Toots

So far we have been lucky here. Husband rarely sees a doctor and apart from having to see a cardiologist every 12 months I steer clear of the doctor but we have friends who need to see specialists for appointments and procedures (Medicare) and they are seen to fairly quickly. However, a neighbour has a spjnal problem and the waiting list for her is nearly 3 years - mainly because there isn't the specialist available here in the north. There are a couple in Hobart but as I said, the waiting list is nearly 3 years. If things get any worse she may have to go to Melbourne for the op. Certainly anything to do with cancer is quickly treated after diagnosis at the hospitals in Burnie or Launceston. The main problem is staff shortages.

I can only speak for the area of Scotland I am from (Kirkcudbrightshire) which when I was growing up was a thriving place with a local cottage hospital and a much larger hospital in Dumfries. The cottage hospital closed a few years ago and the big hospital is struggling - long waiting lists. The roads are in terrible condition and never seem to get fixed and now there is a problem with drugs. Dairy farms have been sold and now many of the farm workers cottages are Airbnbs. Most of the towns had a police station but they've been closed too. There were a lot of other changes too the last time I was there but it still has beautiful countryside and my friends there all seem happy.

That made for fairly depressing reading but according to some reports I've read here, Australia isn't all beer and skittles either ............ probably not as bad as your article though.

You could have a look at this https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Accreditation/IQNM/Before-you-apply/Immigration-and-employment.aspx The agency you previously used was a total waste of money. Only ask advice from a qualified MARA agent. Paul Hand is a MARA agent who is a member of this forum. You can't come on a working holiday visa if you have a child. The previous agency you used should have known that.

@InnerVoice is a British forum member living in Cairns. He hasn't been around for a wee while though.

Whilst you experts are around ................... I've forgotten how to edit my posts. Thanks!

I really like the area around Evandale which is about 18km from Launceston. We were there yesterday. There are some lovely old buildings in the town and beautiful gardens. We had lunch in the Clarendon Arms circa 1820. Nice homely atmosphere and good food!

I read this UK area of the forum but from now on I won't participate in it. From personal experience with one or two posters in the past, things can get quite nasty. I can't be bothered with all that now. It was once suggested by one of those posters that because I am one of the happy people living in Australia that I shouldn't even be looking at the UK area of the forum. Hadn't realised there was a forum law against reading it.

Yes and going by your experience in Marrickville I dare say Manly and Mosman would be even more expensive. Freshwater possibly too.

I know they are around here but rarely see one. They move around a lot when it's dark and unfortunately are hit by cars. A friend had one or maybe two in the roof space so of course they peed and pooed there so the smell was awful. We don't have trees around the house so no dropping onto the roof making a racket. We had plenty of that in Sydney.

Of course the QLD winters are undoubtedly milder than Scottish winters. I know a few people here in Tasmania who spend the winters in QLD. I don't mind the cold weather. The weather that I don't like is dreich, wet, cloudy days that go on for days and days or even weeks. I've not had chilblains since I was a wee lassie - not even here in the cold Tassie winter we are having. Not long until your big move!

We are in for more cold weather again. Brrr! https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/another-snowy-cold-weekend-on-the-way-for-tasmania/

It's hard to believe you can't get any help here in Australia. There are all sorts of agencies here offering various supports of one kind or another. Have you no family here who can help?

As Marisa suggested above, contact My Age Care Australia. Here is the assessment page. https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/assessment/apply-online If refused, ask for a letter stating you were refused for whatever reason.

Never heard of Northern Exposure or Ozark. I rarely watch the telly. Maybe I'm slowly turning into one of those eccentric Tasmanian residents.