Lass81

Hi BradfordBull I managed to obtain my job through a emigration exhibition, WA Health & SA Health were there recruiting and I pretty much got the job right there and then. This was five years ago, But you can contact the hospital direct and I know there are recruitment "pools" for the Fiona Stanley hospital. Which consists mostly of UK nurses. If you contact the hospital direct I would advise to have you AHPRA registration sorted or in the pipeline at least. Agency's are not really helpful from my little experience with them, but Nurse west is a nurse bank system where you are employed by WA Health, that the hospital's will try and use first. Agency nurses seem to be used and abused here, cancelled at sort notice and sometimes told to go home during the shift! You can also get contracts that are internal as a pool nurse, where you have a set amount of hours and the hospital has to honour it wether they need you or not, in this case you will be expected to work in all areas of the hospital. Paediatrics being included in this as Australia has no specialised training for paediatrics. When I moved out only Mental health nurse were getting relocation costs as they are really in demand, but no don't think you will get any help if you a general nurse. Also I would advise you to make sure you have a signed contract of employment before you come. We were mucked about a bit and it wasn't a nice experience when just arrived in a foreign country.Good Luck :biglaugh:

Hi and thanks everyone for your replies! It helps to know your not the only ones going through this! Melza thanks your right we have to go with our gut feelings and just do it. And I would kill to have some muddy wellies and a bit of good old drizzle right now. Lady Rainicorn thanks for your reply I have been reading some of your old posts already and feel for you, but glad you back and feeling happier. we just feel really home sick for the country itself really, the green grass,green fields, trees, wildlife, seasons. We lived quite rurally and miss going for walks and the scenery. We miss family, but there has been issues with some members of our family, some have just decide to stop all contact like we are gone and forgotten! But there are elements of resentment almost that we left, it was our decision so we have got to live with it. Which is true of course but we are still your family and feel let down. There was never much support from family in the past so we know that is never going to change. We left the UK to give our kids a better life, to live out doors more and have more family time and less work. Which is not the case, my husband works long long days and when he is off I work, so never time together and we both feel like single parents at times. The kids are now saying when is daddy coming home and do you really have to go to work? We have been to marriage counselling and individual therapy since being here, one thing Oz has done for us is make us a stronger couple. Still got so much to think about and I know a trip back would be helpful, but don't think it's on the cards financially. We went back two years ago for four weeks and it was nice. In October so it was cold and damp but then we knew it was only a trip and it felt like a holiday. We are starting to look at areas and jobs, so we will see what happens but Quoll I think your right we do need to set a time limit as I'd hate to drag the kids back when they get too much older. But most of all I just want to feel like I belong! Watch this space :confused:

Hi all I have been reading lots of threads on here for a while now and have decided to post and give a brief outline of our story and see what kind of response I get and any advice would be welcome. My husband, 2 kids and I have been living in the Perth area for almost 5 years now. Homesickness has always been there coming and going, but over the last year I am feeling more and more desperate to get home(to Scotland). My husband is too and we have talked loads about what to do, how to do it, and is this the right thing for us as a family??? We both work full time, my husband works long hours and we feel like we never have enough time together and with the kids as a family. While we earn more here in Australia we feel like at times we are just getting by and could easily come undone. We are still renting which is a complete nightmare. Which I think has not helped us settle at all. We came to Australia with debts from the UK and set up a repayment plan for them which is finishing at the end of this year, so we will be better off then. We did plan on paying off our debts with the sale of our house in the UK but lost £20,000 on the sale price. At the time we were just glad to get a sale so quickly as we had to get over to Oz to start work etc. What we have decided to do for now is keep saving as much as we can and in a year or two see how we feel then. But to be honest if I had the money I would be off tomorrow! How do others stand this feeling and how did you reach the decision? We are really worried about making a mistake. The kids have said they would like to live in Scotland but they were only 4 and 18 months when we got here. I'm pretty confidant on getting work back in Scotland, but just not sure if we would move back to the same area. I feel like we have gotten our selves into this no man land situation and may never feel settled again! To those of you who have gone back how long did it take you to settle and any tips would be really appreciated. Sorry if this is a bit long winded, Thanks in advance xx

Hi there, this is my first ever post on here! But just wanted to say hi and that I'm a nurse in Rockingham WA. We have been living here for almost five years and I work at the local hospital. It too has recently had expansion and new wards, departments. It has gone from a country hospital to a almost three hundred bedded hospital. I know Bunbury is expanding and has a HDU which I've heard is very nice to work at, but can be quiet at times. One of the problems here is all the really acute care happens in the main hospitals in Perth. All trauma goes straight to Perth and if your looking for any Cardio/Neuro/ that too is based in Perth. Not too sure about Bunbury but I know Rockingham has had a drive on for more surgeries, we have only started doing orthopedicts and GI surgery. Which is making the hospital busier, it is difficult for this area to get the doctors needed to come out of the main city areas, but the services are defiantly needed and will come in time. But Bunbury is a very lovely area, good luck