New Caledonia

Background Information

Introduction
New Caledonia is an old overseas territory of France. In 2002, the estimated population was 217,729. Life expectancy is 77.6 years for women and 69.9 for men.

Health System
Until the 1990s the health system was managed by the health services of the French Army. There is a public sector accessible to all and a private sector. There is a territorial hospital complex on Noumea which gives care in medicine, surgery, obstetrics an rehabilitation. There is also a hospital complex in the North (Koumac and Poindimie) which gives care in medicine, surgery and obstetrics and also a specialised hospital complex which gives care in psychiatry and geriatrics.

There are 481 doctors, 1221 nurses and 96 midwives

Registration Status

Registration - Legislation
Authority to practice is given by the Ministry of Health.

Responsibility for Registration
Ministry of Health.

Licensing and Renewal
The license is valid for the duration of being a nurse in New Caledonia.

Eligibility requirements for registration
To practice as a midwife or nurse, the applicant must hold a diploma from the French state or an authority to practice by the Ministry of Health.

Categories of Nurses and Midwives
Registered Nurse, midwife, nurse anaesthetist, operating theatre nurse.

Workforce Planning

Barriers to Movement within Country
None

Mutual Recognition
There is not a system of mutual recognition of diplomas between New Caledonia and other countries of the Pacific.

Regulation of Foreign-Qualified Nurses
Foreign nurses must have a diploma caledonien, French language or be from a European Community Member State.

Educational Standards - Nursing

Education Standard Required to Enter Pre-Registration Programs
Level baccalaureate (12 years of schooling); a test of general culture, psychometric tests and an interview.

Accrediting Pre-Registration Programs
Medical authority

Basic Qualification for Nursing Practice
Diploma

Programs Provided by Education or Health Systems
Institute of Medical and Social Professions
(IFPSS) of New Caledonia.

Length of Pre-Registration Program
37 months

Involvement of regulatory body with curriculum development
Medical authority

Measurement of nurse education standards and quality

Educational Standards - Midwifery

Education Standard Required to Enter Midwifery Programs
The first year of medicine (occupation of midwife is a medical profession in France and New Caledonia).

Basic Qualification for Midwifery Practice
Diploma.

Accrediting Midwifery Programs
Ministry of Health which are associated with universities of medicine. There is no school of midwifery in New Caledonia.

Programs Provided by Education or Health Systems

Length of Pre-Registration Program
4 years.

Involvement of regulatory body with curriculum development

Measurement of midwife education standards and quality

Professional Standards

Ensuring Standards of Professional Conduct
There is a Code of Ethics for midwives.

Mechanisms for Complaints about Nurses and Midwives Practice
In the public sector complaints can be lodged with the medical authorities of New Caledonia or the provinces. Complaints can also be lodged with the courts and the authority to practice can be withdrawn.

Sanctions for Unprofessional Conduct
The sanctions can be disciplinary for a civil servant and a dismissal for those not a civil servant.

Unregulated Care Workers and Scope of Nursing Practice

Unregulated Care Workers
Certain practices can be carried out by assistants under the supervision of nurses. This assistance relates to activities of daily living. People can become a nurses’ aide after 9 years of schooling and the course lasts for 9 months.

Scope of Nursing Practice
The French regulations are the reference for New Caledonia and this defines what acts are carried out by nurses either autonomously or under medical supervision.

Contact Information

Chief Nursing Officer
Madame Moreau
42 rue du Docteur Eschembrenner Nouville
98845 Noumea Cedex
Tel:687 24 36 42
Fax:687 24 36 73
Email: dir-adjoint-sante@ifpss.nc

Association of Operating Theatre Nurses
Monsieur Marc Fermot
Email: marc@acalibo.org

Association of Midwives
Resident
Monsieur Thierry Corre
Email: corre@affratel.nc

Country Updates