Midwife and Electrician hoping to head to Perth within one year

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Hi all,

 

I am a registered midwife with 2 years post registration experience. My husband is an Electrician just about to update himself by sitting 17th edition. We have finally decided to start the ball rolling to emigrate to Perth.

 

Understandably very excited. Booking the IELTS for 22nd October 2011, then planning to sort out my midwifery registration by getting my docs certified etc. I am going down as the lead applicant on the VISA, just wondering does my hubby also have to sit IELTS as he is on the skilled list too? Does he need to have docs certified etc to work in Perth?

 

Very confused. Feel like i've read the handbook a million times:arghh:.

 

Hubby has some contacts in Perth for work, but they haven't mentioned about him needing anything special except 17th edition would be helpful. I am going to start investigating hospitals in the area we want to move to (Secret Harbour / Port Kennedy).

 

I understand I need to get confirmation of my registration sent from the NMC to the Australian equivalent, but I've heard people mentioning having their school of midwifery send transcripts:arghh::arghh:. I'm very confused and eager not to mess it up.

 

Maybe I should just go with an agent and take some of the stress out of the whole thing, as although we live in Glasgow I work in London and spent around 2.5 weeks a month away from home doing constant 12 hour shifts!!!

 

Thanks in advance for any help xx Julie, Alan and Cole (age 8)

[Guest alanjuliecole]

We are planning to apply for the

[h=2]Skilled - Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175)[/h]

[welshie]

Hi and welcome!

 

My hubby is an electrician and he will need to do a LOT of paperwork to get his license over here. Im sure there are a few ways to get it and maybe even a few ways round it, but i'll quickly summarise what my hubby did.

He completed his 17th edition in the UK, then applied to get his trade recognised through ATRC. He then used his ATRC to apply to Energy Safety here in WA, who then granted him his restricted license and permission to sit a two week Electrical Licensing Course. Once he completed and passed the course, he was issued with his A Grade unrestricted license.

 

It is a pain in the backside!!!!

 

Just be aware that a lot of companies won't be interested until you have your license. My hubby was lucky to find a company that took him on with the restricted license and he was supervised until he got the A Grade.

 

We live in Secret Harbour, im from somewhere near Glasgow too.....and once my little one starts school I will be studying midwifery!

 

If you need any help, just give us a shout

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Thanks Welshie,

 

Thanks for the reply. I've heard people talk about a blue/white card for Electricians - is this the recognition from ATRC you are referring to? I suppose as I'm the main applicant on the VISA I got caught up with my qualification transfer and forgot he would have to work too!!!!

 

We would love to live near Secret Harbour - will keep you informed of our progress - or lack of!!!

 

Seriously considering using an immigration agent as we don't want to mess anything up xx Julie

[Guest alanjuliecole]

I'm confused.....a 457 visa appears to cost the same as an application for permanent residency - or am I wrong?

[tomabbie]

Hi Julie,

I'm a midwife also looking to locate to Port Kennedy/Secret Harbour also. It will probably be far simpler if you do the whole visa on your qualification as there is a real shortage of midwives in WA. The whole thing is pretty confusing and we have considered an agent also but have sent some prospective emails out to a few of the maternity hospitals in the south metropolitan area and they are very intrested. Just had my first telephone interview today and a few more to come, because of the shortage of experienced qualified midwives over there they are pretty keen to offer sponsorship as well.

 

Happy to chat to you and keep you updated and give you any help you may need.

 

Kirstie xx:smile:

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Hey Kirstie nice to hear from you, I'm happy to be the main applicant. My understanding is the following:

 

Sit IELTS test and pass with at least 7 average

Have all my documents certified

Have my degree "certified" by relevant Australian body

Apply for registration in WA

Apply for VISA - not clear whether this is one payment or two - refers to second payment for dependants with sub-optimal English!!!!

Apply for jobs - or do I apply for jobs and see if I can get a sponsored visa for perth?!

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Thanks for sharing your experience, I will now look into gaining a sponsorship. Have you done any of the groundwork eg. IELTS or have you just gone straight for the jobs? xx julie

[tomabbie]

I have done quite a bit of groundwork, so much my head hurts! I was very confused as to whether I needed to sit IELTS, as some people told me that because I have a degree I wouldn't need it but then an agent told me I would, so to be on the safe side I am taking it next Saturday (17th).

 

You need to check out the APHRA website on http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-and-Endorsement/International.aspx and download the application form for overseas applicants. Its pretty clear about what you need to provide to register as a midwife with them, you will need to get a transcript from the university where you trained (mine cost £10), they also need verification from the NMC if you go to their website and click on the registrations section and request a verification pack, for a fee of £34 they then forward proof to the APHRA. They also need an up to date CV and proof of employment from previous employers, all of which need to be verfied before you can send it off.

 

I just sent in prospective emails with CV letting them know I was applying for permanent residence in Aus, most of them are prepared to sponsor you on a 457 (4 year temporary visa) which processes in 8-12 weeks with a view to sponsoring for a permanent visa after 6 months in the job. The benefit of employer sponsorship means they foot the majority of the costs associated with the visa and you get there quicker.

 

Sorry if this is all a little confusing, happy to clarify things further. Just ask if you need to know anything, I'll try my best to give you any help you need.

 

Kirstie x

[welshie]

Hi Julie,

 

The blue/white card is just a safety card i think. My hubby did his online!

 

Your hubby will have to do all that to get his license, even if you're not using his skill to obtain the Visa. My hubby is Australian and he had to do all that just to work over here, as he did his apprenticeship and training in the UK.

 

 

Laura

 

Thanks Welshie,

 

Thanks for the reply. I've heard people talk about a blue/white card for Electricians - is this the recognition from ATRC you are referring to? I suppose as I'm the main applicant on the VISA I got caught up with my qualification transfer and forgot he would have to work too!!!!

 

We would love to live near Secret Harbour - will keep you informed of our progress - or lack of!!!

 

Seriously considering using an immigration agent as we don't want to mess anything up xx Julie

[Guest Cozzy]

Hi Blue/White card are Construction industry saftey cards required to work. http://www.narbiltraining.edu.au/white-card/

In regards to application we used an agent (generally £1500) and couldnt have got through the mountain of paper work without them.

Good luck

Dave (Cozzy)

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Thank you everyone for all the information - total change of heart. Planning to follow in Kirstie's footsteps and send out some speculative emails with a CV - organise my transcripts etc and try to get registered and see if I can go on a sponsored visa, with a view to making it permanent after 6 months:wink:.

 

I will probably be back with a zillion questions on a daily basis - and can't thank you all enough for the information you have already gave me xx Julie

[nadia and scott]

Thank you everyone for all the information - total change of heart. Planning to follow in Kirstie's footsteps and send out some speculative emails with a CV - organise my transcripts etc and try to get registered and see if I can go on a sponsored visa, with a view to making it permanent after 6 months:wink:.

 

I will probably be back with a zillion questions on a daily basis - and can't thank you all enough for the information you have already gave me xx Julie

 

Hi there, I am a nurse and have our visas ready to go (but need to sell our house!). I secured a job first and they sponsored me for a permanent residency visa. My future employers helped me with what to do next, this was really helpful. I then got myself registered with AHPRA (3 months approx). There is alot of paperwork involved but pretty straight forward. We got our documents certified at the local court for nothing. Once my Ahpra registration came through , the employers sponsored part wasnt long after, then I sent our part of the DIAC . It arrived on the monday and we were approved on the Friday !! We were not expecting it to be so quick!! So definately seek sponsorship. If there is anything I can help with let me know xx

 

Nadia

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Nadia,

 

Thanks so much for the information. I agree now that sponsorship is the way to go, and for the information about having docs certified at the local court. I plan to pretty much follow in your footsteps, and take yours and Kirstie's advice and do things in the same order.

 

We were aiming for November 2012, but if we can get things sorted at our end (house to sell etc) maybe sooner!

 

xx Julie

[Guest alanjuliecole]

We were considering shipping our car over, having looked at the costs I can confirm that this is a rubbish idea!

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Just booking Alan's 17th edition, and he will do the white card online.

 

I have today contacted my uni for a transcript of my training, and applied to the NMC for a verification pack. I've sent in the application pack to sit the IELTS.

 

Getting there slowly but surely!!!

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Will be looking into having the necessary documents certified, and will be trying the local court - thanks Nadia!!! xx Julie

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Hi and welcome!

 

My hubby is an electrician and he will need to do a LOT of paperwork to get his license over here. Im sure there are a few ways to get it and maybe even a few ways round it, but i'll quickly summarise what my hubby did.

He completed his 17th edition in the UK, then applied to get his trade recognised through ATRC. He then used his ATRC to apply to Energy Safety here in WA, who then granted him his restricted license and permission to sit a two week Electrical Licensing Course. Once he completed and passed the course, he was issued with his A Grade unrestricted license.

 

It is a pain in the backside!!!!

 

Just be aware that a lot of companies won't be interested until you have your license. My hubby was lucky to find a company that took him on with the restricted license and he was supervised until he got the A Grade.

 

We live in Secret Harbour, im from somewhere near Glasgow too.....and once my little one starts school I will be studying midwifery!

 

If you need any help, just give us a shout

 

 

Thanks Welshie,

 

Just another question - had a look at the ATRC website re: applying for trade recognition. There are so many prices I don't know which one applies to us!! Any idea how much your hubby paid (I'm sure it changes all the time ). Also, did your hubby have to take the IELTS? I have to for my application, but haven't seen anywhere specifically which states an electrician needs this.

 

Thanks in advance, for all your help!

 

xx Julie

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Hi there, I am a nurse and have our visas ready to go (but need to sell our house!). I secured a job first and they sponsored me for a permanent residency visa. My future employers helped me with what to do next, this was really helpful. I then got myself registered with AHPRA (3 months approx). There is alot of paperwork involved but pretty straight forward. We got our documents certified at the local court for nothing. Once my Ahpra registration came through , the employers sponsored part wasnt long after, then I sent our part of the DIAC . It arrived on the monday and we were approved on the Friday !! We were not expecting it to be so quick!! So definately seek sponsorship. If there is anything I can help with let me know xx

 

Nadia

 

 

Could I be really nosey (but practical!), and ask roughly how much you paid out for the visa, seeing as it was sponsored. I've read that by being sponsored the employer takes a huge chunk of the cost away, but would like to have a rough idea how much to start getting together. Many thanks, I really appreciate all your help. All your experience is making my journey a little easier.

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Hi Blue/White card are Construction industry saftey cards required to work. http://www.narbiltraining.edu.au/white-card/

I

n regards to application we used an agent (generally £1500) and couldnt have got through the mountain of paper work without them.

Good luck

Dave (Cozzy)

 

Thanks for the link - much cheaper than the other provider we looked at. This one is $49 the other one was $90!! Much appreciated xx Julie

 

Is there an expiry date on the card?

[nadia and scott]

Could I be really nosey (but practical!), and ask roughly how much you paid out for the visa, seeing as it was sponsored. I've read that by being sponsored the employer takes a huge chunk of the cost away, but would like to have a rough idea how much to start getting together. Many thanks, I really appreciate all your help. All your experience is making my journey a little easier.

 

We paid $1900 and the employer paid approx $400 (thats for a perm res visa) , you also have 2 payments for AHPRA aprox $500, medicals aprox £800.00(family of 4) NMC £35.00 Napier uni transcripts £50.00. It all adds up!! I never sat the IELTS as everything i studied was taught in english but had to prove this. If you go for this visa your partner can work straight away aswell and there are more entitlements. We done it all ourselves so did not have the cost of an agent x

[nadia and scott]

sorry , forgot police checks at £35.00 each x

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Thanks Nadia - thats a great help. Ideally we would like to go for the permenant residency visa. I'm so glad I haven't booked the IELTS yet! How did you go about proving that everything you were taught was in English? Do the transcripts of your training cover this? How did you get round this as it states on the application that the IELTS is necessary. Thanks again Nadia, I really don't want to pay an agent if possible. xx Julie

[nadia and scott]

My school had shut down so I had to contact local government to write me a letter stating that my school was taught in english, I also got a separate letter from the uni to state the course was taught in English and to be on the safe side i done a statutory declaration at my local solicitors office. It was a bit stressfull as AHPRA kept wanting more info so looking back i maybe should have done the IELTS!! but got there in the end. Have a look at VITAL international for jobs think they are doing interviews soon in Glasgow x

[Guest alanjuliecole]

Hoping to end up in Secret Harbour / Meadow Springs / Singleton area. Planning to spend tomorrow finding out a bit more about what kind of salaries we can expect. Then it might put us in a better position to work out a budget.

 

Right now just very busy trying to budget to pay for the bits and bobs we need to get to Oz!!