Chris Harrison Posted July 5, 2015 Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 Hi there folks. Well me and the wife have bit the bullet and decided to try Perth next year for a at least couple of years and most likely stay if we love it. We had a great holiday in Perth last February visiting with my wife's brothers (both now citizens) so got to see a bit of whats life like there; admittedly through tourist tinted glasses but we loved the whole more outside lifestyle and the general way of life (if not though a little expensive). Having family and some friends there already it makes sense to go as we have no kids and no family here anymore, to at least give it a try. I'm a 43 year old mechanical fitter by trade and my wife is a Nurse Practitioner in the community (see is currently a manager of community care team) so it really makes more sense to us to try for 457 visa temporary visa if she can get a job offer. The cost and timescale of obtaining a permanent visa (189) is putting us off that route. Are there any Nurse Practitioners on here? As a fitter the main draw of work for me would be to try a fifo mining job however I'm not too keen on working away from home (though I would if I had too) and from what I understand this industry is in a bit of a slump. Do any engineers know what the state of the engineering industry is in Perth area itself? Also would I need to do the licences for a mechanical role, I've heard that its not needed unless you a sparky or gas engineer? Getting them shouldn't be a problem but as I understand it takes a little time and on a 457 visa you can only do that once you are there. I would ideally like to be working soon after I arrive. We have a house and mortgage here so would need to either rent or sell. Renting makes the most economic sense but would like to know are you liable to taxed in Australia on rent earnings in the UK? Anyway thanks in advance and what a great little forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted July 5, 2015 Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 Hi and welcome to the forum. The 457 has some pluses, but you need to also be aware of the negatives. If you have children, they will be subject to school fees and if they go to further / higher education, then they are regarded as international students - so very expensive. The visa is also tied to the job, so that if your wife was to lose her job, there is only 90 days to find another or leave the country. Normally for nurses, this is not a major issue, but we are living in uncertain times. However, if you are only thinking about a couple of years, then the 457 is a good option. However, without knowing your wifes age, it may be useful to look at getting a PR visa fairly quickly if you decide you like it - cut off is 50. You are correct about mining being in a downturn - with thousands laid off, it is a bit more than a slump. You would not need any licenses as a engineer. It may be worth looking at seek.com.au to get an idea of jobs I am sure some of our other members with comment further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wee_me Posted July 6, 2015 Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 Hi The professional part of your wife's nurse practitioner qualification, that is, the prescribing, assessing, diagnosing part won't be recognised here. Nurse practitioners are having a pretty rough ride of it just now- they are having hours cut and jobs are hard to come by. Medics here (on the whole) don't want NPs it's quite political The NPs role here is not as autonomous as UK NPs. Nirsing here is very (very) different. Patient load smaller, autonomy is very limited- they actually have "doctors orders" lol However, in saying all that... good opportunities for UK nurses and money is better. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted July 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Thanks for the info. The wife is younger than me (33) and we don't have kids that will be coming with us so we are not worried about schooling costs and the 457 visa seems like the best option for us. We have considered going down the PR visa route and it is something we are still thinking about. March next year would a great time for us to go as it ties in with some many other things going on in our lives atm. Interesting info on NP roles is Perth and that would explain the lack of NP jobs we are finding. She is also looking for roles as a clinical nurse specialist / consultant / manager roles too but we are aware she may have to settle for a more junior role if need be and she's prepaid to do that to get her foot in the door so to speak. Thanks for the seek.com.au site suggestion. I've had a good look and there are roles for me there. Not a lot,but there are some there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 I would start looking at the APHRA requirements for registration for your wife as this can be a very lengthy process - it was taking over 18 months, not sure now. I would seriously look at the PR visas - the prices are not that much more than a 457 and give a lot more flexibility. Also, the partners of 457 holders can have issues finding work as they are only here temporarily. Of the total costs in the move, the visa fees are only one part - you need enough funds to get established, rent, bonds, short term accommodation, shipping furniture and many other things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted July 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 Thanks for the reply. Some bad news yesterday. We were making some enquirers with some migration agents as we were considering the PR route and we've been told that my wife would be unlikely to get her APHRA registration as she studied her nursing at diploma level and she would require a bridging course (IRON). It's doesn't matter that she studied up to MSc level after, they base it on you pregraduate course. We've checked this with APHRA aswell. So we've got 2 options... A. Study for 2 years part time here to gain the 120 points needed to boost her diploma to degree level costing £5000. She really isnt keen to want to take on another 2 years study though as she's just finished 5 years study B. Travel to Australia and attend a 13 week IRON course which costs $12500. This would mean giving her job up here. So lots to sort out at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 If option B is the choice - she could apply for a career break. Also, speak to a Uni regarding a top up degree, with prior learning, she may find she only has to do a few units as some of the ones she recently studied may be able to be credited. It shouldn't take her 2 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wee_me Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 Hi did your wife do the community specialist nurse course or the advanced nurse practitioner course? I know you said that you have contacted people but.. to my knowledge what you have been told conflicts with what I understand. Your wife has effectively topped up her diploma with a nursing course at degree level (or above) Has your wife directly spoken to AHPRA/ANMAC? It would be different if your wife's MSc was in something other than nursing- did she explain the qualification? Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted July 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 If option B is the choice - she could apply for a career break. Also, speak to a Uni regarding a top up degree, with prior learning, she may find she only has to do a few units as some of the ones she recently studied may be able to be credited. It shouldn't take her 2 years. She spoke to her old course tutor yesterday and the system of topping up uses the credit transfer system. The most credits you can transfer is 240 leaving her needing 120 points to make the 360 for a degree. Open university do a 2 year part time course for which you study 2 60 point level 3 modules. Other universities we've found running a similar course are around the same timescale or longer. Hi did your wife do the community specialist nurse course or the advanced nurse practitioner course? I know you said that you have contacted people but.. to my knowledge what you have been told conflicts with what I understand. Your wife has effectively topped up her diploma with a nursing course at degree level (or above) Has your wife directly spoken to AHPRA/ANMAC? It would be different if your wife's MSc was in something other than nursing- did she explain the qualification? Good luck Her MSc is in health care practices and she has also has her nurse prescribing (independent and supplementary) ....I'll see if I can find her transcripts later and post up the modules but this is the degree course .... https://www.essex.ac.uk/hhs/cpd/pathways.aspx We've phoned AHPRA and spoken too a couple of immigration agents and the say its the pre-graduate course they base it on (ie her diploma), anything she's done postgraduate doesn`t count. But we think this doesn't make sense as any top up course she would do in the UK to convert her diploma to degree would also be studied as postgraduate.... so according to their rules would not count, but we know this isnt the case. It's a huge grey area and the only way to find out is to apply for her pin so this weekend we are gathering together her transcripts, certificates etc and get started on her pin application to AHPRA. Need to find a justice of the peace or the equivalent here then to countersign. They dont make this easy do they lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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