Desperate for some advice.....

DownunderRN · Nov 23, 2010

My friend who is a Canadian came to Australia with the help of an agency... I will ask her who she used.

Some other agencies you can look at are:

http://www.drakemedox.com.au/default.aspx they help you with the process

or

http://www.nursingaustralia.com/default.htm you do the work yourself BUT then they hire you

I think if you do the work yourself and apply for visa's etc you have a lot more freedom than if you do it through an agency! Yes it can be a little more work on your behalf BUT in the long run I think it works out better for you.

Where are you looking at working in Australia? What experience do you have? How long are you looking at staying?

DownunderRN · Nov 23, 2010

here are some others as well

http://www.healthstaffrecruitment.com.au/nursing-australia.php

http://www.oxleynursing.com.au/International_Nurses.php

This is the one my friend used when she went to Australia from Canada

http://www.plexusrecruitment.com/

I have also heard good things about

http://www.affinitynursing.com.au/overseas.html a friend from the UK used them!

eastcoastgal · Nov 24, 2010

Thank you so much for your replies. That helps a lot! I ended up phoning the Immigration Dept. in Australia today to find out more info about working Visas, and found out that I could get a temporary work visa (sponsorship from an employer) and would be able to work there for up to 4 years. The only problem is that I can only work there for 3-6 months. I spoke with an agency today (not one that you had listed) and they told me that most hospitals will want me to stay a minimum of 1 year. I'm going to do more research as I really want to go. I'm 34 so I don't qualify for the working holiday visa. I've been wanting to go there and work for 10 years now, so hopefully it will work out.

I'd like to work in a rural setting somewhere around queensland or NSW. I've been there visiting before and really loved it. I've been working just over 10 years, so I've got some good experience under my belt.

Thanks again so much for your reply DownunderRN, I very much appreciate it!

Are you working in Oz right now? Where abouts and do you like it?

:nurse:

K+MgSO4, BSN · Nov 24, 2010

try Alliance Nursing agency in Sydney NSW ( Alliance Health Services Group ). I did a 3 month rural placement with them and got loads of PRN work in Sydney with them.

eastcoastgal · Nov 24, 2010

Thanks Karenmaire :) When you did the 3 month assignment, were you coming from another country and how old were you at the time? Just wondering about the age, because of the different Visas that apply to however old you are.

Thanks again!

DownunderRN · Nov 24, 2010

If you have a reasonable amount of experience and something to offer the hospital/placement then I think some would consider taking you on short term. A lot of places would like you to commit to a year... BUT there is nothing holding you to that year.

I am actually in Canada working, doing the opposite to you! I came over here in Feb and I have had a hell of time with CRNBC and registration etc, then I finally got it all sorted and couldnt find a job... finally got my foot in the door somewhere as casual and was working heaps and then the work seemed to dwindle so I am heading home!

I still have my job in Melbourne to go back to, I was just on leave without pay for a year! So I am heading back to that, I work as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adolescent Health at the Paediatric hospital in Melbourne. I will be there until the end of Jan, and I have actually just accepted a position in Townsville where I will be doing my second post grad in Midwifery, so I am looking forward to the change!

If you are looking into rural settings I would start contacting the hospitals directly, I know they often find it hard to get skilled workers in those areas so they may be more willing to sponsor your visa!

If there is anything else I can help you with just let me know!

eastcoastgal · Nov 24, 2010

Wow, thanks for your advice DownunderRN. Are you still in BC? Whereabouts? Sorry for all the questions, but it's funny because I just moved to BC from Alberta at the beginning of October and I cannot for the life of me find a job anywhere, not even casual. I've applied for atleast 20 jobs in New Westminster, Burnaby and Vancouver and haven't heard anything. I finally talked to a recruiter from Fraser Health who has been dealing with a lot of my job applications and keeps telling me they are having trouble with contacting one of my references. I talked to that reference and she told me nobody has even called her. I'm completely baffled about what's going on here. I never ever thought I'd have trouble finding a Nursing Job. I'm from New Brunswick which is on the east coast, and I was thinking about going back home to work again, but just as of a few days ago there is now a hiring freeze on which is suppose to last a long time, so now that is why i'm looking overseas. I have a few friends in Australia that I would really love to see and miss being there, so I'm focusing a lot of my energy on trying to get there right now.

If I were to call some of the rural hospitals, what exactly would I say to them and who would I want to talk to, human resources? or a unit manager? I've been in Oncology for 7 years but do have other experience in Med-Surg and a few other areas. I would like to get into Post-natal care. I'm going to go get an international calling card today and try calling some places, but I'm just not sure who to call and what to say. I guess I would ask if they would sponsor me for less than a year? I've never travelled nursed before, so this is new territory..

Thanks so much though for helping me with all this, I so appreciate it. :)

eastcoastgal · Nov 24, 2010

Oh I forgot to ask you something Downunder. If I don't go through with a recruiting company to work in Australia and do it on my own with a sponsorship Visa, do you know if that means that I have to find my own place to live or does the hospital help you with that? Thanks :)

DownunderRN · Nov 24, 2010

I am in Kamloops :) I had the same issues getting a job here, I hate dealing with the health authorities and external recruiters, I ended up going to the hospital myself and talking to managers that is how I got the casual job!

If you do go down the path of doing the visa yourself you will have to find accomodation BUT most places even rural have some form of hostel accomodation you could stay in temporarily until you found something more suited!

I would email some managers. A lot of australian hospital websites have contact information for either the managers or HR departments. I find email a really great way to contact especially when you are from overseas!

Travel nursing is amazing, even though I have had a rough time my first go around I would not trade it for the world and I would love to do it again! It is amazing to experience life in another culture and country!

eastcoastgal · Nov 24, 2010

Good for you for going straight to the managers! I tried doing that on Friday, but all three that I went to talk to were not in the office. Hmm, friday probably wasn't the best day to pick to go speak with a manager. ha ha.

Do you happen to know if I should apply for the Visa now before I even know if I am able to get sponsored? I'm not sure how the process works. I just don't want to leave it and try to make it happen quickly as I can. I was going to go try to read up about it and see what it's all about. I will take your advice and try to find some emails for managers in Australia and message them. I'm so excited, I sure hope it all works out! I haven't been there for 12 years and just fell in love with Byron Bay. I've always wanted to go back. Hope you have enjoyed your stay in Kamloops so far :) Too bad you weren't in my neighbourhood, we could go out for coffee and meet up! I just moved here and it's hard trying to meet new people when you aren't working. I joined a jogging group in my area to try and meet new people, but its so cold out! lol

eastcoastgal · Nov 24, 2010

Hi again DownunderRN, I've been looking on some websites of hospitals and cannot seem to find any email addresses for managers. Do you have any idea how to go about finding them or who else I should contact? Thanks :) Sorry in advance for all the questions. In the meantime, I'll keep searching.