Any lovely Midwives out there that can help me?

**maddie08** · 31-05-2012, 05:35 PM

Hi there,

I've been a Registered Midwife in the UK for 20 months and am seriously considering a move to Australia with my husband and 2 kids. We think we would like to head towards Brisbane.
No doubt I am going to go over old ground with this post and ask lots of questions that lots of people have already asked, so apologies in advance!
I would really appreciate it if any midwives working in Brisbane could fill me in on how midwifery practice differs in Australia to the UK.
I would also like a better understanding of the pay scale in Australia, I'm currently a Band 6 here and wondered what the equivalent Grade is in Australia. Obviously I don't expect to necessarily get a job with the same grade equivalent and I expect to start at the bottom but just wondered if anyone could explain it a little better to me?
I have searched for jobs in Brisbane but it seems to come up with lots of agency jobs and I was hoping to get something a little more stable than this to begin with.

I am currently in the process of sending my CV to Queensland Health as I can't find any jobs advertised at present. Is this the right way to go about things?
Has anybody managed to obtain a relocation package or are they becoming less common?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

**GilraenH** · 31-05-2012, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by maddie08

Hi there,

I've been a Registered Midwife in the UK for 20 months and am seriously considering a move to Australia with my husband and 2 kids. We think we would like to head towards Brisbane.
No doubt I am going to go over old ground with this post and ask lots of questions that lots of people have already asked, so apologies in advance!
I would really appreciate it if any midwives working in Brisbane could fill me in on how midwifery practice differs in Australia to the UK.
I would also like a better understanding of the pay scale in Australia, I'm currently a Band 6 here and wondered what the equivalent Grade is in Australia. Obviously I don't expect to necessarily get a job with the same grade equivalent and I expect to start at the bottom but just wondered if anyone could explain it a little better to me?
I have searched for jobs in Brisbane but it seems to come up with lots of agency jobs and I was hoping to get something a little more stable than this to begin with.

I am currently in the process of sending my CV to Queensland Health as I can't find any jobs advertised at present. Is this the right way to go about things?
Has anybody managed to obtain a relocation package or are they becoming less common?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Hi Maddie! Welcome to PIO.

You need a visa and registration though not necessarily in that order, Where are you at in the looking process? Have you looked at DIAC and APHRA?

Do you want independent visa or sponsored?

I am not a midwife by the way

**maddie08** · 31-05-2012, 05:58 PM

Thanks for your reply, I haven't looked at APHRA yet (just looking now!), I have looked at DIAC and have learnt that APHRA is the Australian Registration body by reading some posts on here today. Do I need to sort out my registration first or is that something I do once I (hopefully) get a job?
As regards to a visa, I am very unsure, is it easier to get an independant visa or are future employers happy to sponsor?
Quite frankly, I'm clueless...can you tell?!

**GilraenH** · 31-05-2012, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by maddie08

Thanks for your reply, I haven't looked at APHRA yet (just looking now!), I have looked at DIAC and have learnt that APHRA is the Australian Registration body by reading some posts on here today. Do I need to sort out my registration first or is that something I do once I (hopefully) get a job?
As regards to a visa, I am very unsure, is it easier to get an independant visa or are future employers happy to sponsor?
Quite frankly, I'm clueless...can you tell?!

Depending on how many points you are eligible for DIAC an independent visa allows you to go anywhere and work as much or as little as you want. A sponsored visa means you have to work full-time and are tied to an employer for a defined time. Temp employer sponsored visa (ENS) is for up to 4 years and permanent ENS visa means you have to work for the employer for 2-3 years depending on visa.

If you are going for independent you need your nursing/midwifery skills assessed first with ANMAC for the visa. If you are going for sponsored visa then you get registered first with APHRA.

**maddie08** · 31-05-2012, 08:33 PM

Thanks so much for your help, there is just so much to learn and take on board, from the research I have done it seems I am eligible for an independant visa which sounds like the better option, although I will be working full time anyway but it would be good to be able to move around and explore. Thanks again!

**GilraenH** · 31-05-2012, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by maddie08

Thanks so much for your help, there is just so much to learn and take on board, from the research I have done it seems I am eligible for an independant visa which sounds like the better option, although I will be working full time anyway but it would be good to be able to move around and explore. Thanks again!

Good luck! Do let us know how you get on?