The following informations are not 100% upto date and I ain't guranteed how accuracy of the information. The analysis just researched through published respective web contents and through some of my close friends' given informations.

Student Visa & Study in Australia

Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
http://www.dimia.gov.au/study/
http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/

Guide from University of Sydney

http://www.usyd.edu.au/fstudent/index.shtml
http://www.usyd.edu.au/international/publications/ug.shtml
http://www.usyd.edu.au/stuserv/welfare/issu/

Example Walkthrough
- Nursing Student
- After 3 year of serving Poly Government Grant bond
Target School -> University of Sydney
Target Course -> GH009 Bachelor of Nursing(Post Registration)
Target Duration -> 52 Weeks a.k.a 1 Year (in total)
Target Entrydate -> July/March of year

Application
http://www.usyd.edu.au/fstudent/undergrad/apply/inm/apply.shtml
(no application fee need for submission)
- Nanyang Diploma in Nursing
- Result in Hard Copy(make sure official transcript, no photo-copy)
- IELTS minimum Grade 7 result
- Working experience

So i did apply, what now
There are two type of offers which university will send you.
1. Conditional Offer
- outlines the conditions that need to be satisfied before you will be admitted to your course. You must meet this conditions before a Firm Offer letter can be issued. Please note: Acceptance and Payment cannot be processed for Conditional Offer, you must wait until a Firm Offer has been issued.
2. Firm Offer
- will allow you admission to University of Sydney and you will have to proceed for enrolment. - will issue once you have satisfied the conditional offer.

Cost calculation 2005(in Australia Dollor)
Tution per Annum Fee -> $20,160.00*
Oversea Student Health Cover -> $329*
Compulsory Subscriptions -> $590*
Total -> $21,079*

* visit http://www.usyd.edu.au/fstudent/postgrad/costs/inm/fees.shtml for updated tution fee

Payment(in Australia Dollor)
First time(initial payment) -> First Half Tuition+OSHC+CS = $10,999.00*
(initial payment need to be paied while you accept the university Firm Offer)

Second payment -> Second Half Tuition fee = $10,080*
After completion of the first semester at the University, international students are able to choose to pay their fees in one of two ways:
1.Payment in full
International students will receive a statement of fees with their enrolment confirmation. This statement of fees will detail a student's liability. The statement of fees will contain the due date of payment which will be two weeks.
Any payment made after the due date will incur a late fee of $200.
2.Payment by instalment
Course fees for the semester as shown on the Statement of Fees will be able to be paid in two instalments.
The first instalment must be no less than 50% and must be paid by the due date printed on the statement of fees.
The remaining 50% is due no later than 15 March (March semester) and 24 August (July Semester).
As instalment payments involve additional administration a non-refundable administration surcharge of $100 applies. This surcharge is paid in full with the first instalment.
Any instalment payment made after 15 March will incur a late fee of an additional $100.
In the March semester if you enrol after the 28th February the instalment payment method detailed above will not be available as your due date will be 15 March or later
In the July semester if you enrol after the 10th August the instalment payment method detailed above will not be available as your due date will be 24 August or later.

related reading: http://www.usyd.edu.au/fstudent/undergrad/costs/inm/payment.shtml

Applying Student Visa
....update detail in soon.

By Other Visa Type

Above is the student visa walkthrough, and hence for Nurses, there is one more "Visa Options for Nurses" through the following link;
http://www.dimia.gov.au/migration/nurses.htm
which is generally part of Australia Migration Visa program, more info by the following thread.

Migration to Australia
Understand what the term migration and migrate are.

General about Australia Migration Visa Program

http://www.dimia.gov.au/migration/index.htm

Scope the Migrating to Australia as a Skilled Person
The 'Skilled' Program is specifically designed to target migrants who have skills or outstanding abilities that will contribute to the Australian economy.
http://www.dimia.gov.au/migrate/skilled.htm

Scope to General Skilled Migration
http://www.dimia.gov.au/migration/skilled/index.htm
(outside of Australia, so choose this)
- http://www.dimia.gov.au/migration/skilled/offshore_visa/index.htm
(no family nor relative in Australia and 'independent' - self support then choose this)
- http://www.dimia.gov.au/migration/skilled/offshore_visa/valid_136.htm
(read the Form 1121i)
- http://www.dimia.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1121i.pdf
(test yourself about how much points you can have currently and whether eligibility to apply for General Skilled Migration Visa)
- http://www.dimia.gov.au/migration/skilled/offshore_visa/eligibility_136.htm

example: a person
- Diploma in Mechatronic/Manufacturing with 3 year of working experience
- IELTS Grade 6.5 to 7
- Under 30 age
- Who can own 110 to 140 points of migrate visa which is eligible to apply migration visa in Australia.

Migration Visa is in short a permanent resident in Australia by the way.