If you're a new graduate making the transition from student to registered health professional use the information here to support you through this process.
Nursing and midwifery graduates have full registration and can be employed in their first year of practice in any health, community or aged care setting in the private or public sector. Although not mandatory, participating in a formal graduate program is highly recommended.
If you gained your qualification overseas, see International nurse and midwife graduates.
About graduate programs
Nursing and midwifery graduate programs support new graduates during their first year of practice. They provide an environment where graduates can further develop their knowledge, skills and competence.
Each year the Victorian Government supports more than 1,590 graduate places in public health services.
For more information on the employment process for applying for a graduate-year position in a program, see:
How to access graduate programs in Victoria
There are 2 main ways to find a graduate program in Victoria:
- The graduate nursing and midwifery program match (GNMP Match) is an online allocation and placement service that public health services and some private employers use for their initial offers.
- You can apply directly to employers. Employers that do not use the GNMP Match may advertise their programs on their websites or through local media. For example, some private hospitals, community and aged care services advertise this way.
Register for the GNMP match
In Victoria, GNMP match simplifies the health service graduate nurse and midwifery appointment process. The electronic system matches the preferences of both the candidates (new graduates) and the health services.
Your education provider will remind you to register for the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV) GNMP .
Note: Only Victorian public health services need to take part in the GNMP match, so this doesn’t apply to interstate providers of graduate programs. Two Victorian private providers also participate in the Match. Contact your chosen private health provider to see if they are offering graduate programs.
Nursing and midwifery graduate sign-on bonus
If you graduate as a nurse or midwife in 2022, 2023 or 2024 and start your career in a Victorian public health service (working for at least 2 years), you may be eligible for a sign-on bonus of $5,000.
For more information including eligibility criteria, see Nursing and midwifery graduate sign-on bonus.
The Inter-professional Nurse Paramedic Graduate Program
The Inter-professional Nurse Paramedic Graduate Program supports new graduates with dual qualifications practice across nursing and paramedicine disciplines.
During their first 18 months of professional practice, graduates complete rotations between a public health service and Ambulance Victoria. These rotations aim to join the knowledge and skills related to the roles of both a registered nurse and a registered paramedic. For example, Graduate Transition Programs - Ballarat Health Service
Enrolled Nurse Transition to Practice Program
The Department of Health is funding the Enrolled Nurse Transition to Practice Program (ENTPP) in 2023-24 for Victorian public health services in rural and regional areas. This is to help enrolled nurses with learning and development in their first year of professional practice.
This program will be offered over the 2023-24 financial year. It provides 85 packages targeted at rural and regional areas which will be managed by rural health organisations. To find out more, see Nursing and midwifery programs - health sector.
Note: This program is separate to the department's Enrolled nurse to registered nurse transition scholarships.
International nurse and midwife graduates
International nurse and midwife graduates are nurses, midwives and enrolled nurses (or equivalent) who obtained their nursing and/or midwifery qualifications in a country other than Australia.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) is responsible for determining the appropriate pathway to registration in Australia for international nurse and midwife graduates, including assessing applications for registration.
For more information, see the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website.
More information
Reviewed 14 June 2024