theotherphil

Yeah, you're spot on Chris with regards to intubation in the UK. JRCALC have just released their recommendations to replace Intubation with LMA's in most circumstances.

Thanks for all the info!

theotherphil

OK....on to visa's/ ETA's for travel to Sydney for Interviews/ medicals/ testing. A number of people have said that they just used a regular visitor ETA. Were you questioned on entry and what were your replies?

I sent an email to DIAC when I posted my last question with regards to visas. I explained I will be attending for 1 week for the purpose of testing/ medical and interviews. They have just got back to me and replied that I need an Electronic Travel Authority for a business visit, subclass 977.

chris rose

I travelled over last year for interview on an electronic visitors visa that i got from Thomas Cook online. No questions asked at immi.

swigski

OK....on to visa's/ ETA's for travel to Sydney for Interviews/ medicals/ testing. A number of people have said that they just used a regular visitor ETA. Were you questioned on entry and what were your replies?


When you apply for the ETA you have to give your passport no. When they scan your passport on arrival it will then show that you have a valid visa on their system. Mine cost 16$ online and was confirmed in 5 mins.

Anyone else having their assessments week commencing 6th Oct?

teepee

me too. i came on a bog standard eta issued with my ticket from tommy cooks at no charge. no questions asked on entry. make sure you have a look around when you get here and do some touristy bits as well. plan your days to reduce wear and tear on tour feet. most tests start around 1000 and you should be done by 1300 each day.

chris, i look dodgy in speedos mate.

theotherphil

Thanks for that! I'm just checking out flights now....really looking forward to it Think I'm gonna stay at Sydney Central YHA - £165 for 8 nights inc breakfast!

Boweaver

Good place to stay, from Central station you can get to all locations where the assessments are held.

As mentioned I went on the run of the mill touristy visa, said I was on a holiday and made no mention of the assessments (wasn't asked either) spent 6 days in Australia and 11 in New Zealand, figured if I was going that far I'd get a holiday out of it if nothing else.

On a seperate note I see there's a bit of industrial action brewing over there.

http://parramatta.yourguide.com.au/n...t/1274014.aspx

chris rose

That is not an imagei want to ponder on!!!

Yes, i heard it is going ahead, with possibly more to follow next week. Not sure what they expect to get out of it as i understood the arbitration boards decision was final with the agreement of the union???

teepee

sydney yha is right next to central station. from the airport catch the train to central. its a couple of stops and quick and cheap. i think i paid $5 ish one way as opposed to $40 taxi.

when you are at central look for the light rail stop just outside.

catch the light rail to lilyfield (not rozelle bay) if you cant remember the stop just stay on till it dont go any further as lilyfield is the last stop. up the stairs turn right go across the bridge to the main road (lilyfield road) turn left ang walk around 500 metres to helena street and turn right. continue to the end of the road and it drops you opposite state hq. dont go to the training/ education wing but go to main entrance state hq. after go to the lilyfield chicken shop opposite hq for a coffee and say hi to jim. hes a good egg. fare from central is around $5 ish i got a 7 day ticket with the monorail as well and got my moneys worth and save d a few dollars in the bargain.

Boweaver

Teepee, in the intro stuff (Generic stuff for newbies, I assume) it mentions wearing trousers, shirt, & tie until I assume you get a uniform issue. Am I gonna have to go shopping for a shirt AND A tie!

oh and is the course strictly 9-5?

teepee

yes smart businessfor the first 7 days or so. borrow a tie as that only lasts for the first day. just trousers and shirt with normal shoes will suffice. we are heading for summer so it should be warm but they have wicked air con in class so a jacket may be useful. i am assuming you are male. women have more slack so long as you dont show cleavage and wear short skirts. just dress for a smart restaurant. you get measured on day one for uniform. dont know why they bother cos it wont fit anyway. at the end of the week or early week 2 you get an initial issue of overalls.

hours are 8 oclock start every day and it varies between 4 and 5 oclock finish. unlike uk training courses you will work to the end of each day. they have duties to do as well. on a rota you either fetch the ambo from the compound for the day and return or you keep the teal room tidy and stocked or you put the flags up and take them down each day. depending on the numbers on your course you should only do each item once. with the flags, make sure you fold it so it just shows the union flag when placed on the table. its not a requirement but it just lets them know us brits are here!! dont fly it upside down and dont let it touch the floor.

when do you start?

Boweaver

Oct 27th.

A full day's 8 - 4 I haven't 'worked' hours like that since leaving school!

padicman

Hi all,
Just recently come back from NSW and was told at the interview i had got the job offer. Yes i was also told about the driving licence issue as well and they said it should cost about $600 or $700 to do if i go with a driving school setup etc. They told me that we need the LR on our licence because they have large major incident vehicles etc and we may be needed to move them at an incident so its easier if they can just say " jump in that vehicle and move it for us" rather than go asking for someone who has the correct licence etc. God knows why they cannot help us out to get the LR on our licence.

The visa i used was just an normal eta which i got from my flight company. The customs woman asked me what i was coming over for and said job interview and she said brilliant i hope you get it we need more paramedics as you all do a great job in this country and she laughed. Must have had one of those happier customs people that day Try ( DIALAFLIGHT.CO.UK ) out for the flights etc absolutely brilliant £700 for flight from heathrow to seoul then from seoul to sydney. On your return flight overnight stop in seoul included in the price. I stayed in Balmain about a 25min walk to Hq and it cost me $55 to get from airport to my hotel. My seven nights cost me $280.

The tests, do not worry about unless you are a total thicky i worried about them and it was to no avail. Had harder interviews in my current job in the Uk. Had 10 questions in the interview, 2 of them was basic scenario type questions, very basic to us highly qualified UK PARAMEDICS. If you need any advice on them get back in touch via private email using this site.

The main stations they like us UK paramedics to go to are Sydney (SAC), Bankstown and Parramatta, these are the main ones that they have a larger influx of ICP's soon to be known as SPECIALIST PARAMEDICS!!!!!! Just like the UK they keep on loving to change job titles especially my service.

What i would do whilst you are there is have a look at the areas and see what you think.

Finally if you visit Sydney on your days off buy a daytripper for the ferries, it works out cheaper if you want to get around costs $16 and you can use them on all the ferries and buses etc.

Good luck to all the ones that are trying or waiting to go out to do there assessments etc. I hope they sort out the salary thing soon because i also read about the $80,000 salary and was misleading etc. I know people say you will never be rich on a paramedics job, but you need a DECENT pay packet to pay the bills and rent or mortgages!!!
Sydney is an expensive area and even for a basic house you will need to either bring a fair amount of money over or try and get in front of other people on the rental market etc.

Chris Rose and Teepee are giving out the right information as well. Keep it up letting us know whats happening.

Ps also heard New Zealand are ALSO wanting Paramedics as well but do not that much about it at the moment. God will there be any more paramedics left in the UK

theotherphil

Thanks for all that info padicman....it's much appreciated!

I've booked my flights now....flying from Newcastle to Heathrow to Sydney on the 7th Nov and back again on the 15th Nov.

If anybody is going for tests/ interview for week beginning 10th Nov, let me know and we can maybe meet up at some point

teepee

im up for a beer subject to shifts. just let me know where and when.