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Thanks ladies had a really lovely afternoon and would love to do it again. Kelly I work a 10 day fortnight so next time your Friday off comes around let me know. Hope you all enjoyed it too, Maria xxx

What if we reserve a table for poms in oz and then ask on arrival?, the staff can direct us then!

Amy, a few newbies from the UK to Perth are meeting at 11am at the Dome in Mullaloo, come join us. None of us have ever met before, maria xx

Hi Maria, more the merrier, all welcome. Maybe next time Deb x Who's going then? Meet at the Mullaloo Dome at 11am. If we sit near the window and look anxious I'm sure we'll all find each other lol. See you there, Maria x

Can't wait! Got the kids booked in to their fun day at gymnastics so I'll be free to chat. Meet you all there. How will we know who's in our group? Never been to coffee with a group I've never set eyes on before lol. Bit worried I'll sit myself down in a group that isn't you lot haha, Maria xx

Who wants to meet Friday 4th, kids will be off school so either we can find somewhere where the kids can play as we chat or I can arrange them to be at one of their activities that day and have a ladies only meet up. I was thinking about 11. Who is coming? Ideas on venue also welcome! Really looking forward to meeting some new people, Maria x

Hi Lysa I was thinking during the day for this meeting (whilst the hubby is at work), with working full time including weekends I don't really want to go out as soon as hubby comes in from work. It's the only family time we get. I'm on leave soon though so could do an evening x

Hi Lysa, yeah come join us. Friday 4th is looking hopeful if you can make that? but if not as I'm off Thursday too I can force myself to meet for coffees 2 days in a row :biggrin:

Tanya Jordan Cleary, I know you said you get every other Monday off. Is it always Mondays or any chance of changing days? I can't swap and seem to have always Thursday or Friday off, Maria xx

Looks like quite a few of us in need of a meet up! How about if everyone posts 1or 2 days that they can be free in the coming couple of weeks and we'll see which can accommodate the majority of us (or hopefully all of us), girly only meet ups at weekend's are out for me as with working full time I spend it with the hubby and kids if I'm off. I am thinking though if a few of us can meet and get to know each other we can then have some family meetups too. It'll be great to have a circle of friends to have BBQ's and trips out to parks/beaches etc as the weather improves. I'm free this coming Friday 20th or Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th Oct, Maria xx

Looks like quite a few of us in need of a meet up! How about if everyone posts 1or 2 days that they can be free in the coming couple of weeks and we'll see which can accommodate the majority of us. As a girly only meet up weekend's are out for me as with working full time I spend it with the hubby and kids if I'm off. I am thinking though if a few of us can meet and get to know each other we can then have some family meetups too. It'll be great to have a circle of friends to have BBQ's and trips out to parks/beaches etc as the weather improves. I'm free this coming Friday or Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th Oct, Maria xx

Hi Mizzmp, once the weather picks up do you fancy us arranging a BBQ and get together at the beach/park somewhere so all the kids and hubbies can meet too? We are all pretty close as KLM081 says, Maria xx

Sounds good, we should arrange something. Pretty tough when all working I know! but if we all give some dates we can be free we should find one, Maria xx

From what I can remember and from looking at all my letters you need the IELTS before applying to ANMAC. They are notorious for losing stuff so it's better to send everything together anyway. However start getting all your documentation ready to go. Don't forget to ask that IELTS send a copy of your results directly toAHPRA! Get the NMC to send your verification document to ANMAC and AHPRA (the office in the state you intend to work) now though to save time (and money if you do both at same time). Toodalou I got 15 points for a diploma (I actually had an advanced diploma but that counts for nothing). I do think Australia counts it as equivalent of a degree but it doesn't mean anything once through the process or gives extra points. Good luck girls. One last piece ofcadvise...read everything and dot all the I's and cross all the t's. I had some documentation sent back from AHPRA as I hadn't put the date next to my signiture on an item (even though it was at the top of the letter). The CV and CPD paperwork has to be exactly what they've asked for,Maria x

Hi, I've recently moved to Perth (Kingsley) from Yorkshire in the UK and I'm missing my friends massively! I used to have a big circle of friends but due to working full time mostly Monday to Friday up to now I've not met many to socialise with. I have 2 boys aged 6 and 8 and a hubby who is mountain/road biking mad! I'd love to meet other ladies who are limited on time due to work/kids/both that would like to meet up for coffee, walks, trips to the beach etc and who generally are in a similar situation and would like to increase their social circle and feel less lonely!! Maria xx

Ask away (may not be able to answer as our agent did all of the behind the scenes and paperwork stuff). The visa was much quicker than we expected, I'd heard of nurses waiting 2 year plus, I believe it was because of us choosing Perth and Perth alone (we were adamant on that). South of the Swan River the new Fiona Stanley Hospital is opening which needs hundreds of nurses, plus all the hospitals north of this are scared of losing their staff to Fiona's and are in a mad recruitment drive. Personally I reckon you've opted for the best possible time to apply. I won't lie it's hard and we've had moments of "I want to go home I hate it!" You miss friends a lot, and family plus everything is new and different and quite frankly odd!, there's tons of stuff to organise and do and all while your stressed and tired BUT I can't imagine actually getting on the plane and going back. The life for the kids is amazing and when off together and you hit the beaches, parks and marina's it's like living on a holiday. We have to remind ourselves its only been 4 months as you want things like new friends and a social circle immediately but it doesn't happen, your too busy. However slowly but surely we are meeting people and making friends. We have moved north to an area called Kingsley which is nice, plenty of space and not all British. We didn't want to just swap our old lives for one in the sun. We wanted a new way of life totally and so immersing yourself with new cultures is the way to do it. Also remember the long term goal! If you aren't loaded (as we weren't!) when you first arrive you work all the hours god sends as its VERY expensive here, however once my husband is sorted with his permanent job I can cut my hours right down and we'll be living the life we planned. Maria xx

Also forgot to say I'm in perth too! They are crying out for nurses as the new big hospital is opening. You'll get a visa super quick. Have you thought about a state sponsored pr visa? We went through a migration agent who sorted all this for us. Well worth it, one thing less for you to get your head around! Maria x

If you have kids personally I'd avoid the temp visa. You aren't entitled to any help or child care benefits (such as the old type family allowance or whatever it was called) should you need it. You will also have to pay school fees of up to $5000 per child. You don't pay school fees on a permanent resident visa and if you do become ill (or break a leg!) and can't work you'll have financial support. If you are struggling to afford the visa you'll definitely struggle once here. We came on a permanent resident visa through my work as a nurse and from starting the process to sitting on the plane took one year but that was by choice, things were ready 2 months prior to this. We had to borrow the money and pay it back on the sale of our UK house. It's expensive butvin the long run will savd you money, hassle and worry. If you love it in oz and want to stay the process of getting your pr once here is more difficult and costly. Good luck and always happy to share what I've learnt along the way if that helps. It's still fresh in my mind as we only arrived in May, Maria x

Sounds great, I moved to Kingsley Perth from the UK in May, I work in a small team who live nowhere near me so my social circle is...well, non existant! I had a lot of friends back home and did coffee and breakfast etc all the time after school run so really miss it. Would be happy to meet up. I have 2 boys aged 6&8 and a mountain/road bike mad hubby, anyone in the same position?

Hi Donna, We want to go on permanent visa's rather than sponsorship. My husband is a fireman and so it will be a good while until he can (hopefully) get in the service in Perth. I don't want anything as high up as I have now, not when getting used to a new place, I want to be around enough for the kids and the hubby will be taking part time casual work until the kids are settled and sorted. I emailed Joondalup hospital to find out the name and email address of the ITU manager and the next day she emailed me herself asking me what job I wanted and when we were going so sounds good!! Just recovering from fullblown manflu and still have no voice so not progressed since. We are going out to Perth on the 13th (arriving 15th May). Going to have a good luck around the hospital and Yanchep, Alkimos ?two rocks and Butler (although trying to work out what we can afford with cost of living etc is a nightmare). When do you start your job? Will pm you my facebook name. Maria xx

Thanks for that Donna, Firstly good luck for when you do start! We too have been drawn to two rocks/ Yanchep but was put off by the distance to work but 35 mins is certainly doable. Our youngest is also 5 so I'm glad you like the school that is also nice to know. What visa did you go on and when did you get the job (ie after or before you got there?). We are only at the very start of the journey but its nice to see others settling in. In the Uk what band were you and have you managed the same in Oz? Thanks (I may be bombarding you with questions, sorry!), Maria xx

Thanks for that Sue, it would be very much appreciated if you could keep in touch and let me know how they (and you) get on. Still trying to decide on a place to try and settle, further north gives us much much more for our money but the pay off of a long commute. I do wonder if a hospital will appear further north in the years to come as areas around Yanchup, Alkimos and two rocks are becoming more populated. You never know we could all end up starting at a similar time would would be lovely. Thanks a lot Maria (if I get to know anything of interest I'll let you know)

Hi, I hope there is a critical care nurse/Dr out there that can answer my question? I am a lead nurse in ICU in the UK and am currently in the process of emigrating to Perth (early stages). In the UK ICU beds are funded by payment by results (now changed to organs supported), this determines the funding (budget) we are giving the following year. How does it work in Australia?? I can't find any info that proves helpful. Thanks, any comments on funding in Perth would be beneficial prior to any interviews (and just for my own knowledge as I feel very out of my depth!!) Thanks x

Thanks for that, it is probably a bit too far then (especially seen as I'm used to a 5 min drive at the moment!!). As you work in Joondalup and live in Butler what are the pro's and con's of these places for my family to live?, would you recommend them? Thanks for taking the time to answer, Maria x

Hi my name is Maria and we are embarking on the big move!! I am 34, married with 2 boys (5 and 7). My husband is a fire fighter in the UK and hoping to eventually get in the service in oz. I'm an ITU nurse (band 7) with 13 years experience, hoping to work as RN/CN in critical care. We have been looking at rental properties around Perth. I've seen Two Rocks which has some lovely new homes to rent close to the beach with reasonable rents (which both excites and worries me!!). My question to those of you brits living in Perth is... what do you think of this area for my family (in terms of friendlyness, safety/crime, schools etc etc) and secondly, what is the nearest hospital to two rocks?, I don't really want a long journey early on a morning if I can help it but it seems all the hospitals are crammed together at least 50 mins away. Also anyone in Oz an ITU nurse? if so what do you think of it? How can I apply for jobs that are for internal applicants only? does working with that hospital via an agency count as being internal?? just wondered how to get my foot in the door! I keep hearing Oz is crying out for experienced critical care nurses but have yet to see it in the job adverts! anyone know if this is the case. Thanks everyone, all comments and advice very very much appreciated. Maria x