Maria18

Hi Do you know what the job opportunities in VIC for Mental Health Nursing? Originally, our first choice was NSW or QLD to move to and work, but I have since found out that with NSW you need a minimum of 12 month work ex in Australia. Thank you for any info in advance

Thank you Raul. I am a registered Mental Health Nurse. I have been informed by my agent that I will need to do the English test to increase my points as I don't have enough without it. (In total after English test, I will have 70 points), and hoping for either 190 or 491 regional visa in VIC.

Thank you, Pooja. I think I will be going for the OET. Do you know if this is still as recognised and accepted as the IELTS? Congrats on getting your visa by the way. Are you in Aus now?

Thank you Amber. I will note these down also. This is why I came on here, to get some ideas of areas etc

*I think that's plenty of time to look for jobs etc (Spelling error!)

It turns out that the most sought after place for RMN is VIC. (Been informed through a few agents/agencies etc) We wouldn’t be moving unless I was invited to apply and granted a visa. Then by then (looking at around 18 months by then), I think that she plenty of time to look for jobs etc. We’d like a pool though so was just wondering.

Thank you so much, great help starlight. I will note these down and look into them. Do you know what the rental business is like in the Eastern suburbs? Are there always some available or is renting a house pretty hard over there?

I said it once in a question, and what I meant was I am looking for some info on good suburbs - in certain parts of VIC as we were not sure where to begin to look at as it is such a huge place.... Bigger than the whole of the UK. This is why I am mainly asking this question. We have no idea where to look/cities/suburbs/parts.... all we have to go on right now is VICTORIA. As we have just decided that we will only be submitting or EOI to VIC, we are now in the process of finding out more about the state. I never thought that VICTORIA was a city. I am going off the state that we are putting our EOI to. I know all of this, hence why I am asking for more info on places in the whole of vic, maybe I should have stated suburbs in cities in VIC. I presumed people would know what I meant. I am aware that it is different, and that is a good thing for us as we enjoy to venture to new places. We aren't going to Aus for the climate as such, we are going for many other reasons. Thank you for your advice.

We have began the application and are spending the money as we go along, so APHRA/ANMAC/IELTS have all been paid for, as has our agent fees etc, so finances now aren't a problem for us as we both work full time and have been saving for this since 2015. We haven't spent anywhere near £30,000 and don't intend to. We rent here so don't have a house to sell. We will stay in an air b&b for the first month or so when we get to Aus and then rent. We are very flexible with where we go in VIC. We are selling all our furniture here and storing only what we need or want at families homes, so we save on storage and won't be transferring furniture etc to Aus. We will buy basics for our accommodation there. We don't plan to stay in Aus, as we want to buy a house in the UK in the future. We just want to try it out as it has been my dream for almost 10 years and if it doesn't work, at least we tried and have no regrets.

I'm not sure where you get the idea I have 'little to no idea what the country is like?'.... This forum is for people to ask questions, find out more info etc yet each time I post you are the first person to appear and make these kind of comments. We visited Australia last year for over a month. We travelled Sydney/Brisbane/Gold coast/sunshine coast. I have family in Sydney, family in Adelaide and friends in Cairns. I am asking here about VICTORIA as I have decided that is where we will be submitting our EOI. The questions I have asked are normal questions for someone moving to a new place. Nothing out of the ordinary for a family with a child to be moving to another country. Like I said, it seems like you jump on every detail on people's posts and I am unsure why... My question was a normal one asking for some info on a part of the country we have never been but would like to.

Hello After a lot of research, we have come to the conclusion that VICTORIA is where we will be putting in our EOI (Around march/april next year hopefully) I am just looking for some info on anyone that lives or has lived there as we really want to begin looking at areas/regions and are at a bit of a loss where to begin! My son will be 13/14 when we move over, myself and my partner are 34. We enjoy time outdoors, will be renting for first couple of years at least, I am a Mental Health Nurse and my partner is a Health Care assistant, so would ideally like to be local - ish if possible to good secondary schools, hospital etc. I have tried to look at rental prices for a 2 bed (hopefully with a pool) in a suburb in VIC, but i'm not sure what suburbs to look at! Just for an idea really of prices and to get a bit of a plan going regarding savings/outgoings etc. What are the beaches like in VIC? Is there a lot to do on days off etc? (parks/beaches/water parks/theme parks/water activities?) Sorry for all the questions, haha. Just thought i'd try and put it all down here and hope I get at least a little more idea. Thank you in advance

Thanks for your responses everyone.

Hi Does anyone know what states/territories are in need of Mental Health Nurses the most? I have been trying to research this and cannot seem to find anything on it. I currently work in a low secure rehabilitation ward for adults age 18-65. I have 2 years experience plus 3 years training, including a selection of 12 placements in a variety of settings, and a degree in mental health nursing. I am just interested to know what locations I would be looking at at this time.

I am interested to know if having AHPRA makes you more likely to get invited? Does anyone know this? Could I ask Lee, how long did you have to wait to get your registration from AHPRA? and did you have to go to aus to present in person?

Hi This is a little off topic as I am a nurse (mental health), quailified for 2 years almost. I have 70 points in total as I have no points for experience as yet (that comes after 3 years), but by then my son will be older and its getting harder to move the older he gets so we wanted to get it started asap... My agent tells me I have a strong case with 70 points for a 190 or a 491... (I'm aware not in WE or QLD) so we would be hoping for VIC. Does anyone know if she is right here, does being a nurse make a difference when it comes to having 70 points or is that still too low for a 190? There is no way of upping my points at the moment, Its 70 with the English test.

Thank you for all your replies. I have applied with AHPRA but am aware I may have to wait longer than usual for this. Once I am invited to register, I will either fly out to Aus or ask them if they can maybe extend the period to present in person from 12 weeks to longer. My agent told me to get the nursing registration first before skills assessment as said it will maske my chances of passing modified skills assessment easier, but then I learnt I would have to travel there and that I didn't necessarily need the AHPRA at this stage! It's been a very stressful process up to now as I have been finding out most of the information on here or through other websites but as I am contracted to my agent, I cannot cancel as I signed. It has upset me a lot as to get any information from them I have to call numerous times... Next step is to wait for AHPRA, then a possible trip to Aus, and in mean time skills assessment. (Or I may have to cut my losses and lost the £365 to AHPRA and apply later down the line if they can't put it on hold for me). I need to do my English test also and as long as I pass skills assessment, I can put in the EOI...

Hi! I'd love some information on what life is like in Darwin. I have been slightly put off by reading that it is quite built up and business like with lots of dangerous insects, haha. Is this right? Are there beaches near by and what is the outdoor lifestyle in general like? My son is 12 and will be 13-14 when we get over (If we do!). We love the outdoor life and to be able to go to the beach on our days off and be around parks etc. We were hoping to go to QLD, but with my work experience, doubt very much we would get invited. I am just hoping for a personal view on life in the Northern territory. Thank you

Hi I do think having an agent is for the best as they will help and guide you through the process. I made a mistake and went for a company that has probably caused me more confusion. (Nothing I can do now as I signed a contract). We are paying £480 a month over 5 months, £2400 in total. I'm sorry, I'm not sure what this is in dollars. This is GBP. I would check that the agent is MARA registered, you can check this through the MARA website, just need to enter their names/business name and registration number, and then go from there. Remember also that it is an expensive process as it is, so there is no need to spend a lot of money on an agent as yes, they help and guide you, but a lot of it I have learned I could find out and do myself. I think it is later down the line when it comes to EOI and lodging visas that maybe I will see the benefits of what I am paying now! Their services include sending me links to everything I need (skills assessment/English test etc, and then they are on hand to call for questions and queries). Good luck with everything!

Hi Could someone please explain the difference between the IELTS and the OET? I have been told to do one of them and have no idea which is best or more beneficial to me! I do have an agent but I am just looking to hear from someone who has done these tests! Thank you

Hello, I am wondering if anyone has any experience living or working in Canberra, Darwin/ACT/Northern Territory. Originally I only researched QLD/NSW as that is where we wanted to go, but it seems we may have to look elsewhere due to my work experience (I have 2 years only as a Mental Health Nurse). The homes I am looking at for ideas all seem very different to the ones in other parts of Aus, and the areas seem to be a lot more built up and business like.. Is this right? What are the beaches like in Canberra/Darwin, and the outdoor lifestyle in general? We would be going to Aus mainly for the outdoor lifestyle and opportunities for my son (age 12 now), so I would just like some more information from people who have or do live there to hear some real thoughts! Thank you for any info you can give me!

I've been told that they have temporarily closed all visa applications for the skilled visas.

Hi After the news today about closing the visa applications, I am wondering if anyone has any ideas on what I should do regarding my ANMAC skills assessment and English test. My migration agent told me that Eng test is valid for 5 years, and skills assessment for 3 years - but then I have applied to register with AHPRA and was hoping to get out to Aus to present in person to register by Jan 2021 (as I applied 4 weeks ago, and it can take 12 weeks to process, then I have 12 weeks to present in person before it runs out). I am worried that if I invited to register that the registration with AHPRA will only last a year and I will then have to pay again and possibly return to register, and with all this I am worrying that if it runs out after 12 months, we may not be over there by then. (Jan 2022 was our end limit really with my sons age etc). Thank you for any advice you can give me! PS - I was applying for either a 190 or 491 skilled visa.

Can I ask, are your jobs on the skills list, Chris?

Down Under Centre seems fab.

Hey So I am currently in the long process of applying for a 190 or 491 visa, and I will have to travel to Aus within the next 6 months to register with Nursing company, APHRA. I am wondering if anyone knows what city I will actually be best travelling to. My migration agent has not yet informed me of places where I can/cannot work or move to, and we are struggling with how much we would need to save without having a bit of an idea about what part of Aus we will be going. Originally, we had a preference for QLD, but we heard that unless you have 5 years minimum work ex, they won't invite you. So now our next option would be Adelaide, NSW or Perth (although I have heard that Perth is supposed to be the toughest to get into). Does anyone know what we are best going for. I have heard that the Northern Territory is the most likely, but it doesn't seem to appeal to me... My son will be 13, almost 14 when we get over there and I would like a famiy friendly suburban area, close links to school and hospitals etc for work.