US or Oz?

Having lived in both Sydney and Melbourne, I'd have to say Melbourne's rents are far more than "marginally" cheaper than Sydney's! For the price of my 1BR box in Sydney, I'd have a 3 br house in Melbourne!

Yes, well, I was trying to be fair to those poor capital cities that are not fortunate enough to be Melbourne!

I haven't worked anywhere else, so only have annecdotal information about the UK (and I don't know anyone who's worked in the US recently). While they were there my friends complained about the more formal heirarchy, heavier work loads (particularly in dialysis units), difficulty getting a specialist from one side of London to another in a hurry (but that was a few years ago), pay 9especially in relation to cost of living/lifestyle) and practices some of them viewed as less progressive. Plus quite a few complaints about the weather!

Since returning I've heard good things about professionalism, acuity and range of experience, and the wonder of flying a couple of hours to be in another country!

I agree with augigi that Australia is significantly behind the US in terms of advanced nurse practice, but this is beginning to change.

pie_face: another term of Howard? Say it ain't so! With any luck Thursday's national day of protest will be well attended and give the electorate (and pollies) something to think about. And Victoria's made it through another election with the slightly-less-anti-union-than-the-other-guys convincingly winning power.

Oz is far superior in many ways. Im married to an American, spend a lot of time there so I speak from experience. I have worked in Sydney for a year and am going back in January 2007.

Ive been going through the process of immigration to the US for over 2 years now and am just sick of it so basically have given up on the idea for now. Retrogression has hit and there was a mess up with my initial I-140 application way back in May 2005, whereas I got my Oz visa and work permit in 4 months so anybody considering either the US or Oz, chose the latter without a doubt. Its a far more laid back country, the people are great and the work practices are more like here in the UK with about as much annual leave entitlement. All in all I think its a far friendlier place, and the people are more tolerant, but thats just my opinion.

Thank-you:kiss:

Your'e very welcome

Thank you all for your comments and advises. We are definitely going to Oz. My sister has been trying to convince me to transfer there since 2003. I wish I listened to her back then! Now I'd have to wait til early 2008. (I am expecting another child in March 2007 and thought I'd give him or her and myself a few months to bond before making the BIG move.)

Anyways, I am interested in The Alfred hospital. I read in one of the threads that they sponsor foreign nurses. Don't want to go through agency.

Will it be as straight forward as it seems?

Can anyone suggest a good hospital in Queensland? I have a year to decide which state so might as well do as much research as I can.

The Alfred website has email addresses for nurse managers, and also I think they have a section for foreign nurses (at least, they used to). I know in ICU they sponsored a bunch of foreign nurses.