ITU Nurses.

[Mou]

hi all, my names Jo can any itu nurses/ any nurse give me some info about the possibility of getting a sisters or managers post in Perth. i have 15 years experience as a itu nurse and have recently had my role extended to research nurse which i really enjoy most of the agencies in uk keep saying i'd get a job no problem but would have to start at the very bottom which feels me with dread having gained 15 years of experience that i wish to take forward. can you also tell me how flexible they are with shift patterns as i have two young boys i would have to get off to school once my husband gets a job

Many thanks JO

[ali]

You need to apply for level 3 positions but to be honest not many are appointed into those positions from overseas and you're up against people who know the system here and often have been acting up into those positions.

I'd been nursing 25 years and was a G grade band 7 ... started back on the wards here as a level 1.9 ... got a level 2 position within 6 months (now in a managers position). It's not impossible to go directly into a level 3 position but the competetition (also candidates might be available to start quickly if already in Oz).

Flexibility will depend on the individual hospital/department

[Mou]

hi Ali thanks for responding... i have just gained my G grade i think thats what makes me think twice about takeing that final step... where do you work? have been offered a job at level 2 at Rockingham do you have any feed back on this hospital? what is your field and what hospital did you work in the UK?

[ali]

I work in mental health, I worked for a crisis resolution team in Preston (lancs), I now work in Armadale. I would take the level 2 job there are usually plenty of opportunities to put in expressions of interest to 'act up' and as a CN you'll probably be shift co-ordinator

[Mou]

hi Ali... can i pick your brains again... is it worth? have you heard of ? how does it work ?.... salary packaging completely over my head it was mentioned to me by a Doctor we have on the unit from Perth.

Jo

[ali]

I do salary packaging for the mortgage, they take out $300+ before tax then that sum gets paid into your bank account. You can do a maximum of $9,500 I think I'm with smart salary and you pay them a fee do it. You can also do salary packaging for a car (you have to do so many miles) and for entertainment - eating out etc., The latter was heavily abused here in Perth to the point that it was investigated by the tripple C (corruption and crime commission) and people lost their jobs.

Coming from the Uk we thought "what's the catch" ... there doesn't seem to be one lol.

Smart salary and paridigm are the two providers here in WA

http://www.smartsalary.com.au/

http://www.paradigmtsm.com.au/public/default.aspx

[Mou]

HI Ali, thanks for that, sorry to keep bending your ear but you have been very helpfull. I,d like to buy you a imaginary glass of wine....cheers.

JO

[ali]

Gratefully accepted .... now the bottles open we may as well have another x

[Mou]

HI Ali, Its Jo again can you tell me what Fremantle is like? Possible job offer as a CN in 6 months on a 457(is that a good visa?) would like to know about schools price of housing buying/renting?? any feedback you can offer will be appreciated. This time i'll be sending you a imaginary Bottle of Wine.

JO

[ali]

Alma street is a good hospital .. part of South Metro where I work. The 457 is a temporary visa ... so you need to be asking them if they will sponsor you for PR and how long it will be before they do it. - We came on a PR visa so I'm not sure of the ins and outs but someone will certainly be able to advise you.

Fremantle itself can be a bit expensive to rent ... I only really know of John Curtin (high school) which has a good reputation. Bensdad lives in Hamilton Hill next suburb and he likes it. I live about 3 suburbs away in Leeming ... I think I started a suburb thread on here and wrote about Leeming and also copied something from PIO about Hamilton Hill. When I'm on a course at Alma Street I catch the bus to save parking and the bus passes right outside the hospital.

Have a look on realestate.com.au to give you an idea of areas/rental prices etc., Don't know if this has been much use .. but we may be sharing a real bottle of wine soon xx