New grad Filipino nurse wanting to work in Australia/New Zealand

[rnrn07]

Hi everyone, please help me.

I graduated last march 2007 here in the Philippines and I have my license here already.

Because of oversupply of nurses here, it's too difficult to find a job.

That's why I'm looking forward to working in Australia or New Zealand.

However, I'm confused. Esp about Australia.

I already have my bachelors degree here.

When I go there in Aus to work as RN, must I take a diploma in nursing first? can I work while studying?

After obtaining my diploma there, am I already a registered nurse?

Thank you!

[gemini_star, BSN, RN]

guys what are the vaccinations needed? where can I get them?

[jakey]

Congratulations gemini_star!

it is found on the school's website....

[ramsy_19RN]

Hey guys, anyone going to perth this July? I have 5 friends going with me and we're gonna need accommodation. We'll be studying at curtin =) I'm really excited. Does anyone here know anyone who will attend/attending curtin this July? Or anyone know where we can rent a studio or something... =) good luck to all of us!

[terdjay]

Good luck to you and your friends on your conversion. There are plenty of accomodation around St. James. You can go for your own house since there are 5 people to share the bills. So, your visas are already approved? After your conversion it is advisable to opt for rural at the north coz there are plenty of jobs there and they sponsor. The prob with people is that they wanted to work in the city where jobs are so difficult to come by. And with natl registration, the whole aus is your cup of tea. Cheers!

[ramsy_19RN]

Hi terdjay, I know, we're not really picky with jobs, as long as it gives a good pay, and they sponsor, we'll love it. Just a few years of service until we get our PR or whatever, we'll easily transfer to a anywhere we want, what we need is the way and now we have it! Horay!!! We lodged an application for housing inside curtin, they're full since it's late already (according to them) but they will gladly assist us to look housing outside... so if anyone knows any good place or looking for roomates at perth, give me a holler. =)

[terdjay]

They pay more in the rural because of the associated hardships. Yup. After fulfilling your contract you can always transfer to the city. I think you'll be tied for 5 yrs. But once you get used to the rural I doubt that you'll leave. Rural nurses have great benefits. They have plenty of allowances. Even housing is subsidized. And since there are no malls, there's nowhere to spend your money. You'll get rich fast. City nurses work their ass off to pay for housing and bills and everyday expenses like gasoline and parking fees. Make sure you know how to cook so that you won't go hungry. You'll be in great contact with nature and sometimes wonder if you're in aus.

We'll be going back to the rural soon and I'm quite excited bec plenty of jobs there. I'm just getting fat here in the city staying at home. No freaking jobs!

[javRN]

hi terdjay, whereabouts in the north do you know offer sponsorship for RNs? Was willing to work rural but never found one in WA, I even tried looking at Kalgoorlie, Port hedland, carnarvon, even Wyndham. There was nothing. Same thing with Albany, Esperance, Geraldton. Good thing there are sponsorships in Queensland. And Queensland is also a great place. Am working in Aged Care now and it's quite good.

[terdjay]

Did you go to an agency to inquire or check health.wa or wa country health? Plenty of rural hospitals listed there looking for RNs. There's also a recruitment manager in wa country health website. You should have emailed that person asking for vancancies. A lot of Filipino fresh graduate nurses are working as rural nurses in the north like pilbara and Kimberly. They are housed in caravan parks. Also, plenty of rural jobs all over aus in all states. You just need to contact the right person. Congrats in finding a job in qld. It's a great place there. I miss it. Nrsg homes in the rural are crying out loud for nurses too.

Ps. The wa newspaper advertises nrsg vacancies on Saturday. And the local weekly newspapers also advertise nrsg vacancies. The newspaper is the next best resource after the web.

Cheers!

[ryan09]

thanks ryan09 for the background you gave on nursing practice there.. it greatly helps.. it gave us a glimpse of australian nursing practice before our actual endeavour there..

as i understand the function of an aged care nurse is that you're like a charge nurse and a medicating rolled in one.. i assume aged care nurse must really have a strong assessment skills??

what charting system do they used there? fdar? soapie? narrative?

thank you in advance..

yes abosulutely! well, anywhere, in any setting not just in aged care you need to have a strong assessment skill...in aged care, you are the top most level of health professional so they expect a lot from you...but it can be handled properly, i know a lot of people had difficulties at first but as the time goes by, you can just close your eyes while doing your shift there is always a first time isnt it?

they commonly use narrative...

ei ryan. i hope its ok if i can ask for your email ad in here.thank you

sure just pm me and ill give you mine...unfortunately its not allowed to paste personal details in the forum just pm me. thanks

thanks ryan. this gives us a great understanding of nursing roles

in aus.

working with children is based from wa. it has long been used here. it is a preemployment requirement for jobs that involves direct contact with babies and children.

how do i apply for the humanitarian scholarship of deakin? do i sign a form and that's it? or they choose who to give it to? or all prs are just simply offered it?

i found out that there are plenty of purposely built and fully furnished student accomodation (200-300 per week) that are walking distance from deakin which will make my life easier and convenient. i'm now seriously considering this uni. the prob is it is still by jan. it's a long long wait. maybe the work work work life of the rural will help speed things up. hehe

thanks mate. hope to meet you in melbourne.

ask deakin that you want to apply for the fee help and dept. of human services scholarship and they already knew what to do :) all prs are eligible to apply for it.

just go to www.realestate.com.au and search for cheap accomodations near deakin uni, remember to hit the "share" tab...

you do have to consider deakin uni because its the only uni who is offering/accepting these scholarships..

remember to ask for fee-help and dept. of human services scholarship, these two will help you financially.

by the way, congratulations to all...you know who you are keep it up nurses...for some, your time will come soon, in fact you are next in line..

ps: who wants to go to the snow? @chabeli? :d

[terdjay]

Thanks Ryan. You're a big help to everyone. I also appreciate the pics you uploaded here. It's very inspiring.

Did you make a stat declaration for your nbv assessment?

I'm just wondering if this would be required of me since I've just registered last Jan and I'm here in aus the whole time since after the June boards.

It's great too that the biggest mall in Australia (Chadstone mall) is just near deakin.

[ryan09]

@terdjay, youre welcome.

yes ive made a stat dec before. but the nbv wasnt very strict that time, they just required me to make a "signed letter" stating this and that. now, i believe you have to obtain a specific form in order for you to do it...

yeah Chadstone, its just a one bus ride away..its our "church" . chadstone shopping centre one of the reasons why melbourne is dubbed as the fashion capital of australia. but then Philippine malls are way to better than their australian counterpart...Rob Manila or SM Megamall is 5x better than chadstone for me...

when is the next intake of deakin by the way?

to all of you who are a bit concerned of the australian hospital setting..you can go to youtube and search for "all saints", thats a tv medical drama program in australia...its a great tv show specially the daytime edition and not the nightime...you can see how nurses fucntion in the hospital and how they interact with other health professionals and patients...:)

[terdjay]

Jan 2011 is the next intake. Oct 26 is the deadline. But for int'l students it's sept 7.

I agree. Philippine malls are way way better. I think aussies are not into shopping that's why megamalls are not "in". They even consider doing their groceries as boring. They're more into nature ie drinking at the beach or parks. Unlike us, malls are the best time killer. Going to malls is considered fun even for those with no money. And food there is great too.

Here, malls are expensive. A decent brandless tshirt costs 20$. When on sale it's 10-15$. In the phils, a 15$ shirt is already branded (Dickies, lee, etc). A branded shirt here (billabong, rip curl, etc) costs 50$. That's why to those of you coming here, do your shopping in the phils even your winter clothes. Clothes there are very cheap. Even the branded ones are cheap. But when it comes to electronics ie laptop, camera, etc, buy them here coz they're very cheap here. Sometimes same cost but at twice/thrice the specs.

And ready made foods here are just so-so/satisfactory but not great like (mann hann, Gerry's grille, burgoo, etc etc despite the sky rocketing price. So learning how to cook would be an essential skill when in tight budget. Groceries here are cheap too by their standards so don't convert (although I find it fun to convert).

Good luck to all of us!

Ps. Ryan median house price there in Melbourne is freakin expensive. It sky rocketed like hell. Oh boy......