Australia or New Zealand?

Hi There,

Went to Australia and New Zealand last year and I can understand why you are having such a hard time choosing between the two!!
I spent some time in Queensland and I met two Canadian traveler nurses, while water rafting...they loved it there. According to them, the pay was not the highest, but the low cost of living compemsated for that.There is a great need for nurses in Australia, but be prepare to live in rural ( but beatiful) areas. Australia is a huge country and one region will greatly differ from another. Pin point where you want to live and start your reseach from there. Not sure about New Zealand...but the people are amazing and the country is breath taking.
Best of Lucks.

i got my eligibility. worth waiting, at last! thanks for the agency, it took almost 3 months. but i'm not sure if i'm going this year, i don't know if i will upgrade my program with them for my bridging expenses.

Cannot comment on Australia as I have never lived there, only visited as a tourist. I moved from the US to NZ 7 months ago and love it! People are great, way of life very laid back and work different, but enjoyable.
The cost of living is higher than the US, not sure about how it compares to OZ. Workload in the ED is 4 pts:1 nurse(same as US). Pay is much lower than Astralia)and the US) but benefits are good, ie Good regular lunch/tea breaks, plenty of leave etc.
I am working in a large 600+ bedded hospital and although very busy like it.

Hope this helped. Let me know if you have any questions.

I am a NZ born Registered Nurse. Have been nursing now for 48½ years. Most of my nursing has been in NZ but I have Australian registration too. I have worked in the outback of Australia twice in the past few years. The money is good - alright great! but most of my friends & all of my relatives are in NZ. I was also threatened while working in the outback - an angry Aboriginal threatened to rearrange my face.
I am now working as an International Volunteer Aid Worker so don't get paid for any of my work. I pay my own airfares, accommodation & food. I have very little savings for my imminent retirement but I am having a ball. Have some great friends in other countries, including a 3 yr old in Papua New Guinea called ********
If anyone is interested - 'photos are available by e-mailing me

Its great that you have experienced so much and enjoying your nursing so much at a later stage.

Most of the nurses that post here are asking about Australia or New Zealand, for immigration purposes are in it of course, the bee all - the money.

Yep, I surely did not move here for the money!!!!

Must apologise, to those nurses who visit Australia for the adventure and experience to blend in with/appreciate the Australian culture.

You picked NZ! Many of their nurses are over here! NEARLY paid their worth, unlike NZ.

hi ceridwyn,so you are saying australia is better than New Zealand? i am also torn between the 2