Hi,
I'm presently working in the mental health field as a band 7 manager. To be honest its pretty bad. Lots of cuts, re banding, most band 6 jobs are cut to band 5. Don't know about the private sector. Wards are stretched, less qualified, lots of assistant practitioner's (Band 4 - can do most things a nurse can except dispense drugs) and support workers (Band 2 & 3). I hope you get jobs, but you will probably start band 5. Hope I'm wrong - good luck and sorry to sound so negative, I love nursing and the NHS, but it is in a big mess. How have you found it in OZ?