Interested in Australia

[Cali83]

Hey Everyone. I have a couple questions i'm hoping someone can help me with! I'm looking to move to Australia in early 2007 on a 1 year work visa. I'm starting to work with a recruiter but still have questoins. My MAIN decision that has yet to be made is where to live. I can't decide between Perth and Sydney. My main purpose of going to Australia is to meet people, see new things and actually EXPERIENCE australia! any suggestions? Also, I've heard of a lot of international people going to Australia so i'm wondering if its easy to meet people there. And lastly, if I work full-time (which i've been told is 5 8hour shifts/week) will that ever give me any time to SEE anything in Australia! Thanks for any help!

[aNgeL_gaL]

hi....jaz want to ask..I want to work as an RN in australia.Is it hard? WHat are the qualifications? Thanks...

[Tanvi Tusti]

hi....jaz want to ask..I want to work as an RN in australia.Is it hard? WHat are the qualifications? Thanks...

Hi

Its not hard at all as long as you are an RN with a recognised qualification (UK is recognised). I worked in Sydney, it took around 10 weeks to get registered with the NMB and another 8 weeks to get the visa. So if you have the right qualifications you could be out there in less than 6 months, good luck x:nuke:

[vivek105]

Am from Kenya and still waiting QNC Decision. Is there anyone who has experienced a bridging program? I have gone through the queensland website but I don't understand most of it. And they now say you cannot email enquiries because they are too busy to reply

Hello - so did you get to Australia and do a bridge course? How much did it cost and how long did it take? Where are you working now? Was getting a job easy??

Write in and share your experience!!!

[stinkydudette]

can i found out what's the AVERAGE salary like for melbourne?

thanks!

[joecalifa]

Hi I am thinking about working in OZ as a nurse. I heard great things about the country, and also I have one friend that lives in NSW central coast. I love the way aussies live this stressful life. I am a E.R nurse in Los Angeles area , just need to know if nurses can initiate protocols such CP, stroke, seizures, fever, sepsis, things like that here if I see a presentation I can begin many protocols without md orders, certain things like CT or MRI, stress test of course the MD must approve first.

I am very excited to go to this fantastic nation that I have always dreamed of.

The other question is how is the ER staffed ? techs, resp therapists, ekg techs, do they have lab phlebotomists available? Or is is mainly nursing staff that have to do primary or full care? once again thanks a lot for your help.

cheers

[dadams]

Hi im interested in working in Australia, ive nealy finished my second year at university and 1 more to go. I thorght i would start enquiring now as they do take new nurses on. havent got a clue what area id like to work in and i carnt afford to come out and look. As well as a great hospital id like the area to be warm, nice beaches, good shops and a place to meet lots of people, bars, safe and good value for money with properties and living. any suggestions? Is it true its one nurse to 5-6 patients?

[talaxandra]

joecalifa - nurse initiation of protocols varies from ward to ward, hospital to hospital and also depends on your level of qualification (ICU nurses, for example, have considerably more latitude with initiation than even very experiences floor nurses).

I don't work in Cas so I'm not sure about the details you asked about. In general though nurses here do most of the care and have correspondingly fewer patients: no resp therapists, and though there are ECG techs to do routine ECS and phlebotomists to do routine bloods, they only work set hours. Out of hours it's us or the docs.

dadams - as the Aussie population is predominantly clustered along the coastline, with great swathes of sporificely inhabited land, all the major cities are populous. Melbourne has a strong cafe culture, Sydney has great beaches, Adelaide (hi Grace!) and Brisbane (hi Gwenith!) are cheaper than the other two, and Perth has fabulous beaches, low rent and living costs, but is a long flight from anywhere else.

Pretty much everywhere in Australia's safe as long as you're sensible, and the weather's warm most of the time everywhere (Melbourne has the most weather and Tasmania's cooler most of the time than the mainland but still has a definitive summer).

Nurse/patient numbers vary depending where you work - in acute Victorian hospitals the ration on the wards is a maximum of 1:4 on day shifts, 1:8 overnight, higher in (or lower, I can never work out which it is ,but fewer patients per nurse) in specialty areas like delivery suite, PACU, ICU, CC and ED; in less acute hospitals the ratio changes depending on the classification of the institution. Thus far none of the other states have set ratios but they all have relatively comparable (if less transparent) staffing systems.

Hope that helps - and congratualtions on your insightful decisions to move down under :)

[Rad Student]

Any chance the new government will lift the ban on older nurses wanting to migrate?

[ozinjune]

GOOD DAY from Bright and sunny South Africa.

I am new to this GREAT Forum.

Anyway I am an RN with ICU experience (5yrs). I also have x2 Degrees ( B. Soc Science Degree + Hons Psych Degree). I was offered a job in the Neuroward in Perth (Subiaco), in October 2007. The Visa is a 457 long stay visa, which included my hubby and x2 kids!! So when the hospital sponsorship was approved the whole process began!!!

Western Australian Nursing Board advised me that I needed to come over to OZ 1st inorder to do a Bridging course!!!

Hosp manager advised send registration application to Victoria and then apply for Mutual Recognition once Vic gives me a Reg Number.

Well this done, Vic now also tells me that I MAY have to do a Pre-Reg Programme in OZ ...MAY....They are still deciding!!!!

In the meantime the Visa Dept says that they cannot grant my 457 visa UNTIL I give them a Reg Number!!!

Please advise if there were any other south African RN's that needed to do this Programme ALL the way in OZ??

I have already sold my home and vehicles ...thinking that the registration/ visa will not be a problem!!!! Please help!!!

[sjgc13]

I am also interested in working in Australia. Would it be possible for me to process my application directly to the Nursing Council? I specifically want to try in Queensland because someone told me that it is ok even of I do not have work experience as long as I pass the Competency Exam (Part A and B).

Anyone tried processing the application on their own? If you could share your experience here, that would be great!

Also if anyone knows about the Competency Exam? I heard that Part A is done here in the Philippines, is that accurate?

Thanks a lot for the info!!! God Bless!!!

[suzanne4, RN]

Thread moved to the International Forum as it is specific to licensure and immigration questions. Since not all nurses in Australia are aware of what is required for these processes, we ask that any questions that do not have to do with specifics related to actually working there now as an RN, be placed under the International Forum.

Thanks for your understanding on this.

[sjgc13]

No problem suzanne, thanks!!! Have a great day!!! God Bless!!