Midwifery and Nursing Professionals

How to become a Registered Nurse

Official title: Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

Provides nursing care and services to people with mental health illness, disorder and dysfunction, and those experiencing emotional difficulties, distress and crisis in health, welfare and aged care facilities, correctional services and the community.

Main tasks

Assesses and monitors the mental health status of people
Develops and implements individualised care plans for people with mental health issues
Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by health care professionals
Provides emotional support to people and their families
Assists people in developing coping skills and managing their mental health conditions
Educates people and their families about mental health conditions and treatment options
Evaluates the effectiveness of interventions and adjusts care plans accordingly
Documents patient information and maintains accurate medical records

Ways in

University: Nursing & Midwifery degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
University: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
TAFE and VET: Advanced Diploma of Nursing (HLT64121)
Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Typical full-time pay: $113,984 a year
About 363,800 people work in this job group now, and about 458,600 are projected by 2035. (+26.1%)
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Registered Nurse?

Ways in include: Nursing & Midwifery degrees; Health & Public Health degrees; Advanced Diploma of Nursing.

How much does a Registered Nurse earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $113,984 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Registered Nurse a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 26% by 2035, from about 363,800 to about 458,600 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Registered Nurse?

Usually. 87% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Registered Nurse?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04