Best Nursing Agencies in Australia

If you’re a nurse exploring potential career paths or looking for ways to expand your horizons, you’ve come to the right place. On this page, we’ll take you through the world of nursing agencies, their roles, and how they can open doors to diverse opportunities in the healthcare industry.

What does a Nursing Agency do?

In Australia, a nursing agency, is a recruitment agency that connects healthcare facilities such as hospitals, aged care facilities, clinics, and home care providers with qualified and experienced nurses on a temporary or casual basis. These agencies play a crucial role in the healthcare industry by helping to address staffing shortages, especially during peak demand periods or when facilities are short-staffed due to factors like illness or vacation.

Here’s what a nursing agency typically does in Australia:

• Recruitment: Nursing agencies actively recruit registered nurses (RNs), enrolled nurses (ENs), and other healthcare professionals. They maintain a database of qualified candidates with various specialties and experience levels.
• Matching: When a healthcare facility needs temporary or casual staff, they contact the nursing agency with their requirements. The agency then matches the facility’s needs with suitable nurses from their pool of candidates.
• Temporary Placements: Nursing agencies arrange temporary placements for their nurses at various healthcare facilities. These placements can vary in duration, from a single shift to several months.
• Casual Staffing: They provide casual nursing staff to fill in for short-term vacancies, including sick leave, maternity leave, or vacations of permanent staff.
• Specialised Staffing: Some nursing agencies specialise in specific areas of healthcare, such as critical care, aged care, pediatric care, mental health, or surgical nursing. They may have a roster of specialised nurses to meet the unique needs of healthcare facilities.

Benefits of Nursing Agencies

• Flexibility: Nursing agencies often provide flexible work arrangements, allowing nurses to choose when and where they work. This flexibility is ideal for those who need to balance work with personal commitments.
• Diverse Work Opportunities: Nurses working with agencies have the chance to gain experience in a variety of healthcare settings, from hospitals and clinics to home healthcare and aged care facilities. This diversity can help nurses explore different areas of nursing and find their niche.
• Competitive Pay: Nursing agencies typically offer competitive pay rates and may include additional benefits such as paid time off, holiday pay, and healthcare benefits. This can result in better compensation compared to traditional employment.
• Professional Development: Many nursing agencies invest in the professional development of their nurses, offering opportunities for continuing education and skill enhancement. This can be particularly appealing for nurses looking to expand their knowledge and expertise.
• Networking Opportunities: Working with different healthcare facilities and professionals through agency assignments can help nurses build a strong professional network. This network can be valuable for future job opportunities and career growth.
• Quick Placement: Nursing agencies often have a large network of healthcare facilities, making it easier for nurses to find job placements quickly, especially in areas with high demand for healthcare professionals.

Cons of Nursing Agencies

• Irregular Work Schedules: Nursing agency assignments can involve irregular work schedules, including night shifts, weekends, and holidays. Nurses may need to adapt to changing schedules frequently.
• Lack of Job Security: Agency nurses often work on a contract or temporary basis, which can lead to uncertainty about job security. Assignments may end abruptly, and nurses may need to seek new opportunities frequently.
• Variability in Assignments: While diversity in assignments can be a pro, it can also be a con. Not all assignments may align with a nurse’s preferences or expertise, and some may require adapting to unfamiliar healthcare environments.
• Limited Benefits: While some agencies offer competitive benefits, not all agencies provide the same level of benefits as traditional employers. Nurses may need to carefully evaluate the benefits package offered by the agency.
• Licensing and Certification Requirements: Nurses working with agencies are typically required to maintain up-to-date licenses and certifications. This can involve additional time and costs for maintaining qualifications.
• Agency Fees: Some nursing agencies charge fees or take a portion of a nurse’s earnings as a commission for their services. Nurses should be aware of these fees and how they impact their overall compensation.

Best Nursing Agencies

Nursing Agencies in NSW:

• H1 Healthcare – Sydney
• Healthcare Australia – Sydney
• CQ Nurse – Coffs Harbour
• Workforce XS – Sydney
• Mid North Coast Local Health District – Port Macquarie

Nursing Agencies in VIC:

• Programmed Health Professionals – Melbourne
• Belmore Nurses Bureau – Melbourne
• Healthcare Australia – Melbourne
• Alfred Health – Melbourne
• Peninsula Health – Frankston

Nursing Agencies in QLD:

• First Choice Care – Brisbane
• Healthcare Australia – Brisbane
• Healthcare & Nursing Recruitment Australia – Brisbane
• Your Nursing Agency – Gold Coast
• HealthX – Townsville

Nursing Agencies in SA:

• Healthcare Australia – Adelaide
• ACH Group – Adelaide
• Calvary Adelaide Hospital – Adelaide
• Country Health SA – Adelaide
• Silver Chain – Adelaide

Nursing Agencies in WA:

• Healthcare Australia – Perth
• St John of God Health Care – Perth
• Rockingham Peel Group – Rockingham
• Royal Perth Hospital – Perth
• South West Healthcare – Bunbury

Nursing Agencies in Tasmania:

• Healthcare Australia – Hobart
• Calvary Health Care Tasmania – Hobart
• Tasmanian Health Service – Hobart
• HenderCare – Hobart
• Healthcare & Recruitment Tasmania – Hobart

Nursing Agencies in NT:

• Territory Nurses – Darwin
• HCA Defence – Darwin
• Nursing Australia – Darwin
• SilverChain – Alice Springs
• Gove District Hospital – Nhulunbuy

Nursing Agencies in ACT:

• Calvary Public Hospital Bruce – Canberra
• ACT Health – Canberra
• Health Staff Solutions – Canberra
• Aspen Medical – Canberra
• Healthwise Global – Canberra

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and there may be additional nursing agencies in each state.

Wages & Pay Rates for Agency Nurses

Agency nurses generally earn more per hour compared to permanent nursing staff, but they are not guaranteed a certain number of hours. Casual nurses working in hospitals receive a loading of 18% (public hospitals) to 25% (private hospitals) on top of their base rate of pay. This additional pay is to compensate for the loss of benefits like sick leave, annual leave, public holiday leave, and the irregularity of available work. However, it is worth noting that a 25% casual loading is insufficient to make up for the benefits that permanent staff enjoy.

In contrast, agency nurses receive a higher loading of 45%, giving them a base pay rate of between $49.23 and $65.57 for a RN – depending on the number of years experience you have. It’s important to note that this rate only applies to private agency work. Those working in public hospitals receive an 18% casual loading based on the NSW Health Award. Some agencies may provide a top-up of a few dollars per hour to compensate for this disparity.

The rate of pay for agency nurses is well-deserved as they possess specialised skills that enable them to adapt quickly to new environments, build rapport with new teams, and work independently without regular support. The flexibility of agency shifts also suits their lifestyle and enables them to balance personal commitments.

How to Get Started

Educational Requirements and Licensing

Before embarking on a career with a nursing agency, you must meet the educational and licensing requirements for nursing in Australia. Typically, this involves completing a nursing degree program and obtaining registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

Registration Process

Once you’ve met the educational and licensing prerequisites, the next step is to register with nursing agencies. This process may involve submitting your resume, certifications, and other relevant documents. Some agencies may require an interview or skills assessment to match you with suitable job placements.

Skills and Specialisations

Nursing agencies value nurses with a diverse skillset and various specialisations. Consider the areas of nursing you excel in, such as:

• Medical-surgical nursing
• Critical care nursing
• Pediatric nursing
• Mental health nursing
• Aged care nursing

Highlighting your expertise can increase your chances of securing assignments that align with your strengths.