AHPRA - Problems with registration

Sounds good, would we have a case? I think they have covered themselves by giving themselves 90 days to process them... Although by not giving us any prior warning that the new application process would take much longer than it had under the old systems, and just springing it on us on July 1 on the website, that could be seen as pretty incompetent. I'm sure that if we were at least given some amount of warning prior of the lengthened application process, we could have prepared better - either by better organising finishing dates for current jobs and start dates for grad spots, or by saving some money to cover the period of unemployment. I also think there are some other areas where AHPRA has failed certain applicants, for example, people on student visas who may have their visas expire before their registration comes through, forcing them to either study again or leave the country until they are registered. Also, it seems that they are also forcing people from overseas who have completed secondary school in english, to still sit the IELTS! It seems only Australian secondary schools are good enough for them.
I think the entire process and general treatment of the new graduates has been fairly appalling. The biggest problem we have is that we will be the only group to be disadvantaged to this level... The previous graduates have generally only had to apply for a new registration through the state nursing councils, and I know that the QNC at least had quite fast turnaround times. The next lot of applicants will now know that they could be facing a long wait, so they can start preparing now to deal with this period when it happens. We are just the unlucky ones that have to endure all the "teething problems" with little or no regard for our general welfare.

Anything we can do to let our voices be heard would definitely be worthwhile

Hello guys!
I an in QLD, a new grad, and have the same problem. My start date has been pushed back twice because rego is taking so long!
Unfortuantly my friends and I contacted QNU and were told we don't have a case because AHPRA states they may take up to 90 days to process applications.
I'm so fed up with all of this. First there weren't enough nursing places for new grads (hundreds still without jobs) and now those of us with jobs can't start work. And to think we have a nursing shortage!
I've been writing on Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard's facebook pages. I'd encourage you guys to get on board. The public don't know this sort of thing, they just believe what the government spoon feed them. For some reason the media isn't getting involved - do they even know?
What else can we do to raise awareness for this important issue???

None! UQ had NO information about AHPRA. On 3 March 2010 a lady from QNC came and talked to us and told us to apply to QNC in April and get the crim check out of the way and then it would be fast when AHPRA took over. I did that and STILL haven't heard a word from AHPRA. Every time I call they pretend they can't help me and say someone will call me back - and nobody ever has. All my emails are replied to with generic "we are processing applications and I'm sure we will get to yours soon". But QNU who are suppose to be our representatives won't stand with us. Hence I've started trying to make a fuss other ways - letters, facebook etc.

I absolutely agree - we need to get our story out. We need more people on board. QUT must have alot of mid year grads, UQ doesn't have that many and I only know about 20 of them but we can still make some noise!

Only 100 QUT grads? Are you sure? Other QUT students I spoke to last semester said it was closer to 400. At least some of you guys have your rego, none of the UQ grads I know have theirs. I still haven't been contacted by anyone, but several girls have - about AHPRA losing the application so they'll have to resubmit it, losing the cheque so the fee will have to be paid again, another girl who is a (European English speaking) Kiwi who has done 13 years of English based education and 3 years of English based uni in QLD has been told she has to sit an IELTs before she can get registration. Try calling the call centre 1300 number and the operator refuses to help, just says someone will call back. Never happens.
I'm not surprised QNU is close to Anna Bligh.
I've reapplied for Jan/Feb 2011 grad nursing programs because I don't think my hospital will hold our places if our rego doesn't come through by the start of Sept. At least I got a grad position, so many UQ grads didn't, or ended up in aged care.

Hmmm... I'd probably make sure they have an application from you... plus they will always do their own crim history check. I argued this with them as well, I just had to have 3 criminal history checks done over the last 3 months! It would definitely be worthwhile going into the AHPRA office in brisbane to have a "talk" with them..

haha already?! If you already have a job and they're waiting on you, there might be a way of filling out a stat dec saying you have no criminal history... maybe that will speed it up? what date did you send your application in? I handed mine over the counter on July 5 and am apparently "just waiting on a police check"..

As I mentioned earlier, I only know about 20 UQ grads who graduated mid year but nobody I know has it yet. There possibly are Griffith, ACU, USQ and other unis who have grads who may have regos. Possibly they are processing experienced nurses' applications first?
I haven't heard anything about being done alphabetical, but it still doesn't fit as to why I haven't been contacted since I'm in the first half of the alphabet.
I was told that applications would be assigned a case manager - by one call centre operator I managed to get through to, another told me specialists would be dealing with applications. Then another person told me applications were dealt with in the order they arrived at AHPRA. So nobody has any idea what actually is suppose to happen.

Haha. Good luck with that. Can't get a word out of AHPRA!
Not processing renewals although I reckon that is taking up most of AHPRA's time, but experienced nurses from o/seas.
Best we can do is cross fingers and toes and wait I think. No amount of emails and phone calls has made a difference so looks like nothing will.

Hi ksrig

I was suppose to start on the 26th of July, then they pushed the start date back to the 23rd of Aug, and since I wasn't granted my rego today (which was the cut off for the 23rd start date) I will be pushed back to 30 Sept. If that fails... the next date is January with the end of year 2010 grads.

We really need to get our stories out to the media. I started to sent letters and emails to MPs, Tv channels, newspapers back in the last week of July, but I haven't heard any response. I'm also writing on Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott's facebook but obviously they don't read comments by other people and the response from the general public is half skeptical half sort of supportive to say the least. People don't seem to see this is being a big issue - we're the only ones who really seem to care.

Guys from my uni were considering doing a protest but nothing really ever came from it. If we could get a couple of hundred of us together I think we might be able to get something out there.