UK nurse moving to NZ or maybe Oz

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Hi all,

I just had some questions and general wonderings about the situation in nursing in NZ at the moment and would be grateful for any advice.

I'm a UK trained nurse (4-year honours degree at Edinburgh University). I spent 7 months in A&E (emergency) at a major trauma centre in South London, then 2 months on a medical assessment unit (it was a rotation post that I left). I then started a part-time (distance learning) MSc in Epidemiology and a couple of months ago started doing bank (locum/temporary/relief) shifts back in the Emergency Department that I was working in before. Thus far I've done about 1 month full-time equivalent. Currently doing about 15-20 hours a week.

The situation in the UK health system is getting bad and there are more and more cuts. Getting quite dangerous really, so I've decided to get away ASAP.

I would really like to move out to New Zealand but I'm not sure how the job market is at the moment.

I know nursing is on the long term skills shortage list, but what is the liklihood of me getting a job with my level of experience? It would take several months for my registration to come through so by that time I would expect to have over a year full-time equivalent work experience. Eg when I would be applying for jobs. I wouldn't have to get a job in Emergency/Trauma as well, I wouldn't mind working in any relatively acute setting.

Also, does anybody know roughly at this time, how long it takes to process a Temporary Work Visa? Or would I be better getting a Working Holiday Visa, getting a job, then applying for a Temporary Work Visa? That would probably be quicker, but don't know if that's allowed.

I also believe that the job market in Australia is better at the moment (in certain states), so would also be willing to move to Australia as well. Do people think that with my level of experience I would be able to get a post in Australia?

Anyway, thanks very much in advance.

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Specializes in Medical.

Unfortunately I'm of no use to you when it comes to giving visa advice.

However, if I were you I'd be leaning more heavily toward Australia than NZ, because of your earning power (larger job market, lower cost of living), long-term career prospects, and better working conditions.

Good luck whatever you decide :) I do hope things in the UK will improve soon, for the sake of my colleagues and my England-based family...

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Specializes in Emergency.

Depending on what visa you go for or where you go to it can take from 6months to 2 years to get here to Oz. A good way round to get a job and get them to sponsor you to come over the visa seems to come through quicker that way, still took us 6 months.

We found it worthwhile in the end coming over here.

Tony

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Thanks very much for your input guys.

I have done some more investigation and spoken to agents etc.

Talaxandra, I definately agree that Australia would be better for career progression, working conditions and salary and that there appears to be a better job market at present.

For some reason I'm probably going to go the New Zealand.

The whole process of immigration to Australia does seem to take longer. Now especially due to the centralisation of registration in Australia.

For New Zealand, the whole process from sitting IELTS to starting work could be done in under 6 months. Registration, getting job, visa, moving. Like you say, depending on visa. Anything apart from premanent residence is fairly quick.

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Specializes in Medical.

Either way the Antipodes is where it's at! And once you have NZ registration and citizenship you can always move one island west ;) Keep us posted - I hope you thoroughly enjoy the experience

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Specializes in icu.

We have a LOT of NZ nurses working here - so many that we would not be functioning without them, so I guess it is more profitable here in Australia.

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I heard 25% and growing, New Zealand citizens living in Australia, though without Australia NZ would not survive neither.

When the downturn happened a few years ago the NZ parliament were concerned that if Australia got hit hard and many kiwi's returned home, the infastructure, schools, housing, government payments, hospitals,healthcare system, would not cope.

Sorry off topic again.......

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Specializes in icu.

I don't mind - Kiwis are fun people. I joke that you could stand in the middle of the road here and yell PARTY! and before you could draw your next breath you would be surrounded by Kiwi's in Jandals holding Chilly bins saying "Yeah Where?"

But many UK nurses prefer to go to New Zealand mostly because it is not unlike home for them - as in the hills are actually green, all year round and not like where I am at the moment - green in wet season dry cream and red in dry season and burnt black when some !@#@! throws a lit cigarette butt out of the window!

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Specializes in Demntia.

hi iv just started the process myself in moving to nz as im an rmn and decided to go through the nz immigration for their help and support as well as they do all the work. the total cost of them helping me is approx 4,000 pounds thats 2.500 for their services and the rest is split in the payments that you need to pay as you go through the process.

you can save yourself the 2.500 by going it alone but iv looked into this and for the sake of 2.500 and getting it right and plus the stress being off me in filling in the paper work im going through them. 4000 pounds seems alot but looking at it in the long run its peanuts when you get the life down-under you want.

it will take around 9mths for the process but once you have the visa in your passport you can take up to a yr to go (or alternately you can go on a working visa and once your in the country with a job you can apply for permanent residency then) you will also need to take the academic english test (everyone needs to do this no matter what country your from) and get 7.0 in all categories as well as needing to join the nz nmc, this gives you more points and the minimum of points needing is 100 before nz immigration will entertain you. with the above i have 105 point but if you bag a job before you go this will give you over 140 points and that means youll get a resident visa almost straight away.

if you google [color=#0e774a]www.expo-newzealand.com this will give you dates of the next nz expedition within the uk where youll find lots of information, help and support as well as agencies.

you may already know some of what iv mentioned but if you need anymore help and if i can help in anyway feel free to ask

good luck dawn

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