Australia has a national registration scheme for health practitioners which is managed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Nurse registration is now managed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the requirements for registration from overseas can be found on the website under the “Internationally Qualified Nurses and Midwives” tab. Registered Nurses from New Zealand are covered by the Mutual Recognition Act and, if in possession of a current practise card, can transfer their registration across.
The registration process is rigorous, especially for overseas applicants (and particularly for those who trained outside of the UK and Ireland) so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time (at least 6 months) to have your application assessed before committing to any travel plans (we actually recommend that overseas nurses confirm registration in Australia before leaving home).
For those applying onshore, there is a requirement to produce certified copies of documents in the application process. Bower Healthcare has a JP at its Bondi Junction office who will sign for members at no cost.