Requirements to practise in Victoria's public mental health services

Page content: Nursing | Allied Health | Medical

Nursing

As of 1 July 2010 the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia oversees the registration of nursing and midwifery practitioners, replacing the Nurses Board of Victoria’s role. To be employed as a nurse in Victoria, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board.

Registered nurses who don't have a postgraduate qualification in mental health nursing will be encouraged to undertake study towards this qualification by mental health service employers.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board is also responsible for assessing overseas-trained practitioners looking to work in Australia. If you are an overseas-trained nurse you will be required to undertake an assessment with the board. You will need to demonstrate you have obtained a qualification that is substantially equivalent to an accredited course that leads to registration in Australia.

For further information visit the Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV) website.

Allied health

Social work

To practice as a social worker in Victoria's public mental health services (clinical and PDRS services) you must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). There is no legal registration for social workers in Australia; however, the AASW is the standard-setting body. For further information, visit the Australian Association of Social Workers website.

If you are an overseas-trained social worker, you will be required to undertake an AASW assessment. If you plan to migrate under the general skilled migration categories, you must have completed the equivalent of an AASW-accredited course of study in social work. The National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition also provides information about the recognition of overseas qualifications.

The AASW also assesses overseas-qualified social workers who are Australian citizens or residents and wish to gain AASW membership eligibility for employment purposes.

Occupational therapy

To work as an occupational therapist in Victoria's public mental health services (clinical and PDRSS) you must be eligible for membership with OT Australia. For further information, visit the Occupational Therapy (OT) Australia website.

If you are an overseas-trained occupational therapist, you will be required to undertake an assessment by the Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Boards (Australia & New Zealand) Inc. (COTRB). The COTRB identifies matters relevant to statutory occupational therapist regulation, undertakes assessments of overseas-qualified occupational therapists for skilled migration (Australia only). For further information, visit the Occupational Therapy Council (Aust and NZ) Inc website.

If you plan to migrate under the general skilled migration categories, you must have completed the equivalent of a COTRB-accredited course in occupational therapy. The National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition also provides information about the recognition of overseas qualifications at the Australian Education International website.

Psychology

As of the 1 July 2010 to practice as a psychologist in Victoria's public mental health services (clinical and PDRSS) you must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia.

A postgraduate qualification in clinical psychology or neuropsychology is required for many psychology positions advertised by public mental health services in Victoria. Refer to the specific position description for the mandatory qualifications required for individual positions advertised.

If you are an overseas-trained psychologist, you will be required to undertake an examination or assessment administered by the Psychology Board of Australia or have a qualification equivalent to the Australian standard

For further information about registration requirements visit the Psychology Board of Australia website.

Medical

As of the 1 July 2010 medical practitioners across Australia will need to be registered with the Medical Board of Australia. The same registration requirements will be in place in all states and territories. Doctors will only need to register once and this will enable doctors with unlimited registration to practice anywhere in Australia.

Medical practitioners aiming to practice as a specialist in psychiatry must gain specialist registration with the Medical Board of Australia . If you are not eligible for general registration but have specialist qualifications that are recognised by an Australian specialist college, you can apply to the Medical Board of Australia for specific registration.

To establish that your overseas qualifications are equivalent to Australian qualifications, you must first apply to have your overseas specialist training and qualifications assessed by the relevant Australian specialist medical college (through the Australian Medical Council).

When an Australian specialist college has recognised your specialist qualifications, you are eligible to apply to the Medical Board of Australia for specific registration. This entitles you to practice medicine independently in your specialty field.

Specialist registration in psychiatry requires medical practitioners to have fellowship with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).

For further information, visit the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria website.

^Top