Student Midwife chat

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 16, 2011

Moved to the Australian state forum, hopefully for more responses. There are a couple of student midwives on the UK forum that may post

Leela81 · Jan 22, 2011

Hi Zoe,

How's student midwifery going? I'm a newly graduated midwife from USA and just moved to Australia a couple of months ago. Still learning lots about the different midwifery roles here in Australia and trying to find my first job. In anycase I would love to hear what midwifery school is like here.

Rachi321 · Jun 14, 2011

leela81.. just wondering how your experience has been with ahpra.. and moving.. adn trying to find work etc. i am a us nurse.. and applied for ahpra registration in march.. still havent heard anythiing i want to move in august. any advice would be super helpful!

Leela81 · Jun 17, 2011

Yes, my application took a very long time as well...about 9 months to get processed. They say they try to process applications within 90 days, which it seems you are approaching that limit. You could always call AHPRA and ask them for an update. But probably going to just have to wait.

I found that hospitals and agencies didn't really want to have much to do with me until I got my registration and then finding a job was pretty easy. They are always in need of nurses. And you can always start working with an agency to get your feet wet and see what the different hospitals are like. Nursing is different there then here in the USA. There are no nurse's aids to do vitals or ADL care, you have to do it all. It's helpful if you already know how to put in IV's and draw blood b/c often it's your responsibility to do it. And terms, names of medications and lab values differ but you will get used to it once your in it! No worries, I found most of the nurses and midwives to be very supportive and willing to help you out.

You can still move there in August even if your registration hasn't gone through...as long as you have an appropriate visa. That's what I did. I got a work and holiday visa. Visit the Australian Immigration website if you haven't already. Let me know if you have any further questions.

Rachi321 · Jun 17, 2011

I have my work holiday visa.. i'm just waiting on the registration.. i just called them and they told me i need to send them letters from my university and high school saying i was taught and assessed in english, so i'm trying to send those on their way. Yes i have found that nobody really wants to talk to me until i am registered. I am thinking of moving in australia in august.. i would prefer to be registered before i move though. Any recommendations on the moving process, and finding a job, do they require letters of recommendation? How was the interview process?

Mcadamia · Jun 17, 2011

some of the hospitals will actually help you with your visa (mine will) and will help you with accommodation. If you are single accommodation is free, if you have a partner and wish to live off site then you are subsidised but this is a mining town and rents are expensive.

Having said that we will welcome overseas RN's and especially midwives - half the town is from New Zealand. We do have a large indigenous population but they are the most lovely and often gentle people you would ever have the pleasure to meet. Especially our traditional indigenous women who are so shy they will often hide their faces while talking with you.

BUT - and this is my standard warning for all overseas staff. Do NOT repeat NOT apply for any hospital smaller than about 40 beds because you would be left alone with just an enrolled nurse (who may or may not be endorsed for medications) and although EN's are more often than not the backbone and flesh of the rural hospitals they cannot help you with a LOT of things like using the PCCM (Primary Clinical Care Manual) which is mandatory along with the rural assessment sheet

Leela81 · Jun 18, 2011

Hopefully once you get those letters in from your school your registration will go through. If you have the name of the person that is processing your application you can send it to that person's attention and the process seems to go faster.

In terms of moving it wasn't a big deal for me because my partner has been living in Melbourne for the past 11 yrs and already had a place. Some hospitals will sponsor you and help with housing but usually you have to go to more rural areas. Where were you thinking of moving to? In terms of interviews, it wasn't that difficult. At the nursing agency they didn't really ask any questions, I just had to fill out tons of forms and do a math/medication test. And at the hospital that I'm working at they did ask some scenario questions. So just be prepared as you would for an interview in the States.

Because you have a work and holiday visa you can try working for a hospital for 6 months and if you like it and they are happy with you then usually they are willing to sponsor you so that you can continue to work and live there. Are you a new nurse? Some places are a bit reluctant to hire new nurses without some experience. Most of the nurses and midwives in Australia do a grad year, which is like a paid internship. So, you might want to start looking into that.

It's always better to be prepared and have letters of recommendation in case they ask. In terms of my experience they just emailed or phoned my references though.

Rachi321 · Jun 19, 2011

Yeah im hoping that it moves along quickly in the next couple of months. I don't need to look into housing because my boyfriend lives in sydney and i will be staying with him. No I am not a new nurse I have almost been a nurse for 2.5 years. I'm hoping to get my registration soon and then move.. then look for a job.. this waiting is painful!

Leela81 · Jun 19, 2011

Ah, 2.5yrs experience! You'll be fine. You'll find a job quickly. I hear you about the waiting though I think AHPRA are slow because they just transitioned to a national nursing board less then a year ago.

Good luck with everything!