snaik

It took 6 months for them to initially refuse (which I knew they would do) in order to refer me to the bridging course. You would think I simple no would be quite a quick and easy thing to say!!! Having ti travel to Melbourne and do the bridging course was easier than dealing with APHRA!!

Never thought this day would come. Have recieved my nursing registration from AHPRA at last. Has taken nearly a year from the time i originally applied!!:jiggy::jiggy:

The other girls that were on the course with me were all there on 3 month visitor visas. They can then apply to APHRA and for visa. Most were looking to get sponsered but that was because they didn't have enough years experience to get the points on the pr. The course itself I found pretty mind numbingly boring!! The 4 weeks theory had a few good refresher points but not many. Then the 4 weeks practice was well pretty pointless too! Most people get placed in small private hospitals where there is not much to experienced. If you plan to work in a busy public hospital then it won't really help although it did help me with getting used to different drug names. Anyway the way I see it is as a means to an end. I couldn't nurse here without it so just had to get on with it and not complain.

We got vodaphone $30 payg sim when we got here and my husband has carried on with it (I changed to a monthly plan as my iphone died and had to get a new phone). Anyway never had a problem with coverage and the unlimited data and international calls at the weekend is brilliant.

Don't wait too long before you apply to Aphra they took 6 months to reply to me and refer me to a bridging course. You can apply while waiting for your visa, you get 12 months from when they refer you to actually start the course.

Sorry to hear that ANMAC have changed to be in line with AHPRA. Makes sense though I suppose. I am a diploma nurse but got my positive anmac last year, so thankfully got my pr but then refused registration by Ahpra. I have done the bridging course now but there are no courses that cost $7000, more like $12000. It may be worth applying for your APHRA so that you can get referred for the bridging course, as you can't do it without being referred.

Hi Louise, Ask as many questions as you like!! Yes I did know someone out here. We came on a reccie last year and I met up with a friend who had lived here for 3 years. I hadn't seen her for 16years but it felt as if it were yesterday. She very luckily offered to put us up when we first got here. We arrived on a thursday and on the sat we went rental hunting. I think we saw 9 altogether but it was the last one we loved. It was a nice townhouse on a complex with pool, right price, right catchment area for the school we wanted. We did pay 6 months up front because neither of us had a job but we had the money from the sale of our house so was ok. Also meant we didn't have to worry about rent everyweek while looking for jobs. We moved into it about 10 days later. It could have been quicker but the previous people hadn't moved out. I did look at places while in the uk but to be honest you have to see the place in the flesh to get a feel for it. The girls were ok about the move. The youngest was the easiest she's up for anything!! The eldest a bit harder work,but then shes hard work anyway, like a blinking teenager already!! I do love living here it felt like home as soon as we got here. As for better lifestyle yes I think so. Hard to say really. We all seem happier here. You still have the same day to day things to contend with eg: school run, sports, traffic, work but everyone seems happier doing it!! People don't seem to moan all the time like in UK. Theres nice things to do on weekends and holidays without having to travel miles. I don't think anything in particular is more expensive except kids sport. petrol is like half price and most other things pretty similiar at todays exchange rates. We didn't plan on bringing loads, We bought our sofas and some IKEA playroom furnuiture that we had. The rest was just boxes of stuff and husbands tools and bikes. Wish we hadn't bothered with the bikes as real cheap here anyway. The tools would prob have been better of selling and replacing as they don't seem to work as well having been cleaned so much so as customs wouldn't complain!! Its nice having a few bits and pieces of our own around like ornaments and photos but if I were to do it again (which I don't plan to) I wouldn't bring nearly as much. I wouldn't bother with any kitchens bits really. All real cheap in K mart plus you end up buying stuff cos the ship takes so long!! Also once all our stuff arrived I was like jees where the hell am I gonna put it all!! I also love the excitement of buying new things!! How long do you think til you get your visa? Are you on a 189? When did you apply?

My husband has set up as a handyman since we moved here (brisbane) this year. He has managed to find work everyday, there seems to be alot of carpentry work available. We chose Brisbane over Perth partly due to more work opportunities here and also didn't want to be so isolated. Do love Perth though, but very happy here in Brisbane.

Hiya, I moved out to Brisbane from Wales in January with my husband and 2 girls (7&11yrs). We are living in Wishart, south of brisbane. I was the one that really drove the move as I got the visa on my occupation (nurse). However since being here its my husband who has worked, setting up a handyman business and doing really well. I on the other hand am still waiting for my registration from Aphra. Having now completed the very expensive bridging course it will hopefully come through this week!! I have done a weeks work now as a care assistant with an agency so at least thats a bit extra money! I haven't regretted anything since moving here. Not missed the UK at all. The kids have settled in school life here really well and made some good friends. Its just the older one that moans quite a lot cos she doesn't like being too hot!! But I'm sure she'll get used to it in time!!! We have rented since we got here. Original plan was to buy after 6 months but because I haven't a permanant job yet and OH being self employed we can't get a mortgage yet so will rent for a further 6 months. Can't wait to get our own place though. We did ship stuff over, but to be honest once it arrived apart from our sofa I could have done without most of the rest!! Did my head waiting for stuff and would have been easier just to have started from scratch. Furniture is particularly expensive if you are happy with IKEA and A Mart stuff!! The only thing I don't really have yet is friends, not having a job has made it hard to get to know people and obviously my husband works alone so isn't getting to know many people. So would be very happy to meet up for a cuppa or something with anyone willing!!!

Are the meet ups child friendly?? Wouldn't be able to come otherwise !!

Sounds good to me!

Well done on getting your registration, it sure is a long hard process. I moved to Brisbane in January and am still waiting for my registration. Nearly there though, done the bridging course and just waiting for AHPRA again!! Anyway have a friend who works at a hospital in Bunderberg she is a nurse unit manager I believe. Anyway will see if she knows of any vacancies for you.

I understand how you feel. To be honest though AHPRA seem to make up there own rules as they go along or change them just as you think you understand what they want!! Only way you will ever know for definite is when AHPRA either grant or refuse registration. The wait for a refusal seems to take loads longer than a grant for some reason, so your prob best off just getting the application in and hoping for the best but expecting the worst!! That way there's no surprise if they refuse and refer to bridging course, but if they grant then, well, happy days!!!

You r right. Diploma is aqf 6 but need aqf 7 to register. Ahpra will say this is the only part she doesn't qualify on and therefore refer her for the bridging course. I dont think there is anyway round it. I just resorted to thinking that if i wanted to nurse in aus then i would have to go by their rules and grin and bear doing the course. It was only short and very easy.

She still wouldn't be able to get registered here with that as they insist on degree, but if she applies they should refuse but refer her to do the bridging course. Without the diploma they prob wouldn't even refer her.