We, the undersigned, respectfully request that AHPRA establish an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) test centre in Perth, Western Australia.

At present, OSCE test centres are located only in the eastern states, requiring Western Australian candidates to travel thousands of kilometres to complete this mandatory assessment. This places significant financial, logistical, and personal strain on internationally qualified nurses and midwives living in WA.

 
Why a Perth OSCE Centre Is Essential
Travel costs — Western Australia candidates often spend $1,500–$3,000+ on flights, accommodation, transport, and time off work, in addition to OSCE fees.
Geographical disadvantage — Western Australia is the most isolated state, and residents must travel the farthest to access OSCE testing.
Workforce shortages — Western Australia continues to face critical shortages of nurses and midwives across hospitals, aged care, and community health. Reducing barriers to registration directly supports the state’s healthcare system.
Equity and accessibility — All candidates across Australia deserve fair access to required registration assessments. Western Australia residents should not be disproportionately burdened due to geography.
Population growth — Western Australia’s growing population includes many internationally qualified health professionals who would benefit from a local OSCE option.
 
Our Request to AHPRA
We respectfully ask AHPRA to:

Establish a permanent OSCE test centre in Perth, OR
Provide regular scheduled OSCE sessions in WA through a partner institution such as a university or clinical training facility.
This would:

Reduce financial hardship
Improve fairness and accessibility
Strengthen Western Australia’s healthcare workforce
Encourage more internationally qualified nurses and midwives to live and work in Western Australia
 
Conclusion
A Perth OSCE centre is a practical, equitable, and urgently needed solution that benefits candidates, employers, and the broader Western Australia community. We urge AHPRA to take action to ensure fair access to registration pathways for all aspiring nurses and midwives across Australia.

We, the undersigned, call on AHPRA to bring an OSCE test centre to Perth, Western Australia.