US nurse moving to Brisbane

Hi Sunshine - good user name if you're moving to Queensland.

A few things:- I've lived here all my life so I can give advice, but I don't know which hospital you're working in, and what your definition of 'decent' is for apartments.

A couple of sites for checking out rental prices are www.realestate.com.au and www.domain.com.au. There are others too of course, but all the info you want for you apratment renting will be on there.

The public transport here isn't too bad - it really depends on where you live. I'm close to the train line and a bus centre so I can get pretty much anywhere I need to go from about 5am to about midnight (not that I would recommend a person travel alone after about 9pm - earlier in some areas). Provided you live somewhere reasonably close to either buses or trains you should be able to get to and from shifts, just as mentioned being aware that although many train and bus areas are patrolled and there are emergency buttons everywhere, I personally wouldn't travel after 9pm.

Brisbane is a lovely place to live, just bear in mind you're coming into a pretty wet winter here, so don't judge us too harshly.

Good luck!

Kirri

I'm confused - you mentioned Brisbane then Arizona? Where are you moving exactly?

OK, well you couldn't have done better. It's a great hospital where I want to work as soon as I have enough AIN experience in Aged Care, and where I want to do my Graduate Programme.

Also it's about 3 suburbs away from me, so feel free to drop me a message when you get here and I'll show you around.

As to apartments - it's a pretty safe area you're coming to. In your position I would personally get one of the apartments or units which are within walking distance of the hospital - and there are heaps! You'll want Auchenflower or Toowong - and there's a great shopping centre right in Toowong too. The Chasely (I think I've spelled that right) are reasonably expensive but very safe apartments which are a) across the road from the hospital, b) are secure, and c) overlook the river (very pretty views). That all puts you within sight of the pretty side of the city, parks, bikeways, riverside boardwalks etc. Transport galore as well for when you want to move around! The train station is right next to the hospital and buses going into the city every few minutes leave from the main road there (Coronation Drive).

Because it's the nice part of the city, you may actually have trouble finding something cheap. I'd expect you to be paying anything from $300 per week plus (and plus!) for a 2 bedroom apartment, and probably more than $200 per week for a studio in those suburbs, but the cost of living here is not high and having a nice, central place to live will save you money elsewhere - and bear in mind your wages should be pretty good! Also because it's close to the big university here, there's good nightlife and plenty of young people and lots for you to do, but be aware that Brisbane is a pretty small and parochial city.

This is a link to the page for Auchenflower on Domain, but try Toowong too:

http://www.domain.com.au/Public/Sear...ue&from=0&to=0

Good luck with your move - don't hesitate to pm me or post here with any other questions.

Cheers,

Kirri

Hi Sunshine, I am an american nurse but did my degree and training in Brisbane and I will tell you that the area you are going to is absolutely beautiful. When I first went to Australia I lived in Taringa (one suburb away from Toowong) which is so nice and quiet but close to the city. If you choose to live out that way you not only have Toowong shopping center but Indooropilly (which is a big mall) as well. If you live anywhere in that vicinty you should have no problem getting public transport back and forth to work. One thing I might do when checking out potential properties is check the public transport timetable (http://www.translink.com.au/) and use the journey planner on the right. This might help with a decision if you are split. One of my best friends from uni works at the wesley in the oncology unit and she has always been very happy there. Enjoy your time in a foreign country, I am so thankful for my experiences there. If you should have any questions I would be more than happy to answer. All the best of luck to you and i'm so glad you have already made a contact in BNE.

Hi again,

I'm actually in Indooroopilly, across the road from that big mall. And yes, public transport in this area is also great (train and bus). I certainly agree that going to transinfo will help you make the best decision about places to settle.

I'm in the 2nd year of my Bachelor of Nursing and doing it part-time, so I have a few more years of being an AIN before I can get my stripes and advance. lol

So when will you be coming in? - if my shifts allow, I can pick you up at the airport.

Kirri

Check also with your hospital Human Resources Department. They should give you a hand.