South African nurses seeking to practice in Tasmania will have to have direct certification from the South African Nursing Council.
Executive Officer for the Nursing Board of Tasmania, Mr Geoff Clark said that following an incident at a Hobart hospital last year, South African nurses have to provide direct certification from the SA Nursing Council.
Mr Clark said that a male nurse who had been sponsored for immigration by the hospital concerned, had been found to be using false papers while on probation.
While the man's nursing papers had been certified by the South African police force, the registration numbers on the papers actually belonged to some-one else Mr Clark said.
The offender had not practised in Tasmania as his supervisor detected that he did not have the required level of skill during the usual probation period Mr Clark said.
"He was then suspended on pay while investigations were undertaken."
The offender was then deported. He had entered the state with false registration papers. "His papers had been certified by the South African police but his registration number was someone else's." Mr Clark added that the detection of the problem meant that tighter restrictions had to be placed on nurses entering Tasmania from South Africa.
"People complain about red-tape, but this shows that red tape comes for a reason," Mr Clark said.
