advice needed about moving to Australia

First, congratulations on your wise decision :chuckle Canadian and Australian cultures are somewhat similar, so acclimatising shouldn't be too hard. When you're narrowing the location down a bit prepare for a bun fight on the board about which is the best state - there's some rivalry down here because the other states can't accept the awesomeness of Victoria :)

There's a sticky on the Aussie/NZ forum that has a lot of helpful advice, including links to various registration bodies etc.

The absolutely most important thing to bear in mind is that, even though they pay great, stay away from remote/rural nursing positions - I have friends who've worked in those positions and loved it, but you really have to be experienced in general, and have worked here for a while. Sometimes you're the only health provider for several thousand square kilometres.

Good luck!

ooohhh - I would love to work in Australia!! maybe in my next life.......

First, congratulations on your wise decision :chuckle Canadian and Australian cultures are somewhat similar, so acclimatising shouldn't be too hard. When you're narrowing the location down a bit prepare for a bun fight on the board about which is the best state - there's some rivalry down here because the other states can't accept the awesomeness of Victoria :)

There's a sticky on the Aussie/NZ forum that has a lot of helpful advice, including links to various registration bodies etc.

The absolutely most important thing to bear in mind is that, even though they pay great, stay away from remote/rural nursing positions - I have friends who've worked in those positions and loved it, but you really have to be experienced in general, and have worked here for a while. Sometimes you're the only health provider for several thousand square kilometres.

Good luck!

Thanks for the answer. I really know nothing about Australia other than you have REALLY neat wildlife.

What do you mean when you say 'bun fight on the board about which is the best state'?

Besides the stickies (which I'll check out asap) Are there any other sources for general info that you would recomend?

Also, when I've looked (longingly) at job posting for Australia, I see public and private hospitals mentioned. what is the difference? Anything to watch out for with either kind? also, are there places any of you would recommend if I wanted to get my nurse practitioner while I was there? Who has the best programs? etc...

Thanks again!!!

:Melody: :Melody: :balloons:

A bun fight is an argument - there's a bit of friendly inter-state rivalry over where's better to live and practice. If you have a look at the Aussie/NZ forum there are a few examples :)

Like Canada we have universal health care (although the Liberal politicians are doing their damnedest to dismantle the system). In public hospitals the entire admission is free, there are students, and the few single rooms are used for patients who are sick; the private system is user-pay, the staff are all qualified, and most of the admissions are elective.

Public hospitals wages and conditions are the same throughout each state, but vary from state to state; private hospital wages and conditions are negotiated with each hospital but are the same for all nurses at that hospital.

Generally speaking, public hospitals have patients who are sicker, more complex and have more social issues; private hospitals have fewer staff, nicer surroundings and (sometimes) more equipment.

Maybe you could ask a moderator to transfer this thread to the Aussie/NZ forum, so you can get some other Aussie input - not that I'm not wonderful, of course

ps for a good general overview of australia try reading bill brysons's book "in a sun-burned country"* and/or the lonely planet guide. i'll have a hunt around and see if there's anything both interesting and relevant about nursing/health care in australia, and will get back to you :)

* from "my country" by dorothea mackellar:

the love of field and coppice,

of green and shaded lanes,

of ordered woods and gardens

is running in your veins.

strong love of grey-blue distance,

brown streams and soft, dim skies -

i know, but cannot share it,

my love is otherwise.

i love a sun burnt country,

a land of sweeping plains,

of ragged mountain ranges,

of droughts and flooding rains.

i love her far horizons,

i love her jewel-sea,

her beauty and her terror -

the wide brown land for me!

the stark white ring-barked forests,

all tragic to the moon,

the sapphire-misted mountains,

the hot gold hush of noon,

green tangle of the brushes

where lithe lianas coil,

the orchids deck the tree-tops,

and ferns the warm dark soil.

core of my heart, my country!

her pitiless blue sky,

when, sick at heart, around us

we see the cattle die -

but then the grey clouds gather

and we can bless again

the drumming of an army,

the steady, soaking rain.

core of my heart, my country!

land of the rainbow gold,

for flood and fire and famine

she pays us back threefold.

over the thirst paddocks,

watch, after many days,

the filmy veil of greenness

that thickens as we gaze........

an opal-hearted country,

a wilful, lavish land -

all you who have not loved her,

you will not understand -

though earth holds many splendours,

wherever i may die,

i know to what brown country

my homing thoughts will fly.

talaxandra, yes you are wonderful. :)

somehow I thought I was on the Aussie/NZ forum. Help from the moderator???

That is a beautiful poem, thank you for sharing it and starting my weekend off so nicely. :redpinkhe

You're very welcome :)

To move the thread maybe PM Gwenith, who moderates the Aussie/NZ board.

Avagoodweegend!*

[*Trad. Aus. salutation - have a good weekend]