GradConnect

GradConnect is an online recruitment system that enables newly qualified enrolled nurses, registered nurses and midwives access to a wide choice of employment opportunities, through graduate (or transition to practice) programs.

Using just one application, newly qualified nurses and midwives can apply for employment opportunities in all participating public, private and aged care health providers in Western Australia.

Applications for graduate (or transition to practice programs) offered via GradConnect are centrally coordinated by the WA Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office.

Important information regarding GradConnect 2022

Recruitment through GradConnect is undertaken twice a year, for eligible enrolled nurses, registered nurses and midwives.

• July 2022 GradConnect was for positions starting in January-June 2023
  • This process is now closed.

• Feb 2023 GradConnect is for positions starting in July-December 2023
  • Online applications will be open from 17 February 2023 (9.00am) to 07 March 2023 (1.00pm)
  • Late applications cannot be accepted.

Important information regarding the public, private and aged care health providers participating in GradConnect February 2023 (for positions starting July-December 2023) can be found here.

WA Health is committed to growing the Aboriginal workforce and improving health outcomes for Aboriginal people. Section 51 of the Equal Opportunity Act (1984) applies to all GradConnect vacancies.

We are committed to providing a culturally inclusive and safe workplace and Aboriginal people are strongly encouraged to apply.

To apply for a graduate position through GradConnect, all applicants are required to complete a written application process. This includes submitting a written response addressing each of the selection criteria relevant to the position (i.e. enrolled nurse, registered nurse and/or midwife). Applicants applying for a graduate midwifery position must also submit a current Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Selection criteria will be assessed using a standardised marking guide, regardless of the site preference.

Should you be asked for an interview, Aboriginal applicants have the option of participating in a centralised interview process. On this day, applicants will have the opportunity to meet other Aboriginal applicants, hospital recruiters and the GradConnect team. A personal and informal interview will be conducted with the recruiters from the hospital of your first preference.

If you do not want to participate in this process, or you are unable to travel, the usual GradConnect interview process will apply, that is, the hospital will make contact with you and arrange a suitable day and time for an interview.

If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who would like assistance with your application, please contact:

• Jobs and Skills WA on 13 64 64
• The Centre for Aboriginal Studies located at your University
• The GradConnect team.

Upon request, the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office can also provide individual support to Aboriginal applicants, at any stage of the recruitment process.

For more information, see the GradConnect - Growing a strong and skilled Aboriginal health workforce (PDF 181KB).

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) or
  • Midwife (for midwifery positions)
  • Be in your final 6 months or have completed your nursing or midwifery studies.
• Have current registration, or anticipated registration, completed by:
  
  • 30 June 2023 for the February GradConnect process, i.e. to apply in the GradConnect February 2023 process (for positions starting Jul-Dec 2023), you must be registered by 30 June 2023, or no less than two weeks prior to your start date. 
• Be a newly qualified nurse who has not previously participated in a graduate nursing program.
  • Registered nurses, who have previously undertaken an enrolled nurse or a midwifery graduate program, are eligible to apply for a registered nurse graduate program.
• Be a newly qualified midwife who has not previously participated in a graduate midwifery program.
  • Graduate midwives who have previously undertaken an enrolled or registered nurse graduate program are eligible to apply for a midwifery graduate program.
• 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 eligibility 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 based on merit, with consideration given to Western Australian residents with Australian or New Zealand citizenship, or Australian permanent residency.
• Nursing and midwifery students of other nationalities (non-Australian 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 Ahpra’s 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 01 June 2023.
• 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.

February 2023 GradConnect (for positions starting Jul-Dec 2023) will be open from 17 February 2023 (9.00am) to 07 March 2023 (1.00pm).  

Applicants have the option to select three (3) preferences of where they would like to work in Western Australia.

Employment within the large metropolitan hospitals/health services is very competitive. To increase your chances of employment in a graduate program, you are strongly encouraged to select a wide variety of hospitals/sites and health sectors throughout Western Australia.

Please note:

• GradConnect applications close on 07 March 2023 at 1.00pm (Perth time).
  • Late applications will not be accepted.
• A link to the application site will appear on this site only during the opening dates.
• First preference offers will be made via email and online on 6 April 2023 at 12.00 pm (noon) (Perth time).
• Second preference offers will be made via email and online on 12 May 2023 at 12.00pm (noon) (Perth time).
• Third preference offers will be made via email and online on 16 June 2023 at 12.00pm (noon) (Perth time).
• Applicants who are offered a position have 2 days to respond to their offer, and this must be completed online.

Key dates – 2023

The following health services will be participating in the February 2023 GradConnect process (for positions starting Jul-Dec 2023) and will be outlined as preferences on the application form.

The tables below indicate what graduate programs are available at each health service/site. If the professional group is not indicated (i.e enrolled nurse [EN], registered nurse [RN] or midwife [MW], it means the health service/site does not offer a graduate program for that profession.

Important information regarding the public, private and aged care health providers participating in GradConnect February 2023 (for positions starting Jul-Dec 2023) can be found here: 

Public health services

Private health services

Aged care services

Enrolled Nurse Application Selection Criteria (GradConnect)

If applying for a graduate enrolled nurse program you will need to submit a written application addressing each of the selection criteria (1 and 2) below. When answering the selection criteria questions please use nursing examples from your clinical experiences to demonstrate your knowledge wherever possible. (A 300-word limit applies to each question) 

1. Demonstrated clinical knowledge and experience in the delivery of evidence-based nursing care within a clinical setting.
2. Demonstrated effective communication and conflict resolution skills within a clinical setting. 

Registered Nurse Application Selection Criteria (GradConnect)

If applying for a graduate registered nurse program you will need to submit a written application addressing each of the selection criteria (1 and 2) below. When answering the selection criteria questions please use nursing examples from your clinical experiences to demonstrate your knowledge wherever possible. (A 300-word limit applies to each question) 

1. Demonstrated clinical knowledge and experience in the delivery of evidence-based nursing care within a clinical setting.
2. Demonstrated effective communication and conflict resolution skills within a clinical setting. 

Midwife Application Selection Criteria (GradConnect)

If applying for a graduate midwife program you will need to submit a written application addressing each of the selection criteria (1, 2 and 3) below. When answering the selection criteria questions please use examples from your clinical experiences to demonstrate your knowledge wherever possible. (A 400-word limit applies to each question) 

1. Demonstrates knowledge of and practices in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s Professional Standards for the Midwife.
2. Demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to the provision of woman centred maternity care.
3. Demonstrates effective communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills within a multi-disciplinary team.

Offers of employment are made via the GradConnect online recruitment system.

It is your responsibility to be aware of the dates when offers are made, as you are required to accept, or decline offers in a specific time frame.

First preferences

Offers to successful first preference applicants will be made available online and via email on 06 April 2023 at 12.00 pm (noon) (Perth time).

• Applicants have 2 days to respond to their offer and this must be completed online.
• Applicants who ACCEPT will be offered a contract with their first preference site.
• Applicants who DECLINE the first preference offer will exit the GradConnect application process.
  • Second or third preference offers will not be available for applicants who decline a first preference offer.
  • Opportunities for employment outside the GradConnect process may be available through NurseWest.

Second preferences

Applicants who do not receive an offer from their first preference site may be considered for employment at their second preference site.

Offers to successful second preference applicants will be made available online and via email on 12 May 2023 at 12.00pm (noon) (Perth time)

• Applicants have 2 days to respond to their offer and this must be completed online
• Applicants who ACCEPT will be offered a contract with their second preference site
• Applicants who DECLINE the second preference offer will exit the GradConnect application process.
  • Third preference offers will not be available for applicants who decline a second preference offer.
  • Applicants who decline an offer, or do not receive an offer from their second preference site may be offered employment opportunity through NurseWest.

Third preferences

Applicants who do not receive an offer from their first or second preference sites may be considered for employment at their third preference site.

Offers to successful third preference applicants will be made available online and via email on 16 June 2023 at 12.00pm (noon) (Perth time).

• Applicants have 2 days to respond to their offer and this must be completed online.
• Applicants who ACCEPT will be offered a contract with their third preference site.
• Applicants who DECLINE the third preference offer will exit the GradConnect application process.
  • There will be no further offers to these applicants via the GradConnect process.
  • Applicants who decline an offer, or do not receive an offer from their third preference site may be offered employment opportunity through NurseWest.

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

Some hospitals or health services may offer graduate programs part-time. You should discuss this with each hospital or health service at interview.

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 Health Workers, Ethnic Health Workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners Industrial Agreement 2022 (1.53MB)
• 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.

Undertaking a graduate program is not mandatory for initial or ongoing employment. 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.

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.

Other employment options

All nursing and midwifery positions within WA Health outside the GradConnect process are advertised on the Jobs WA website (external site)

The private and non-government sector may also have positions available for newly qualified nurses and midwives.