Any UK nurses preparing for the move Down Under??

talaxandra · Mar 23, 2011

I'm Aus-trained, so no help, but a non-active AN member I met who visited Melbourne to check out moving here emigrated last year, recently bought a house, and has just had a promotion, so it's all possible.

Also, bump!

aussie2011 · Mar 23, 2011

Thanx for the boost! I'm getting there slowly but surely.....:)

Racheluk1606 · Mar 25, 2011

Hi

I am a paediatric nurse currently looking into moving to aus to work. I have no idea where to start really? Any advice? Im unsure which visa would be best and whether or not to try to get sponsorship before i leave. I am at the very beggining of my process and dont know what to do?!

K+MgSO4, BSN · Mar 26, 2011

Rachel where are you from, age, family situation (single, married, kids) and then we could suggest what to do.

Racheluk1606 · Mar 26, 2011

I'm from the uk..with my partner who's an electrician we've got no kids. I'll be 23 when I'm hoping to go over which is around 8 months time I've had 2 years post grad experience in paeds oncology haematology n I've got my degree. I hope this can help you provide me with more info! Thanks xx

talaxandra · Mar 26, 2011

Rachel, in addition to pediatric wards in other hospitals, most but not all the capital cities have a children's hospital - I know RCH in Melbourne has a haematology/oncology unit and I imagine the others do, too.

Assuming you want to stay in your specialty and/or in acute care, the capital cities are your best bet; although there are big hospitals in large regional centres, the sickest patients are treated there. The odds are good that you'll be able to find a position, particularly if you're not starting work in Jan - March (and competing with new grads), so the question is which state you want to live in.

I don't know what you know about Aus, so I apologise if any or all of this is familiar. You have essentially two options - the more remote west coast or the more heavily populated east coast. Perth (the Princess Margaret) is beautiful but about 8 hours flight away from the rest of us, while Darwin has a lot of career opportunities but is hot, remote, and doesn't seem to have a paediatric hospital or specialised paediatric oncology services.

If you want to go east coast your choices are between Brisbane (the Mater Children's hospital and the Mater Children's private, with a new hospital planned to open in 2014), Sydney (SCH or Westmead but the latter doesn't have haem/onc), Canberra (no specialised hospital yet but plans are in process), Melbourne (the afore-mentioned RCH), and Adelaide (Women's & Children's).

I hope that helps a little. There are a multitude of threads in this section debating the relative merits of the main capitals (predominantly Melbourne/Sydney/Adelaide). Good luck :)

Racheluk1606 · Mar 27, 2011

Hey

Thankyou for that its very helpful! I think i would prefer to work in one of the capital cities! i dont know aus at all so im now considering travelling around before i start work and maybe try to get a job whilst im there...so many different things to think about!

I would definatley like to stay in my specialilty as i love it so much but we will see! Thankyou for all of the advice, its much appreciated!:)

K+MgSO4, BSN · Apr 1, 2011

there are plenty of nursing agencies about that specialise in various things. Just do a search and email some of them. also if you settle in a city you could apply for bank work at the childrens hospital in that city.

angiemalc · Jun 12, 2011

Hi! I am just about to start the process! Hoping to move to Perth on partners visa. Any info on where to start would be great! It all seems really complicated and I cant find a web site that just says what I need to do to register and be able to work - but I guess that would be too easy lol! Anyway any advice gratefully recieved! Im a reg. adult nurse, worked in ortho for 13yrs and have a BSc.

Rosie_Bee · Jun 12, 2011

I'm just coming to the end of my mental health nurse training and I really want to work in Australia. The trouble is, I have no idea where to start! I've made a few phone calls and they've all said I need at least two years post reg experience. Are there any options for a newly qualified nurse?

Rosie

allnurses Guide · Jun 14, 2011

Check the AHPRA website as an initial start re registration as a nurse in Australia.