Simma

thanks for that, I had a good look. Should be fine

You will have to get formal written consent before a visa is issued. If he does not like to be away from the children, well, then Australia is the other side of the world...that is considered 'away'. Is he eligible for a visa if as you say he would like to come over? It is important to research everything well before you come and look at all possibilities. he has said yes to written consent, but I know that this could change as it becomes more real, I'm not sure about his eligibility but like you say thorough research needs to be done....I'm not gunna get over excited yet just take it one step at a time

Sure is... Oz here I come

Simma:Are you 100% sure the father of your kids will allow you take them over to Oz to live?I would hate for you to go through the expense of everything,visa's medicals ect,and then for your ex to announce that he's changed his mind. Yeah, I hear that its a big ask I know but, we are good friends and he knows my intentions aren't malicious. He may want to come over himself as he does not like to be away from his kids but if that's the case it's for him to do what he thinks is right for himself.

Thanks wellers, I think by the time things are sorted say a year? I will have had roughly 4 yrs experience so should move up the pay scale a little. And from advice given will definetly be considering the pr visa as it seems more stable with the kids and everything. Cheers

I'm not really trying to teach you how to suck eggs, I'm sharing my experience You may not find that to be the truth but I do. The closure of big hospitals does not mean the institutionalised culture ceases to exist. During my training(I started in 2006) I have been mentored by some very backward thinking and institutionalised nurses and thus the ward environment has remained the same. Places where the chemical cosh is the commonly used intervention, and service users are not involved in their care as they should be. I mean on one ward there was uproar when they wanted to introduce electronic notes the staff refused to entertain it and that was only in 2008 I'm not talking about the horrendous stories you hear like back in the asylum days. But in my opinion I would say of course progress has been made but there is more to come. Or at least consistency across the board, as I don't know what area of the country you worked or if you were more community based than ward but that is what I have experienced. I never actually questioned the freedom of autonomy or the frequency of nurse lead services in the uk, The comment I was making was referring to my expectations in oz.

That's fair enough if it works for you that's cool! I don't think I'm unrealistic in my expectations, but maybe somewhat optimistic. Really it's only in recent Years that nursing in mental health has moved away from the drug em up, lock em up culture with the introduction of new policy's and guidelines for care, so I'm not thinking it will be a shock to the system if services in oz may not be as current as they are here. As for autonomy, I'm a big believer in nurse lead services, I don't prescribe to the doctor is God way of working and expect to challenge and be challenged on decision making and ways of practice. to me it's all about the experience, I appreciate your view an will take it into account. It's a big decision to pack up my kids and move away from everything We know however, I'm not selling my soul if it's not for me I come back home simple as that.

Hi there, Does anybody know if having type 2 diabetes affects your ability to get a visa?

I'm very interested in my job I love mental health, I have worked in the same place since qualifying and can see the shortfalls in the service and suppose its easy to pick holes in services all over the world but it's not enough for me to stay put. You must have lots of experience being in the position you're in if it's the case that you have that view why have you stayed?

Aha...so it's crap an I'm gunna catch a cold anyway...myt as well stay at home then lol regardless of funding, I really think the staff make the difference to how successful a service is, where do you work flathead?

Thanx, Definitely worth looking into, how much longer is longer though?

Really flathead? That's surprising to hear I thought they were investing money in mental health services

Ta Sammy, you have confirmed my madness for me, I was thinking the PR would be safer bet over 457 but was just not certain what if any assistance I would be eligible for plus I don't want to be thought of as "scrounging" of the benefits system over there. my snotty nose comment was quite tongue in cheek, I am wholly aware of the ability to catch a cold in a warm country, my nan lives in Jamaica and does not escape it. as for permission I think their dad will be cool we are not together but in the name of adventure and broadening his kids horizons I think he would support me...

Lol nope never heard of such a thing tis ludicrous to think of! Just as I don't expect clouds rain or snakes...they are not things that I picture when I think of Australia

Hi all, I have just joined an wondered if I might be able to get abut of advice on the "big decision" :biggrin: Im 31 with 4 kids aged, 13, 6, 3 and 6 months....I'm sick of dealing with snotty noses every week as one ends another begins it's costing me a fortune in Kleenex so, I'm thinking a change of climate and an adventure is possibly the way forward. I'm a mental health nurse and work full time and will have 3yrs experience in June..I'm thinking by the time the process is in progress next September will be hopefully on our way. I work full time and get child tax credit and help with child care cost s, I'm not living the champagne lifestyle but we are ok. My main concerns are 1, that from viewing other threads the nursing wage in oz is considered quite low I think around 51,000 I know they have a Yearly increment as we do here however 2, on a 457 I would have to pay education fees x4, this makes me nervy as I don't want to be over there on the breadline. 3,if I were to opt for a PR visa I know I wouldn't have to pay school fees but where do I stand with the uk if I wanted to return? I don't have any savings so I would rely on any job I had to get by on, I'm not frivolous with money but I don't want my kids to know what it's like to struggle, is it doable dya think?