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12 Nov 2010
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has released for consultation a revised English Language Skills Registration Standard for the nursing and midwifery professions.
The Board has reviewed and revised the standard that has been in place since 1 July 2010, after feedback from stakeholders that there were opportunities to improve it.
The core difference in the revised standard is the removal of requirement that a practitioners' secondary education be completed in English. Other less substantial amendments have also been made.
There is no proposal to alter the English Language Skills standard of IELTS 7 or equivalent in each of the four components – listening, reading, writing and speaking - for all nurses and midwives to practise in Australia.
The revised draft standard is published on the Board’s website.
The Acting Chair of the Board, Dr Lynette Cusack RN, said the Board believed the revised draft reflected the feedback provided to date, while ensuring the standard supports the Board's core role of protecting the public.
“The Board welcomes comments from the profession, the community and all stakeholders on this revised draft,” Dr Cusack said.
“It has benefitted from extensive feedback provided on the initial standard, as well as comments provided in a recently completed, preliminary consultation process,” she said.
The current English language skills registration standard will remain in place until the revised standard is finalized by the Board and approved by Ministerial Council.
The consultation process on the revised standard is now open until 10 December 2010.
Online Enquiry Form Registration standard enquiries: 1300 419 495 (Australian callers) +61 7 3666 4911 (overseas callers) Media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200