GradConnect

GradConnect is a streamlined online recruitment system that provides a wide choice of employment opportunities for newly qualified nurses and midwives.

The system works collaboratively with participating Western Australian public, private and aged care health service providers.

Applications for all graduate programs offered via GradConnect are centrally coordinated by the WA Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office.

To apply for a position via GradConnect you must:

• Be eligible for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) (external site) as a:
  • Registered or enrolled nurse (for nursing positions),
  • Midwife (for midwifery positions) or
  • Be in your final 6 months of nursing or midwifery studies
• Have current registration, or anticipated registration completed by:
  • February GradConnect: 31 July of that year
  • July GradConnect: 31 December of that year
• Be a newly qualified nurse who has not previously participated in a graduate nursing program.
  • Enrolled nurses converting to registered nurse, who have undertaken an enrolled nurse graduate program in the past, are eligible to apply for registered nurse graduate programs
• Be a newly qualified midwife who has not previously participated in a graduate midwifery program.
  • Graduate midwives who have undertaken an enrolled or registered nurse graduate program in the past are eligible to apply for midwifery graduate programs
• Have completed your nursing or midwifery studies in Australia within the last 2 years at the time of application (i.e. no more than 2 years since graduation)

Other application information

• We are committed to growing the Aboriginal workforce across WA Health. Section 51 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 applies to all GradConnect vacancies. Aboriginal nurse and midwife graduates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Preference for appointment and interview will be given to Western Australian graduates with Australian citizenship or permanent residency, or New Zealand citizenship.
• Nursing and midwifery students of other nationalities (non-Australia and New Zealand citizens) who have completed their studies in Australia, and are eligible for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), are eligible to apply for employment through GradConnect.
• If your application is successful you must have your relevant NMBA registration completed no less than two weeks prior to your start date.
• If your application is successful, and you are required to meet AHPRAs English Language Standard through the English Language Test Pathway, you will be required to submit evidence of passing this test to the hospital site no later than 8 weeks prior to your start date.
• If your application is successful you will also need to meet the specific employment requirements of the hospital or health service where you will be working.

GradConnect recruitment for positions starting May – Dec 2022 has now closed.

Information on the GradConnect recruitment for positions starting January – June 2023 will be available on this site in June. It is anticipated this recruitment process will open early July 2022 with final dates to be confirmed.

• Late applications will not be accepted.
• A link to the application site will appear here only during the opening dates.
• First preference offers will be made via email and online on 23 March 2022 at 3pm (Perth time).
• Second preference offers will be made via email and online on 5 April 2022 at 3pm (Perth time).
• Applicants who are offered a position have 2 days to respond to their offer, and this must be completed online.

Key dates – 2022

You will be asked to nominate 2 health service preferences on application. Changes to preferences cannot be made once the application period has closed.

Note: With the exception of Peel Health Campus, Ramsay Health Care will not be recruiting via the GradConnect process.

The following health services will be participating in Feb 2022 GradConnect process (May-Dec 2022) and will be outlined as preferences on the application form:

You will not be required to upload a curriculum vitae or resume. The online application questions will request information that is usually included in such documents.

The following selection criteria is applicable to all graduate applicants (EN, RN and Midwife).

• Demonstrates clinical knowledge in the delivery and improvement of safe, evidence-based nursing and/or midwifery care within a clinical setting.
• Demonstrates ability to work within a team in a clinical setting and practice in accordance with the NMBA professional standards (EN, RN, MW as relevant).
• Demonstrates effective communication and interpersonal skills within a clinical setting.

In addition to the above, the following criterion is applicable to RN and Midwife graduate applicants.

• Demonstrates understanding of and commitment to the principles of quality improvement and risk management within practice.

As part of the written application, you are only required to answer the following 2 selection criteria. A 250-word limit applies to each question:

1. Provide an overview of your demonstrated clinical knowledge in the delivery and improvement of safe, evidence-based nursing and/ or midwifery care within a clinical setting.
2. Provide an overview of your demonstrated ability to work within a team in a clinical setting and practice in accordance with the NMBA professional standards (EN, RN, Midwife as relevant).

When answering the selection criteria questions (above), use nursing and/or midwifery examples from your clinical experiences to demonstrate your knowledge where possible.

The following is not related to the selection criteria; however you are required to answer the question.

3. Outline your reasons for applying to participate in a Graduate Nursing and or Midwifery Program (250-word limit).

Note that you may be asked additional questions relevant to all the selection criteria should you proceed to an interview.

Further information on the process and tips for your best application can be found in the GradConnect 2022 Summary (PDF 1.92MB).

Watch the WA nursing and midwifery expo health services presentations (external site) and presentations for graduates (external site).

Offers are made via the GradConnect online recruitment system.

The graduate program start dates for each hospital and health service vary. You are encouraged to thoroughly research all programs.

Changing your start date

If you are offered a graduate position and are not able to start at the agreed start date, you will need to advise the relevant person (or people) at the hospital or health service as soon as possible.

If you wish to defer your start date, you will need to negotiate this with the individual health service. They may not be able to accommodate such requests and may advise you to re-apply through GradConnect the following year.

The terms and conditions of WA Health Employment (Public) are in accordance with the following industrial agreements:

• WA Health System – United Workers Union (WA) – Enrolled Nurses, Assistants in Nursing, Aboriginal and Ethnic Health Workers Industrial Agreement 2020 (PDF 1MB)
• WA Health System – Australian Nursing Federation – Registered Nurses, Midwives, Enrolled (Mental Health) and Enrolled (Mothercraft) Nurses – Industrial Agreement 2020 (PDF 2MB)
• Private and Aged Care Sectors are governed by their own sector agreements.

Part-time programs

Some hospitals or health services may offer graduate programs part-time. You will be asked to state your preference within your application. You should discuss this with each hospital or health service at interview.

Once you are registered to practise as an enrolled nurse, registered nurse or midwife you are able to gain employment in any health facility within Australia. Completing a graduate program is not mandatory.

Undertaking a graduate program is not a requirement for initial or ongoing employment. Graduate programs have been designed to offer additional support for novice nurses and midwives to assist their transition to the professional role within busy clinical environments. Places within these structured graduate programs are capped for a range of reasons. You can still gain valuable experience outside of a designated graduate program.