English standard for Australia

Australian midwives have a new English language skills registration standard. The Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council has approved the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s revised language skills standard. This requires midwives and nurses, as well as enrolled nurses, to communicate effectively in English. The new standard means applicants who have completed a minimum of five years full-time equivalent of combined secondary, vocational or tertiary education, will be accepted without the need to sit an English language test. These must be taught and assessed in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the UK or the US.