touchy subject, but I need an answer

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2005

This is not an employment issue or a race issue. As I explained before, as far as I am aware it is difficult to immigrate here if you have a long standing chronic condition. Does not matter if you are black, white, brindle or purple with polka dot spots. There is the added problem that Sickle Cell is reasonably rare here.

elkpark · Sep 19, 2005

Although I'm here in the US, I agree with Gwenith -- a number of years ago, before I went into nursing, I looked into emigrating to Aus or NZ, and found that they have v. strict standards about who they will allow in -- there was a specific age range (I don't recall the exact figures, but it was, basically, younger adulthood -- no geriatric immigrants!), you had to have a job skill that was needed in the country, and you couldn't have any kind of chronic health problems.

I would expect that the concerns about sickle cell disease are health-based, not race-based, since they exclude people with any other kind of significant, chronic health problems, too.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2005

Sickle Cell is not confined to one race of people. But we would exclude someone with Thallasseamia Major from immigrating (which is found among Europeans and Chinese). One of the reasons for this is that it is well known that we have free health care and you have no idea how many people want to immigrate just to take advantage of that. We are a small country and we would be swamped beyond being able to cope if we opened these floodgates - sounds heartless but it is the reality.

Alibaba · Sep 22, 2005

Thanks everyone for your replies. I knew I'd get a complete answer here. This is all part of my research coz I need to know what to expect before landing. Btw, I didn't know y'all had free healthcare. Do they tax the heck out of your paychecks? For a newbie, what are the main differences between West and East Aus? am not quite ready to commit to the outback. Am looking into a big city.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2005

According to our resident Americans here - you will be taxed more than in the States.

He said that they moved here for the adventure of it rather than to make money. However you CAN live on the wage and there are other advantages like a more laid back lifestyle, places to see that are like nowhere else on earth and freindly people - what more could you want???

Although I have to warn you - you WON'T be covered by the free health care system if you are only on work visa. I am unsure of when it kicks in for Immigration. People who are visting here from countries that have free health are generally covered under a mutual agreement treaty but unfortunately that does not extend to the States,

Interested Party · Sep 23, 2005

According to immigration and medicare, health cover starts when one becomes a permanent resident (equivalent to green card). Spoke to DIMIA this afternoon and was advised that application for permanent residency take about 6 months but if the you are a nurse, DIMIA will fast track your application. A friend of mine got his work permit within a month and permanent residency 6 months later (incl wife and kids).

talaxandra · Sep 23, 2005

I think staying away from the outback is a wise decision - it's really way more full-on than most people think; Gwenith's posted on that before in this forum, so I don't really need to say any more!

The east coast is (relatively) more densely populated - it comprises Queensland (capital Brisbane, also the Gold Coast), New South Wales (capital Sydney, also Newcastle), the ACT (Canberra), Victoria (Melbourne, also Geelong) and Tasmania (Hobart, also Launceston). There are more kinds of employment choices (eg hospitals), and it's relatively quick to travel interstate - flights from Melbourne to Sydney take about an hour, for example.

The west coast primarily comprises Western Australia (Perth, also Geraldton) - the weather is generally more tropical, and the people are a bit more laid back. It's a long way from everywhere else, so if you're interested in sight-seeing it's harder to be based in, but it has some spectacular scenery.

The Top End includes the Northern Territory (Darwin, also Katherine) and the northern part of WA (Broome, the Kimberly) and north-western Queensland.

South Australia (Adelaide) is kind of a compromise between east and west - the laidback, less urban qualitites of WA, but closer to the sights of the east coast.

For a bit of an overview check out the Lonely Planet entry: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/pacific/australia

Helen46 · Oct 7, 2005

Hi

I am a mum with two little kids, and I have had a hundred or so international students over the years come to live with me for various periods of time while they are studying.

It would have been because of the sickel cell disease, not the colour of skin that determined refusal to enter Australia.

Colour should not prejudice you being employed - at least in not in the public sector. However, I have had black friends who said they had experienced racism from patients who didnt like being tended by a coloured nurse. Especially with older patients - we had a 'white australia policy until the 1970s so the older generation grew up with only white people.

You would feel very welcome in any University in Australia.

Helen

Hey y'all on allnurses! I would like to move to Aussie after I get my BSN. I read another thread about someone that was denied employment coz she has sickle cell. Is there a looking down upon of black people in aussie and does it influence whether or not you get a job? Please answer honestly.
Many thanks

RavenRaving · Feb 14, 2006

Is rheumatoid arthritis considered reason for denying immigration to NZ? On the application form, I remember kidney failure being mentioned. Then I read in this web site sickle cell anemia is cause for denial, and also thallasseamia major. I'm wondering what other conditions are automatically excluded and if it matters if someone is in remission. I understand NZ has universal healthcare and a chronic condition can be expensive.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2006

I think it is a matter of how much pressure treating the chonic condition would put on the public purse. I know that sounds callous but it is the bottom line.

RavenRaving · Feb 15, 2006

Eh- the truth is the truth. There has to be a cut made somewhere, and the most good for the largest number is as good a guide as any.

Thanks for the answer.