Honest Information to help decide on Australian job offers

talaxandra · Oct 17, 2004

Sorry, I'm from Victoria, but welcome to allnurses and congratulations on considering a move to the wondeful land of Oz!

gwenith, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2004

I have repeated this so often I should make a recording:chuckle: Do not repeat NOT take a job in any hospital less than 50 beds if you have just come out from AMerica. The differences are too great.

I gather by your choices you are psych trained - welcome and doubly welcome. I am a Queenslander and live not too far from Toowoomba - to be honest that would be my pick but I am biased. Toowoomba is the prettiest city/large country town. Not too far from the capital city of Brisbane and about 2-3 hours from the coast - centre of the new Wine belt with so many new wineries that you could start your own collec(hic)tion:D

Toowoomba though is at the top of the range - well WE call it a mountain range - you would probably call it a bit of a bump:lol2: The drive up the range is very steep but double lane highway which goes right through to Bridbane.

Here is a link telling you about Toowoomba.http://www.toowoomba.net/

Once you are here you are part of Queensland health which means public hospital but all your benefits such as long service leave, sick leave, annual leave etc are transferrable between all QLD health hospitals.

Feel free to ask more questions.

pitto · Oct 21, 2004

I am a US registered nurse who plans to move to Australia soon, and I would like to get some geniune feedback on the following hospitals: Graylands Hospital, Mt Claremont, Western Australia (What is it like to work here? What is the regional climate like? cost of living, transportation, etc). The other hospitals are in Toowoomba Area Health Service, Queensland and Liverpool Health Service in NSW. What is it like to work in these places? Your insight will help me in making an informed decision-my particular interest is in the quality of the hospital, relationship among nurses, cost of living, etc.
Regards,
Mr. O

Hi,

I work in the South West of WA but I did a placement at Graylands so here you go. This is the largest mental health hospital in WA and a teaching hospital. Around 300 beds. Acute mental health and has a many secure beds as well as forensic ward for criminally insane. Working there was like working in any acute mental health hospital, pretty full on. Normal staff shortages, lot's of OT but only voluntary. The hospital is set in lovely gardens about 5-10 minutes drive from central Perth. Climate in Perth is great, warm and dry and basic rental for 2 bedroom flat in suburbs nearby can be had from $150.00 a week upwards. Train and bus go nearby and transport is not a problem. Cost of living is reasonable and no probs. surviving on a RN's wage Level 1 $40,000 to $52000 plus penalty shifts. I found staff really friendly but moral a bit down, no different from anywhere else really. Best beaches in the world and a small city of 1.2 million make Perth a great place to live, not as good as the South West though. Hope this help, good luck. :rotfl:

Onyeigbo · Nov 1, 2004

Thank you for your insight. I have other questions which I have directed to you, and I hope you would be kind enough to educate me on few of the concerns I have.

Hi,
I work in the South West of WA but I did a placement at Graylands so here you go. This is the largest mental health hospital in WA and a teaching hospital. Around 300 beds. Acute mental health and has a many secure beds as well as forensic ward for criminally insane. Working there was like working in any acute mental health hospital, pretty full on. Normal staff shortages, lot's of OT but only voluntary. The hospital is set in lovely gardens about 5-10 minutes drive from central Perth. Climate in Perth is great, warm and dry and basic rental for 2 bedroom flat in suburbs nearby can be had from $150.00 a week upwards. Train and bus go nearby and transport is not a problem. Cost of living is reasonable and no probs. surviving on a RN's wage Level 1 $40,000 to $52000 plus penalty shifts. I found staff really friendly but moral a bit down, no different from anywhere else really. Best beaches in the world and a small city of 1.2 million make Perth a great place to live, not as good as the South West though. Hope this help, good luck. :rotfl: