madgen

Not sure what area of SW you practice in but if it's CP then why not apply through one of the recruitment agencies? You'll need 2 years post qualifying experience and a SW degree in order to qualify.

Hi Natalie If you put 'social work' into the search box, you should get a number of posts regarding social work in Australia. I had a very poor experience working there as have many many UK Social Workers but some have found it to be ok. Australia is a beautiful country to visit but in my view, not a nice place to practice Social Work. I would advise you to do your research thoroughly before making a decision.

Australia is part of The Hague Convention so UK courts can order the return of a child

Was the hospital role any better than CP role at DHS? Couldn't be worse surely

This has been a really interesting thread. I have suffered similar symptoms for years so am reading the responses and taking notes.

They're called Welfare Workers because most are not qualified. Interesting how the recruitment process looks for qualified/experienced UK workers only to put them with some CP workers who have only had a couple of months training. This is why there is no 'social worker' title in Oz, they don't exist, only child protection officers/welfare workers. My advice, for what it's worth, is do your research fully not only in relation to the job but also cost of living.

Not sure this is true. There are loads of social work jobs in the UK, particularly in CP. I have far more work than I can cope with and have offers of work at least three times a week.

It's interesting how Oz gives the impression of such a great work life balance when the reality is having to work ridiculous hours just to pay the over inflated prices there. When I was in Oz I felt like I was missing out, standing still while the rest of the world moved on. What work are you doing? Still social work? I have to say that I have never felt so unhappy in a job as I did in Melbourne! Before I left the UK I had worked for local authority in statutory child protection roles for 14 years, that's why I was so miffed that when I got to Oz I was given a role in intake which was really little more than a call centre, I never met a client and wasn't able to offer anyone a service. I just think Australia pays lip services to child protection, their systems and processes are so poorly thought through, non existent or prehistoric! I went to Oz on a generous relocation package, when I left, they threatened me with legal action to recoup their money, I told them to go whistle for it and should they ever bother me again then I'd take them to court for mis selling the role and wasting my time ... Never heard from them again. I would re visit Oz for a holiday but never to live/work there. What are your options?

Things are going very well thanks, been no problem securing work back in the UK. Currently working as a Guardian in south west London. You still in Oz?

correspond via email, this way everything is in writing and can be used as evidence if needed in court

I'd hardly call Australia 'paradise', far from it!

Interesting. I'm a self employed social worker and I have more work than I can cope with. I'm contacted for work sometimes twice a day and earn big money. Never had a problem sourcing work since returning from Oz.

you're not social workers by any chance are you????

Oh Yes! For sure, promised a dream and got a nightmare.

There are many very informative threads regarding social work in Oz. I would advise you strongly to read these thoroughly and really do your homework before commiting. Social work in Oz is not social work as we know it (or maybe as we knew it 30 years ago), tread carefully.

all areas offer sponsorship, they're desperate!! Just advise you to do your homework thoroughly especially if you're looking to child protection social work!

sold mine on gumtree, sold the first day! sold other items on gumtree as well

Yes we moved from Melbourne (near Frankston). We live near Bath and were in Melbourne for 5 months. Had planned on being in Australia for minimum 2 years but the job was so horrendous we decided to make a swift exit! Miss lots about Australia, would like to return for travelling/extended holiday but never to live/work again. When you looking to return to UK?

I used CHESS 18 months ago when I returned to the UK, they were absolutely fantastic! I would certainly recommend them. They were a good price and delivered a superb service.

I was working in Melbourne and the term was used on a regular basis along with disrespectful and racist terminology to describe many ethnic minority groups and those with mild learning disability; it was one of the reasons I left along with the fact they weren't open to challenge and infact became quite defensive when challenged. Australia is a good 30 yrs behind the UK in all their social work practice, they adopt theoretical frameworks and models of practice from the UK but only really pay lip service to it, I never really observed any of it being put into practice. I struggle to comprehend why in recruiting social workers from the UK they insist on such high calibre workers particularly when many of their own workers in child protection are unqualified and they don't listen to anything we have to offer anyway. Perhaps this is one of the reasons they are on this constant merry-go-round of recruitment from the UK. Might be worth a look at retention rates too.

Everyone to their own. Having just returned from Oz I can assure you that the cost of living is very high and it really is a load of twoddle people trying to sell the 'reasonable lifestyle' chestnut. Food and cost of living in general is an absolute rip off, utilities expensive etc. I did not have an excessive lifestyle, fortunatley I did have a second income from the UK otherwise I'd have been stuffed! There's no competition for essentials such as school uniform, I nearly fell through the floor when they charged me $126 for a jumper and cotton dress (wouldn't have minded if it had been half decent but it looked like something from the 1970's!!). Don't forget to use the cost of living formula to assess salary (Salary divided by 2.4) and then factor in you'll be living in an area more expensive than London. I'm quite frugal with money but wouldn't want to have to try and manage that again. Good luck

Interesting point given a number of aussie SW's I worked with regularly referred to 'Abo's' .I'd never heard as much overt racism and prejudice as I did working as a SW in Australia, it was disgusting.

Absolutely nowhere near enough and don't believe anyone that tells you any different!

would be interested to see how you get on and the responses to your post

You don't need to have your degree approved. You will be more than ok with what you have to offer. Have you considered contacting Reeds International, they do all the visa, skype interview etc for you. I did this route but SW in Australia wasn't for me and I happily returned to the UK last year.