Paige03

Thanks for your replies. I have a 189 visa so no visa commitments issues. I've had a better morning today at work...I lack confidence at times. I'm finding it harder here as we stayed with our  friends for a month before coming here and didn't really want to leave but did just for work. I'll keep going, only have rental for 6 months, then re-evaluate. Thanks though! 

Hey,

So I've recently moved to a regional area in QLD for a nursing role. I started last week, I don't really like it here, everyone is really nice but the role is very different to the UK and we're missing our friends who live in a different area of Australia and we are missing living there too.

I only moved here for work. It's lovely where we live but we don't really want to be here.

Anyone else left their job very soon after starting? I feel bad but we're not enjoying it here.

Thanks/ Any advice?

I'm in Mackay, QLD. They've got another couple of flights to contend with after quarantine. I hope you get your babies over sooner rather than later. Keep this thread updated  x 

That's great news! Worried sick about my two. Can't wait to see them again 

Just wanted to second what @Patphillips47 has said about Golden Arrow as we are using them. My dogs fly out tomorrow. We had an issue 2 weeks ago with one of them at their penultimate vet check and Golden Arrow were great at sorting it out. I thought they were going to have to be separated so know how devastating that feels. Really hope you get it sorted quickly x 

I booked the car through Expedia about a week before arriving. I've been phoning the agencies and have popped into a few offices. It's all quite slow. I've been asking for 2 weeks to view some properties and they're only only just getting back to me with inspection dates. 

Good luck to your husband. I'm not based at the hospital as I'm community. In fact I don't even know where the hospital is yet 

We moved to Oz last month, have just moved to QLD. My son is the same age as you (Jan 2000). He comes over next week for the 6 week school holidays and is then heading  back to the UK at the end of August to finish his 2nd year of A-levels. He was adamant he didn't want to go back to 'school' if we moved here. I'm lucky that he's got my parents to live with there. He's coming back out next year, once he's completed his A-levels to do uni here. I agree that 17 is a difficult age to move and this is best for my son but may not be what's right for you. All the best! 

You'll need to take an English test such as IELTS or PTE-a. You'll get 20 points for superior English, which means getting 8's or above in all 4 areas of IELTS or 79 or above in all areas of PTE-a. I did IELTS so don't  know anything about PTE-a. You can take the general IELTS for points however check what the requirements are for the skills assessment you'll need as some occupations e.g nursing require the academic, but I don't think that would be the case if you're a mechanic. 

Hi. I'm here now. Been here just under a week. I hired a car through Expedia- Redspot/Enterprise at the airport. Had no issues. I'm finding it hard to find a rental, but that's because I'm fussy, have 2 dogs coming over and needs to be walking distance from the Northern Beaches High School, for my daughter. We went Bucasia beach in the week. It was lovely and was empty. You'll find a rental fine, as long as you don't have as many restrictions as me 

Weather's been lovely, mid 20,s. So far, I'm liking it. We're not big city people. Have your husband check out QLD Health website. There are nursing jobs on there. Or try Seek/Indeed. 

I assuming this was the academic one as it's for ANMAC skills assessment? If she needs 8's for the points, have her sit the general test, which in my experience is a little easier. I missed out by 0.5 on writing for 8's on academic, but got 8,8.5,9,9 first time on general, for the points. It's worth a shot!

12 hours ago, Geordielass44 said:

Ooooooh exciting!!! Have you secured a rental or are you looking when you arrive? Will be really interested to know how it goes! My husband asks what area of nursing do you work in? We arrive the 16th August :-)

Haven't secured a rental yet, I'll look once I'm there, although I have been looking online. Houses look lovely though. I'm a child and family health nurse (health visitor in U.K.). What line of nursing is your husband in? 

Hey. I'm in the process of moving to Mackay also. I have also accepted a job offer there. Im a nurse too. Im in Adelaide at present but should be heading up that way next week. I'm also flying my dogs over from the UK. There seems to be a lot of nursing roles available in that area and I was offered the role whilst still in UK. I'm sure your husband will be fine.

We used Crown. House was packed up 6th April and container taken to docks; container docked in Adelaide 2nd June, cleared customs last Thursday/Friday. 

I was wondering if that's what you thought. Good luck. My ANMAC only took 2.5 weeks to process last year. 

What do you mean by 5 year standard? Have you not practised within the last 5 years?

5 hours ago, GiveAGirlShoes said:

Do Ahpra do skills assessments? They're certainly not responsible for mine?

I thought the visa process was concerned that you have the required skills, so you get them assessed (ANZPAC for me). Ahpra is just a registration process to enable you to use your skills.
As far as I'm aware there's no need to go through Ahpra to get a 189?



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You're correct. AHPRA don't do skills assessments for nurses, ANMAC do. This is a good example of where to do your own research. 

Queensland health often advertise for permanent positions at their children's hospitals. 

12 hours ago, Eera said:

I live in Rural View, and I recommend parts of it.  There's an awful new estate that was put in a few years back (Plantation Palms) that has tiny blocks, no offset between houses and a hideous one way system.  They've also redrawn boundaries so Blacks Beach Cove is part of Rural View - AVOID!  I'd probably also tend to avoid the newer estates like Richmond and Settlers Rise as they have no infrastructure there an you need a car to get everywhere.  The more established areas at least have bus routes and shops.

Mackay Council has one of the best publically-available GIS systems in Australia, it's called MiMaps Mackay (google it, it's got a .gov address so I can't remember it off the top of my head)  You can find all the info you need such as public facility locations, bus routes, flood maps etc on it.  Some areas are low-lying and flood prone.

Sports facilities are pretty good.  My boys both take part in Little Athletics, there's great swimming coaching and all sorts of sports; at this year's sports sign-on day there was something like 100 different clubs represented.  We are also about to start construction on a proper running track and athletics facility, and 50m pool which should be completed end of next year.

Right now weather is perfect; mid teens at night, mid twenties during the day.  During the Wet it can be hideous; think of the sort of weather that Singapore or Bangkok gets and you won't be far wrong, we are in the tropics though so it's to be expected.  You basically just get on with it during these times.  We are within the Barrier Reef area and don't get any surf.  There are lifesavers around and while the beaches look marvellous, we do get a lot of box jellyfish and other stingers, so only swim where the lifesavers have dragged the water and declared it safe.  On the plus side it's coming up for the 100-year anniversary since anyone was eaten by a crocodile in town.

People either love living here, or hate it.  It's not Melbourne, but there's everything you need (assuming designer clothes and symphonic orchestras don't feature high on your list of requirements).  The town is traditionally a sugar-farming town, but has been supported by coal mining for the last couple of decades.  There was a huge downturn a couple of years ago, but the radio said yesterday that Mackay now has the lowest unemployment in regional Queensland, plus the mines are back up to full capacity and there are four new ones in a 3 hour radius of town, going in over the next couple of years that is promoting a huge amount of optimism.

Please feel free to pm me if you want specific information about anything.

Hi Eera.  Thank you so much for this information. Very helpful. I'll definitely be in contact.  I just hope I get the job now  

34 minutes ago, Bobj said:

Err...Umm, Mackay is a great town for young people, sports wise. It has possibly the best sporting facilities outside the Brissie environs.

Know nothing about schools, though a couple of local kids like the high school.

All the usual shops are in the supermarkets and downtown A good air service for those who need to fly.

Jo and I only go in once a week for groceries and, where we live, it is a 35/40 minute commute (48 km)

I take it that you are in the nursing profession? $410 m was spent on the new Base Hospital a few years ago.

Suburbs? Best, as far as I'm concerned are Rural View, Nindaroo and Bucasia, on the northern/north west side and West Mackay. New estates are quite good, like Settlers Rise at Erakala and Richmond Hills at Rural View.

@Eera lives in that area, so she might have more info for you.

Cheers, Bobj.

 

Hi Bobj. Thank you for your reply. We've been looking at Rural View, so glad you've said it's a nice suburb. My daughter will be pleased about the sporting facilities. From what we've read and seen, Mackay looks nice, so we're going to give a try. And yes, I am a nurse; good guess

7 hours ago, mrsgellerby said:

Wow, thats really quick!! Did you use an agent too Paige03?

No, I did it myself. I was a very straight forward case. 

Both my ANMAC and AHPRA came back within 3 weeks last June. Very quick turnaround!

Hey.  I have a possible job offer in Mackay, QLD. I've never been there before. Can anyone give any advice on nice suburbs and schools.  I have two teenagers, 17 and 14.  Thanks. 

I'm in the same position at the moment. I had a phone interview 3 weeks ago (I'm still in the UK, working for my employer). Was told I'd hear back within 3-4weeks. The woman who interviewed me came back after 10 days asking if I was still interested, then contacted my references, has asked me to get documents certified and sent me recruitment paperwork to complete..... but hasn't actually offered me a position, so I'm not sure if I've got it or not

I'd be interested too. Arrive in Adelaide 13th June. Staying with friends in Woodcroft.  Will hopefully still be there long term...work depending x 

Hi Paige, thanks for getting back to me. I am loving the SCPHN role in the UK and don't want to go back to clinical if I can help it. I was hoping there would be lots of opportunities for child health nurse, so feel a bit deflated at the moment. Hubby is in the RAF so a huge decision to leave the UK.

Hiw long as the whole process taken you?

Sorry, didn't mean to deflate you, it just seems as though Adelaide don't advertise much for the role. I saw that WA health were advertising last month and there's always lots of roles NSW way (I don't want to go to NSW). I started the process last March, had skills assessment and AHPRA by end of June, but my daughter needed an operation so we had to put plans on hold until after as didn't know if she would pass medical. Applied for visa 2nd October, granted 16th December.