marieh

Thanks for the info. Where can I find the details of email/ fax? Does anyone know?

Hello Shipped all my belongings on 19th of July including my passport, grrrrr! Very annoyed! I sent for a new passport the same day as I leave on 30th Aug. My new passport hasn't arrived yet and if it hasn't by monday I will be driving to get it. My question is how does this effect my 457 visa? Do I have to send documents away to get it matched up with my new passport? I'm worried how long this may all take - It's only 3 weeks until I go and to say i'm panicing a little would be a complete understatement!!!!! Help!

Thanks guys! I'm a bit worried now as I may not have an address yet? I also don't know anyone in oz. I'm starting work 3 weeks after I arrive so really need to get it done ASAP. I may email AHPRA and ask what people do in these situations. I can't be the only one in this situation.

Hi everyone Just a quick question. I'm arriving in Brisbane at the end of this month I just wondered what I actually need to do RE AHPRA when I get there? I'm just not sure what paperwork I need to take to the offices and also do I need to make an appointment or just turn up? Are you fully registered straight away or is there a delay? thanks Marie

thank you for the info guys. I have emailed to ask sure they'll just say no but if you don't ask you don't get! I can just use it as a nice excuse to buy new clothes when I get there! :wink: Thanks Marie

Hi Just finished booking my flights with Singapore airlines. I've given 20kg allowance which I know is the norm. I've read about people getting extra allowances for permanent visa's I just wondered if anyone had been granted anything for a long stay visa? Visa expires April 2016 so I have a feeling I wont be allowed any extras. Just not looking forward to having to whittle my things down to 20kg. I am shipping things out also but no idea when that will arrive and i'm worried i'll be stuck with next to nothing for my first couple of months! Thanks Marie

Thanks so much for the help guys! Toooo excited this week haha x

Hello everyone Just logged on to the immigration website to check the status of my visa and it was granted today :biggrin:. I didn't get an email from my case worker telling me this but the visa is there when i've logged on. Do I need to go to an Australian embassy now to get the visa put in my passport? I've researched so much but seem to have skipped this bit! Hoping to get flights booked at the end of the week. Wow things are really happening now! Marie

Hi everyone! Really want to start pulling my hair out :arghh: I'm a midwife in the UK. I sent my application to AHPRA 27/09/11. They confirmed it had been received and took the money 30/10/11. Shortly after this I was lucky enough to get a job in Brisbane. I sent a copy of my contract to AHPRA as advised by my future employer. AHPRA have confirmed they have received this. Just to clarify I have sent my application to the Sydney office. I have since heard nothing. I email and ring each week always the same answer. Your application is in a line, we are currently very busy etc etc. I always make sure I am very polite because who wants to help the irate women on the end of the phone!? I'm just posting to ask if anyone knows of anything at all I can do I mean anything! If I thought I could throw money at the problem I would do it in a heartbeat (and I have very little so this highlights my desperation!). This is the most frustrating kind of limbo - there's so much to do but there's no point in doing it before I know when I can go..... I just want to start the ball rolling. I am so close yet so far................................. I know i'm not alone. Just thought there might someone somewhere who has an idea I haven't thought of!? If not it just feels good to have a rant :biggrin: Marie

This was my concern...... aah well another week another email. Well on monday I phone on wednesday I email........... and still NOWHERE!

The exact wording is 'escalated to an information specialist' not sure if this makes a difference!

Hi everyone Another AHPRA head scratcher. I sent me application waaay back in September. Have been chasing up weekly. Still no joy, after chasing up last week I got an email saying my application had been forwarded to an information specialist? Does this mean a case worker? I really just don't know any more! Thanks Marie

Congrats Lisa! Still no word on mine! No worries, watching and waiting! I bet you're thrilled xx

Hi Michala I'm a midwife with 18 months experience, 23 moving to Oz next year, single too so we're very similar! Every hospital is completely different. Lots of hospitals offer a graduate programme for midwives who are newly qualified. I know one of the girls in the cohort above me went over for a year newly qualified and loved it. My advice would be to look around and figure out an area you might be interested in, then the first real step is to collect documentation to get registered with AHPRA (the oz equivalent to NMC if you like!). This can take a long time and can be very stressful and there's a lot of documents to gather before you even think about sending it off! Play around with google and see what you find that you like. I'm currently waiting to hear back from a hospital in Brisbane (I had an interview last friday!). PM me if you want to know more, i'm happy to help! Marie x

Cinders5055 - Woken up to a very exciting email this morning! I have a phone interview next week. Nervous now....... never had a phone interview! Any tips for preparation? I'm a hospital based midwife in Yorkshire. Hope to go out in May. I read the mater's relocation quide last night, seems absolutely fantastic. Fingers crossed! Marie x

I applied to the Mater in Brisbane this weekend. Not sure they will accept me because i'm only 18 months qualified! Fingers crossed though. How have you found them?? The hospital looks great! Marie :biggrin:

Thanks for the info guys. Yes my money was done through melbourne office although I had not sent it there. No further e-mails yet! Hoping to hear something soon. Started applying for jobs in the meantime so fingers toes and everything else crossed!

Hi everyone Just recieved an email saying my application (for registration as a midwife) has been recieved (it's taken 3 weeks to reach them I may be tempted to use a courier next time). Just wanted to ask if anyone had the email address and phone number which is the best one for badgering them? I am going to be that pushy woman at the end of the phone! I did read the email address somewhere on here before but stupidly didn't copy it down and now can't find it! If anyone could pop it on here i'd be ever so greatful! Thanks Marie :cute:

Wow that is a LONG time. Now I really really hope they have everything they need. I think it's best to be prepared for a long wait though. Thank you

Thats just about the same as I have. I sent my statement of entry from the NMC but have read about needing to send something once they have my application, what exactly have you requested? Also I contacted AHPRA and told them about my work/ training and they gave me a list of things to prove I had been taught in English which meant I didnt have to do IELT's (I have printed and saved the email they sent me saying this) I feel this could be where I come unstuck! Do you have a job yet? Where abouts are you looking at going? Marie x

Hello everyone! My name is Marie i'm a midwife in the UK. I just made my first active step towards the big move. After months of collecting documents, chasing schools and university to prove I am english speaking, breaking the news to my bosses to get a statement of service etc etc etc I just got back from the post office. Application form and certified documents x100 (yes i'm exaggerating) sent. Signed, sealed and well I have a tracking number so hopefully some time soon it will be delivered. From all I have read I believe the hard bit starts now................ read so many horror stories. Spent the entire morning going over and over all my documents convinced I have forgotten something, no doubt I have. Is there a way to check the status of your application? Wondered what everyone's varying time scales have been? I read somewhere last week to expect it to take 60 -90 days. Wish me luck?! Sounds like i'll need it! Marie :smile:

P.s I thought about the socialising thing .... I don't want to end up a lonely old maid! ha

Do you know of any websites that advertise house shares??

I would definitely consider a share. Thankyou for the quick response. Are there any suburbs where rent is a bit cheaper?

Hi everyone I have researched lots about Brisbane but not it appears NSW may be more of realistic option for me. Thats why I wanted to post this as I haven't researched much. I seem to be drawn to big cities so naturally am looking at Sydney and the surrounding suburbs. My main worry is I wont be able to afford rent/ car loan and everything else as I guess prices are a little steeper and from what i've looked at (briefly) today this seems to be the case. I know it's a difficult question to ask as everyone's lifestyle differs so much but I wondered if anyone might be able to help me. I'll be moving on my own I'll be earning roughly $57000 pre tax. I'll need to rent, have a car and it would be great to have some on the side to live a little................?! I guess this must vary from suburb to suburb but how much would a 1 bed place be to rent? I'm not into fancy cars so how much would a bog standard car cost to buy/ run? Can I afford to live in or around sydney on my own with that wage is my main question or am I being completely unrealistic?! Thanks Marie