Usa nurse going to australia

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Hi! Im new to allnurses forum. I am a rn with a bsn from usa. I am intrested in nursing to australia. I have done numerous research on getting a visa and applying to the nursing board of the state i want to practice. I was considering sydney, after reading the blogs other cities seem very intresting as well. Any suggestions? I enjoy the beach, outdoors, nightlife, easy going people, shopping. I want to start in january 2010, very nervous about this adventure. Im intrested in working for 6 months to a year, so im still debating on which visa i want to apply for. I am also trying to find a agency to help me, has anybody used oxley? Any suggestions would be awesome and thankful. Feel free to email privately. Thanks a bunch.

Specializes in ED.

Well, I know it's been awhile since this thread was started, but I had to post! I will soon graduate from RN school and within a couple of years of gaining some practical experience and getting my master's, my family and I would like to move to AUS. Darwin looks wonderful, but I'm concerned about work, wages and schools for my boys. Can anyone out there weigh in as to a nice environment in AUS that may fit our needs? Also, where might the greatest nursing needs be located (emergency, acute care, education?)Thank you so much for your helpful information!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

I'd suggest you first research each state, it's weather, it's cost of living, population size, industry, inland or coastal, housing costs/availability, transport, etc etc. Once you've assertained which state best suits you and your family's requirements, then set about researching health facilities and find out which holds your interest and make enquiries regarding potential employment.

Asking any Aussie which state is best is useless! We ALL reckon our state's best! :) AND ... we fight to the death to defend our beliefs! LOL

Wishing you all the best!

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Specializes in Medical.

Yeah, that :) And bear in mind that Australia is pretty much the size of the continental US.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.
Yeah, that :) And bear in mind that Australia is pretty much the size of the continental US.

Hmmmm .... then again, there are some states ..... oh never mind 4_1_72.gif 36_11_6.gif

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After doing some research through allnurses.com and other places, I am thinking that approaching the hospitals themselves would be the best idea. I am looking into the Brisbane area as I have a good friend there.

What should be my next step if I am looking to work emergency care and have never done travel nurse work before? What agencies should I approach about being able to practice there? Is that something that the hospital I decide to work for would be able to help with?

I dont anticipate going down until January '11, have my BSN and have been working in an ED for coming up on 2 years in May.

Any/all information would be tremendously helpful, I just registered for the site and will continue to search past posts as well, thanks

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
After doing some research through allnurses.com and other places, I am thinking that approaching the hospitals themselves would be the best idea. I am looking into the Brisbane area as I have a good friend there.

What should be my next step if I am looking to work emergency care and have never done travel nurse work before? What agencies should I approach about being able to practice there? Is that something that the hospital I decide to work for would be able to help with?

I dont anticipate going down until January '11, have my BSN and have been working in an ED for coming up on 2 years in May.

Any/all information would be tremendously helpful, I just registered for the site and will continue to search past posts as well, thanks

Have your sorted your nurse registration out with the state? (be aware that June/July the nursing boards are all joining and becoming one central one)

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So would it behoove me to wait if I am uncertain about what state I will be working in? Does anyone know anything about getting a work visa/working in New Zealand?

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Specializes in Medical.

Yeah, it's probably a good idea to hold off until you have an idea of where you'd like to work.

I don't know anything about working in NZ first-hand, but we've got three Kiwi grads this year (out of eight), had two (out of twelve) last year, and half our ACNs are from New Zealand. One of them told me that the cost of living is higher there, while pay and conditions are less good. But the country is gorgeous, and the NZ government has a considerably better record on environmental and indigenous policy than Australia, so I guess it depends what you're interested in. Good luck :)

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Thanks for the input, I need to start digging into their policies/procedures, just need to make the time. Again, your input is appreciated.

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Specializes in CTICU.
After doing some research through allnurses.com and other places, I am thinking that approaching the hospitals themselves would be the best idea. I am looking into the Brisbane area as I have a good friend there.

What should be my next step if I am looking to work emergency care and have never done travel nurse work before? What agencies should I approach about being able to practice there? Is that something that the hospital I decide to work for would be able to help with?

I dont anticipate going down until January '11, have my BSN and have been working in an ED for coming up on 2 years in May.

Any/all information would be tremendously helpful, I just registered for the site and will continue to search past posts as well, thanks

You don't need to approach agencies if you want to work at the one hospital. Just contact the hospital directly and they should tell you if they sponsor overseas nurses.

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

If you want to go to NZ just remember it is a different visa completly than Australia!

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Specializes in Education, Ortho, Plastics, Gen Surg.

Hi Just make sure you understand the conditions of a work visa, the 457 work visa has very specific requirements regarding the amount of work that you do and what hours of work be given to you by the employer, if for instance you do not work enough hours to maintain a full time capacity because you are on short shifts or take unpaid extra time off then you can quickly be in breech of the visa and be threatened with deportation. There have been cases where nurses on the 457 visa become pregnant or sick and unable to work enough hours over the year time frame and becoming in breech of the visa, lose there right to work and then must return home.

On a different note I would look at working in Queensland over NSW / Vic - much better lifestyle / weather / people / and specifically look at the large public hospitals if you are after experience and variety. Regonal towns such as Toowoomba also have some good hospitals and are always willing to employ overseas RN's. I can give you contacts there if you want.

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