Newly qualified nurses and midwives
Newly qualified nurses and midwives
WA Health operates a number of initiatives to support newly qualified nurses and midwives transitioning from study to employment. This includes information on how to register to work and practice as a nurse or midwife.
Happening now! The Australian Health Practitioner Agency (Ahpra) and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) are inviting graduates who are set to complete their course within three months to apply for registration.
Registration
To start working as a nurse or midwife anywhere in Australia, you need to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). This is an essential requirement for employment as a nurse or midwife and is the first step in gaining employment within WA Health.
The first step every graduate needs to take when applying for registration, is to create their Ahpra portal and set up multifactor authentication. Their portal is where they will manage all aspects of their registration throughout their careers as a registered health professional.The Ahpra portal help centre has all the help in one place including troubleshooting tips for common issues
For more information on graduate registration including English language skills for nurses and midwives visit
Transition to Practice Programs – GradConnect
Transition to practice (TTP) or graduate programs offer a framework to develop safe, confident, and accountable professionals through continuous learning and supported practice. TTP programs offer a supportive environment to consolidate theoretical learning while developing critical clinical skills and decision making. Employment in a graduate or TTP program in WA Health is via the GradConnect Program.
HECS-HELP initiative
Initiated on 1 July 2023 for a period of 3 years, The WA Health HECS-HELP initiative was developed to grow regional nursing and midwifery workforce in WA.
Last reviewed: 25-09-2025
Produced by
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office