2026 Graduate Nurse Program 

On this page:

• Information nights

• Application process
  

• Application criteria

• Frequently asked questions
  

Information nights

 What do I need to do next?

 Attend a Western Health GNP Information Night (not compulsory).

2026 Graduate Nurse Program

Application dates: 2 June – 2 July 2025.

Applications are now closed.

Application process

How we recruit

Western Health recruits through the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV) computer matching service.

Applicants that are eligible for computer match will be considered for the Graduate Nurse Program.  

Application dates

• Application match results: available at 10 am on Wednesday 17 September 2025
  

Application criteria

 To be eligible to apply you must be undertaking a nursing bachelor or masters degree where all course requirements will be completed between January 2025 and before June 2026.

To apply

Step 1 Register with the Post Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV)

Check your eligibilty to apply to the 2026 Graduate Nurse Program then register with PMCV:

• The Match - Graduate Nurse Midwifery Program
  

Step 2 Apply directly to Western Health (Refer to application criteria)

Western Health eligibility criteria aligns with PMCV

Items to include in your application

Curriculum vitae

• Outline your education and experience

• Include a table which lists clinical placements (Degree year / organisation / type of placement / date / duration of placement)
  

Nominate 2 referees

• Preferably clinical referees with more than one year's experience as a registered nurse. 

• Refer to 'Frequently Asked Questions' for more information about referees accepted

Academic transcript (Certified)

• An academic transcript of all results you have received at the time of your application

• Academic transcripts must be certified and include key results.  

Clinical appraisals

• Two recent acute clinical appraisals

• Refer to 'Frequently Asked Questions' (Clinical Placements & Appraisals) for further information. 
  

Frequently asked questions

Application process

 I am an international student, can I still apply?

 We only accept applications that meet the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV) eligibility criteria. 
 Refer to PMCV   The Match - Graduate Nurse Midwifery Program (pmcv.com.au)

 More information about eligibility can also be found at our recruitment site, when applications open.    

  I am New Zealand (NZ) citizen OR temporary resident of Australia, can I still apply?

 NZ citizens OR temporary residents who have a visa that grants the 'right to work' in Australia are eligible to apply.

 I am an interstate applicant.
 To be eligible to apply you must meet one of the criteria listed, refer to PMCV Eligible candidates:

  The Match - Graduate Nurse Midwifery Program (pmcv.com.au)

 My academic transcript will not have my final year results at the time I would like to lodge my application.

 You can proceed with your application by uploading your most recent academic transcript. 

If your third year results are not released at the time of your application, you can still proceed with your application by uploading your most recent academic transcipt. The recruitment team will be in contact for your final academic transcript. 
  

 A reminder that academic transcripts must be certified.  To learn who is  an authorised certifier: 
  Visit:  www.justice.vic.gov.au/certifiedcopies

 Can I submit an electronic copy of my academic transcript ? 

 You can download an electronic copy of your official academic transcript and upload this onto the PeopleHub online               recruitment portal.

This copy must include your univeristy details.  

 Who can be my referees?

  A referee must be a registered nurse who has more than one year of experience and that you have worked
  closely with in the capacity of student nurse. Roles accepted are:

•   Clinical Nurse Educator

•   Clinical Support Nurse

•   Clinical Preceptor
  

 Clnical placement and appraisals

We preference two most recent adult acute clinical appraisals.

 What if I don't have two recent adult acute clinical appraisals?

 Where two recent acute appraisals are not available at the time of your application, we will accept one recent adult acute
 assessment from 3rd year and one subacute assessment from 2nd or 3rd year.

  What if my next clinical placement will be completed after the application closing date?

 You can proceed to upload your online application with your most recent clinical appraisals before the closing date.  In your   resume outline the details of any future clinical placements including the date/ organisation / type of placement. The
 recruitment team will be in contact, if required.

 What do my clinical appraisals need to include?

 You are only required to submit your summative assessment, this includes preceptor comments (summative).
 Your summative assessment must also include the cover page with placement location/ dates/ type of placement.

 My appraisal was split over two locations, do I submit this as one or two appraisals?

 Include them as one single appraisal.

 I did not complete any of my placements at Western Health.  Will this affect my application?

 No. We understand that many of our applicants have studied at various locations and offered student placements with           health providers other than Western Health.

Graduate Nurse Program -  Combined Mental Health and Nursing

If I am applying for the Combined Mental Health & Nursing Graduate Program, which appraisals should I submit?

We will accept the following two appraisals:

1. One recent adult acute assessment from 3rd year.  If a 3rd year assessment is not available at the time of application, we will accept one most recent 2nd year adult acute assessement

2. One most recent mental health assessment

Selection and interview process

Do I need to include a cover letter?

No. Cover letters are being replaced by a career intention paragraph within the PMCV application process.

 Will I be contacted by Western Health for an interview?

 No. PMCV are coordinating recorded online one-way video interviews.  Refer to PMCV for more information.

 I have missed the Western Health and PMCV application dates.  Can I apply via email directly to Western Health?

 No. Once the application dates close we will not be accepting any applications.  Applications received via email will not be    accepted.

 Can I apply for a mid-year program?

  Western Health recruits to fill graduate intakes by participating in only one matching process each year.

 If I am successful how will rotations be allocated?

 We offer two/six month clinical rotations. Successful applicants that are offered a position within our program will be given a   preference form to nominate their preferred rotations.  While we aim to give you one of your top five preferences, given the   high demand for more popular areas, this is not guaranteed.

 Grad+ Program  (optional)  If you participate in Grad+ Year 2 you will be offered two further rotations. 

When will I find out if I'm accepted into the program?

Match results are released at 10 am, 17 September 2025.

If you are successfully matched with Western Health, you will have 48 hours to accept the match. A member of the team will also contact you.