Enrolled Nurse (EN)

Enrolled Nurses complete a 2-year Diploma of Nursing and work under the supervision of a registered nurse, with a minimum of 2 years of work experience. Their duties typically include:

• Recording patients’ temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and respiration regularly
• Providing interventions, treatments, and therapies from patient care plans (including administering medicines)
• Assisting registered nurses and team members with health education activities
• Working in multidisciplinary teams
• Helping patients with daily living activities

An enrolled nurse can become a registered nurse by completing further education.

Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered Nurses complete a 3-year Bachelor of Nursing or 2-year Master of Nursing through a university, with a minimum of 2 years of work experience. Their scope of practice includes:

• Assessing patients
• Developing nursing care plans
• Administering medicines
• Providing specialised nursing care
• Working in multidisciplinary teams
• Supervising ENs and junior RNs
• Undertaking professional development
• Performing leadership roles (e.g. Nursing Unit Manager, Team Leader)
• Working in advanced nursing practice roles

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Nurse Practitioners are RNs who have been endorsed to practise independently in an advanced clinical role. They can prescribe certain medicines and must:

• Be a registered nurse with no practice restrictions
• Have 5,000 hours of advanced clinical practice experience in the past 6 years
• Have completed an approved Master-level program

Most NPs are employed in acute care settings by state and territory governments.

Midwife

Midwives work collaboratively with other health professionals, supporting women during pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period in various settings, including:

• Homes
• Communities
• Public and private hospitals
• Birth centres and clinics
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations

In Australia, midwives must complete an approved midwifery course and may perform the following:

• Provide care, advice, and support to women before conception and after birth
• Promote natural childbirth and identify complications
• Consult and refer to other health professionals as needed
• Implement emergency measures when necessary

Endorsed Midwife

Endorsed midwives have completed further training to prescribe certain medications. To qualify, they must:

• Complete an approved program for scheduled medicines endorsement
• Be registered without conditions as a midwife in Australia
• Complete 5,000 hours of clinical practice in the last 6 years (across antenatal, postnatal, or both)

Aged Care

Aged care involves support for older people in their homes or aged care facilities. Services may include:

• Assistance with daily living activities
• Healthcare and accommodation
• Provision of equipment (e.g., walking frames, ramps)

Types of aged care providers include:

• Not-for-profit organisations
• Government organisations
• For-profit private companies

Social Work

Social work professionals typically complete a Bachelor of Social Work. The program teaches how to:

• Enhance well-being and social growth
• Address personal and interpersonal conflicts
• Participate actively in society
• Identify and eliminate systemic barriers
• Protect vulnerable populations from injustice

The program follows a structured curriculum that includes:

• Society and culture
• Behavioural science and public health
• Generalist and specialist social work practices
• Field education experiences

Students must complete 256 credit points to graduate and qualify for professional accreditation.