in Aus and looking on Seek.Applying was straightforward, most ask to sumbit a CV via their website and then some follow up with a short phone interview about your experience and what you’re looking for. Onboarding can be long but usually requires standard documents like nursing registration, police check, 100 points of ID, immunisations, BLS, Working With Children Check, statements of service, and any other certificates you hold. Depending on the state, extra training like Hand Hygiene, Manual Handling, Infection Prevention, BloodSafe, and Medication Safety may be needed. Once compliant, your recruiter helps find contracts matching your skills and preferred locations, and most agencies also share job boards with current vacancies available at the time.

Question 3

What experience do I need?

Accepted Answer

Many agencies have different requirements, in my experience, most expect at least 2 years of clinical experience and some even ask for 3. The specific requirements also depend on the location.

For example, remote areas often prefer candidates with additional experience in Emergency or ICU settings, as well as certifications such as Advanced Life Support (ALS), Remote Emergency Care (REC), Maternity Emergency Care (MEC), and Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). My experience includes 6 months in paediatrics for my graduate year, after which I transitioned into school nursing and day procedure work for about a year. I then moved into casual nursing across various hospitals in Melbourne. The variety of working in different wards and hospitals was a great foundation for Travel Nursing.

Question 4

What is the accomodation?

Accepted Answer

Accommodation is usually organised by the agency, hospital, or state you’re working in. For example, when I worked in Tasmania, my agency arranged housing through the University of Tasmania, where I shared with a medical student. In New South Wales, NSW Health managed the accommodation directly.

In all my contracts so far, accommodation has been fully covered. However, some placements may require a small weekly rent, usually around $100.

The type of accommodation can vary from place to place — you might be in a house, a unit, or even a cabin in a caravan park. Sometimes you’ll share with others, and other times you’ll have your own space. In my experience, they’ve also ensured that males and females aren’t required to share accommodation.

Question 5

Do I need a car?

Accepted Answer

A car isn’t essential for completing travel nurse contracts, but it definitely makes the experience much easier. Having your own vehicle gives you the freedom to explore the area you’re living in and helps you feel less isolated, especially if you’re in a town that’s far from shops or attractions.

I’ve always had a car on my contracts and honestly couldn’t imagine being without one, though I’ve met plenty of nurses who manage just fine without. You can often make friends to share rides with, hire a car when needed, or sometimes even have one provided by the agency or facility.

Question 6

What is pay like? (1/2)

Accepted Answer

Pay rates for travel nurses in Australia can vary significantly depending on the state, your years of experience, and whether you’re paid directly by a health service or through an agency. For example, in New South Wales (NSW), travel nurses are paid directly through NSW Health, which means you receive the same rate as their casual staff rather than agency rates, and overtime isn’t included. In contrast, when I worked in Tasmania, I was paid directly by my agency, which offered much higher rates.

During onboarding with an agency, you’ll usually need to provide statements of service so they can determine your correct RN or EN level and corresponding pay rate. NSW also requires these documents directly, as their increment system differs from other states.

Question 7

What is the pay like? (2/2)

Accepted Answer

In Victoria, you move up a level every 1,645 hours worked, while in NSW it takes 1,976 hours, so their can quite a different in the pay rate. I have only completed contracts in NSW and Tasmania and from my experience, in Tasmania, I earned around $72 per hour for an AM shift, while in NSW I received only $41 at my level (RN 1.3).

In Victoria and Queensland, I’ve been offered contracts ranging from $55 to $70 per hour for an AM shift. Additionally, some agencies or locations provide extra benefits such as weekly top-up or food allowances, which can make a big difference overall.

Before starting a contract, the agency should provide a detailed breakdown of the pay rates for each shift type and confirm that you are placed at the correct nursing increment level.

Zoe

Aus - Travel Nurse 🕺

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