You can work in a NICU once you have completed your degree in nursing or midwifery. While not compulsory in Queensland, it is advisable to study for a further 12 months to gain a certificate in midwifery, which will help you to better understand a lot of the problems that babies in the NICU will have.

The next area of study is the neonatal intensive care certificate which is a 12 month, hospital-based course conducted at the Mater Mothers' and Royal Women's Hospitals in Brisbane. Nurses with this qualification also retrieve sick or premature infants by helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft (RFDS) or road ambulance so they can be transferred from a regional hospital to a major, tertiary hospital. Neonatal nurses also care for the families of babies as they are often separated while their baby is in Brisbane, and may need assistance from a social worker or a physiotherapist.