joyfull26

Nope, I get paid the same rate. My contract is not through the agency, it is entirely through the hospital. The hospital seems to be pretty desperate for nurses, the agency gets paid by the hospital for each recruit it brings but it does not affect my pay at all---i looked into it, I'm getting paid the same as any other third year nurse at that hospital is.

I didn't pay anything to the agency for any of their help. Obviously had to pay my own way here-airfare, accommodation, visa, etc. But they were able to give me a contact for discounted airfare. I would have been fine organizing things on my own but it was nice to have a contact here and someone to ask a billion questions.

Hi! I'm from Chicago and am currently working in Sydney on a working holiday visa and loving it here! Only working here for six months. I applied for my nursing license and visa on my own but contacted an agency to help me get a job(although I could have done it myself). I went through HealthStaff Recruiters and they were excellent, set up interviews, made sure I had accommodation, even picked me up at the airport and my recruiter calls in to check on me or e-mails me. They can help you through the whole process if you want and it's free. Just go to their website(you can google them) and fill in a quick application and someone will contact you. The whole process took me about six months to figure everything out. If i contacted the agency sooner it may have been a little quicker. Anyway, I can't believe I've been here two months already! If I can be of anymore help, let me know! Good luck!

Hello, I am planning on moving to Sydney soon from the US. All my paperwork is in order and visa is ready to go and I have interviews scheduled for ICUs. I currently have 2.5 years experience in a ICU in a large teaching hospital. I have figured out that there are no respiratory therapists and I am okay with that and comfortable managing a vent. Can anyone else offer any advice on what I can expect? Is dialysis managed by the RN or is there a dialysis RN or tech that sets it up and runs it? I have experience with CVVH and can troubleshoot if needed but have not ever had to set one up. Are there any good resources that I could look to for common drugs used? I guess I'm just looking for a good description of they dynamics of the ICUs there? Also, how are the accommodations provided by the hospitals in general? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks very much for your help in advance. I can't wait to get there!!! joyfull26

HI Everyone! I posted a few months ago about nursing in Australia and got some great info about registering and visas. I am now registered with the Nursing and Midwives Board of NSW and just applied for a work and holiday visa last week. Things finally seem to be coming together and I'm getting excited. My next venture is securing a job. Can anyone give me a bit more direction on which hospitals would be best to work in. I have two years of experience in ICU in a large university hospital is Chicago and would like a similar environment. I would also like to work somewhere that offers accommodations and close to public transportation and is safe. I'm traveling alone and don't know a single person in Australia. I'm pretty flexible and go with the flow and up for most anything. Also would it be a good idea to register with a staffing agency that could assist with housing? So far I've been doing all the paperwork for the license and visa on my own and haven't had any issues. Thanks for any advice or suggestions in advance and I can't wait to get there! Katie

Hello, I'm in desperate need of info and advice. I've been a nurse for two years in an ICU in the states and I'm planning to work in Australia later this year. I've applied for my passport and am in the process of getting all of my other paperwork together. I'm in contact with a recruiter from Prince of Wales Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. I am planning to work for six months under a working holiday visa and both hospitals are willing to set up interviews with me. My question is which one do I choose? I work in a busy university hospital now and would like to stay in critical care and am really excited to start working in Australia. I would also like to escape the freezing winters here and be near the city and beaches. I am traveling by myself and don't know a single person in Australia so I'm a little nervous and don't know where to begin looking for housing. If anyone could offer any suggestions or info about either hospital and general area about the neighborhoods I would greatly appreciate it. I decided not to go through an agency and am planning on my own. Thanks very much, Katie