Work as a remote nurse or midwife
We recruit RNs as casual employees or contractors for 3 to 12 week paid placements.
As a RAHC nurse or midwife, you will work in a health service in a remote or very remote Aboriginal community in the NT.
Your contribution will improve access to quality healthcare and help to generate better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
RAHC Registered Nurse role
Every day is different as a RAHC RN, with rewarding experiences that will enhance your career.
RAHC RNs are a versatile and essential member of the health service team, which includes Aboriginal health practitioners, GPs, drivers and administration staff.
The team’s remote knowledge will support you in your important role in delivering holistic, culturally safe primary healthcare.
Eligibility to apply
Remote health services select RAHC RNs based on their local healthcare needs. For this to happen, you must first become ‘credentialed’ with RAHC. This means you send us the below information when you apply, and we provide this to an external expert.
They will certify that you have the experience needed for a RAHC placement.
All RNs must meet minimum credentialing criteria, including at least 3 years' full-time clinical experience, to be considered for a placement in a remote community.
Once you’re credentialed, you can respond to EOIs (expressions of interest) for placements. Our workforce coordinators send these out.
We send your EOI responses to the remote health service, and they may select you for a placement.
Becoming credentialed doesn’t guarantee a placement. It only gives you access to EOIs for upcoming placements.
Respond to EOI requests every time you want to do a placement. You can do more than one placement this way.
To help with the credentialing process, have these things ready when you apply to be a RAHC RN. If you’re unsure if you meet the requirements, contact the clinical team.
Employment and education
- Bachelor of Nursing degree or equivalent.
- Minimum of three (3) years of postgraduate experience.
- Unrestricted registration to practice as an RN with Ahpra (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).
- Evidence of current Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate or Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) completed in the past year, including the practical and theoretical components.
- Current recognised Immunisation certificate ie SA Understanding Vaccines and the National Immunisation Program.
- CPD compliance as required by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
- A statement of service showing at least 250 hours clinical work in a relevant setting over the past 12 months.
- Two professional referees who can attest that you have worked clinically for at least 3 months, including one reference from a current or recent line manager or supervisor.
You don’t need previous remote or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health experience, but it’s welcomed if you have it.
Proof of identity
- Copies of your:
- current, unrestricted manual driver’s licence.
- current Australian or New Zealand passport or full birth certificate.
- A colour passport style photo for your RAHC ID card.
- If applicable, evidence of name changes.
- If not an Australian Citizen, evidence of permanent residency.
Working with Children clearance application
You must have a Working with Children (WWC) clearance or exemption to work in the NT. The process takes 4 to 6 weeks, and must be done before your placement.
Apply through SAFE NT Online Services.
We’ll reimburse the application fee on your first placement when you give us your WWC clearance notice number.
Specialisation requirements
Registered Nurse – general
- At least 3 years of relevant clinical experience in more than two disciplines, including (but not exclusive to):
- Surgical
- Medical
- Aged Care
- Palliative Care
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- ICU/Coronary Care
- Emergency
Registered Midwife
- Unrestricted registration to practice as a Registered Midwife and General Nurse.
- Completion of an education program leading to registration to practice as a Registered Midwife.
- Post-graduate experience of at least two years in midwifery.
- At least 250 hours of clinical practice in midwifery and 250 hours clinical practice in general nursing over the past 12 months.
- Current BLS and/or Advanced (Cardiac) Life Support (ALS/ACLS) certificate.
- Neonatal resuscitation and practical competency in accordance with current ARC guidelines.
Becoming a Registered Nurse with RAHC
"When you're a remote area nurse [with RAHC] you end up finding that you're a bit of a Jack of all trades and you have to be willing to expand your scope of practice and be willing to do things that you might not normally see in a hospital. So you're going to be fulfilling a whole range of different roles so you're going to be seeing patients across the whole scheme of life".
- Andrew Todd, RAHC Registered Nurse