Goal of IRON

The Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses (IRON) program is conducted by the Wimmera Health Care Group in partnership with Melbourne City Institute of Education. It provides an opportunity for those with registration in their home country, to study and become registered for employment in Australia as a Registered Nurse. The IRON program is an AHPRA approved bridging program.

Course Commencement Dates

•10 August 2015 

•19 October 2015 

The commencement dates of all courses are subject to enrolment quota. For additional information about course commencement dates please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

Duration and Mode of Delivery

•2 weeks theory sessions at MCIE campus 

•10 weeks Clinical placement experiences at WHCG (Horsham) 

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible for the Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses Program, all candidates are required to:

1.Provide a letter from AHPRA confirming eligibility to undertake the IRON course. 

2.Have a 7.0 per band on IELTS or B on OET 

3.Provided an upon to date CV with a short letter outlining the reason for requesting entry to the course including Letters of nursing employment 

4.Have 1-2 years of experience as a registered nurse 

5.Be successful at MCIE/WHCG selection process. 

What is the Application Process?

Submit an application form and supporting documents

•Undergo a Skype interview with our nursing clinical instructor 

•Issue Letter of Offer 

•Pay fees to secure spot 

•MCIE will issue the Confirmation of Enrolment (this can be used to apply for a visa) 

Clinical Placement

Practical clinical placement is a vital part of your Australian nursing training and wasting a majority of your time sitting in a classroom just isn’t useful for employment preparation.

•A balance of essential theory and quality clinical experience is vital to ensure a well-rounded understanding of Australian healthcare. 

•Clinical placement over 10 weeks to a maximum of 400 hours in partnership with Wimmera Health Care Group who provide emergency and critical care services for adults and children. 

•Some other training institutions offer as little as 4 weeks practical training leaving you classroom bound for the remainder of the program. 

Clinical Placement Settings

Having access to high quality clinical facilities that offer you a variety of experience is important.

•Some IRON training providers are only able to offer aged care facilities for clinical placement, which greatly limits the variety of exposure nurses receive. 

•The quality and variety of training received during your IRON program will also limit or enhance your employment options upon completion; a longer clinical placement in varied settings is much more impressive to employers than short, limited hands on experience. 

•Our nursing students receive access to a wide range of clinical experiences to reflect major health priorities and contemporary nursing practice, always ensuring that National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse are attained. 

Take Your Nursing Career Further

•Choosing an organisation which offers longer term post-registration options ensures you a successful employment experience within Australia. What are your goals after completion of the IRON program, and will your training provider help you reach those goals?

•MCIE also offers International Nursing Internship placements that provide paid employment and further training opportunities for graduates of the IRON training program. Internships offer you a full time award wage and visa opportunities for dependants. 

Experience and Satisfaction

•Do you know who is delivering your program? 

•Does the training institution care about your prior experience? •Have they consulted with you to ensure you have the skills required to make the most of the opportunity? 

•We don’t want you to waste your time and money on a course that isn’t suited to you. It’s important any course you undertake as an international student is suited to advancing your current skills.  

Fees and Expenses

MCIE offers highly competitive program pricing, and while many providers charge much more than we do, we stand by our claim that we, in conjunction with Wimmera Health Care Group offer some of the best nursing training in Australia without charging excessively.

Email: Contact Billie Mertens at MCIE to receive an application form at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and email it back once completed.

Post: Contact Billie Mertens at MCIE to receive an application form at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and send your completed application and required documentation to the Melbourne office.