Originally Posted by Amazulu

Can you get x-rays bulk-billed? I'd be interested to find out more about this

Super is often overlooked when somparing salary/packages. For most people it is least an extra 9.5% on top of salary - a not insignificant sum

Total super is now close to $2 trillion - much bigger than our GDP of about $1.5 trillion. In anyone's language, that's big

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

Definitely and Ultrasounds, not sure about MRI's though.

Ring around the local providers in your Yellow pages or via google.

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

You can get those tests bulk billed you just have to find the correct service provider. When a doctor prescribes a xray or blood tests you dont have to go to the provider he stipulates. You can take your form to ANY provider and they will still do the tests as prescribed. So it pays to ring around and find your local bulk billed provider.

Personally I get 5 weeks holiday per year, plus public holidays and right now I'm sitting on 180 days long service leave, which I can take at half pay if I want and double the length of time. IE: I can take a full year off at half pay after 19 years. These conditions are provided by Australia Post. We also get 14.5 pct superannuation, the average full time postal worker (Postie/Night sorter) is sitting on an income of circa 70K per, (As long as your doing the average amount of overtime, of about 4 hours per week averaged over a year, so for 42 hours per week) annum Plus 14.5 pct employer super. Compare that to the Royal mail in the UK. We also get holiday homes and other perks at a very cheap rate. That would apply to all the fulltimers in the Aus post work force of circa 35,000 employees, which is one of, if not the largest employer in Australia..

My wife a Mental health Nurse earns more, has similar condtions and has slightly more Long service leave after 20 years in the Melbourne Health System.

I'm not sure that anywhere else in the world gives it's employees 6 months of off work on full pay after 20 years servce ? On top of their normal holiday entitlement.

Edit forgot to add, after 20 years and not taking many sickies during her time in the Government hospital system my wife is sitting on circa 35 weeks sick pay entitlement. I'm sitting on about 30 weeks.

Originally Posted by OzTennis

Of course LSL originated in Australia, NZ and India to allow those working in the colonial service to have an extended stay in Blighty. i.e. we have LSL because of Ping Pong Poms which is ironic that LSL is questioned by same.

"Long service leave is a benefit unique to Australia and New Zealand (and possibly some public servants in India) and relates to their colonial heritage. Long service leave developed from the concept of furlough, which stems from the Dutch word verlof (meaning leave) and its usage originates in leave granted from military service.

In the 19th century, furlough as a benefit as it is now known, was a privilege granted by legislation to the colonial and Indian Services. In Australia, the benefits were first granted to Victorian and South Australian civil servaknts. The nature of the leave allowed civil servants to sail 'home' to England, safe in the knowledge that they were able to return to their positions upon their return to Australia.[citation needed]

The concept spread beyond the public service over the period 1950 to 1975, mainly as a result of pressure from employees seeking comparability with the public service.

Nowadays, long service leave is ingrained in Australian culture and is specified by state based and some federal legislation. Interestingly, it is often not taken when it falls due, leading to calls to reduce long-service entitlement in the public sector."

Originally Posted by sam&molly

So after twenty yeas you get the entitlement that you get after 12 months in the Uk. That sees balanced.

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

Definitely and Ultrasounds, not sure about MRI's though.

Ring around the local providers in your Yellow pages or via google.

Originally Posted by OzTennis

Of course LSL originated in Australia, NZ and India to allow those working in the colonial service to have an extended stay in Blighty. i.e. we have LSL because of Ping Pong Poms which is ironic that LSL is questioned by same.

"Long service leave is a benefit unique to Australia and New Zealand (and possibly some public servants in India) and relates to their colonial heritage. Long service leave developed from the concept of furlough, which stems from the Dutch word verlof (meaning leave) and its usage originates in leave granted from military service.

In the 19th century, furlough as a benefit as it is now known, was a privilege granted by legislation to the colonial and Indian Services. In Australia, the benefits were first granted to Victorian and South Australian civil servants. The nature of the leave allowed civil servants to sail 'home' to England, safe in the knowledge that they were able to return to their positions upon their return to Australia.[citation needed]

The concept spread beyond the public service over the period 1950 to 1975, mainly as a result of pressure from employees seeking comparability with the public service.

Nowadays, long service leave is ingrained in Australian culture and is specified by state based and some federal legislation. Interestingly, it is often not taken when it falls due, leading to calls to reduce long-service entitlement in the public sector."

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

I wonder what percentage of the Australian workforce gets this federal entitlement nowadays though ? It definitely used to be the vast majority, when I entered the Aus workforce back in 1980. I'd say it's possibly below 50 pct these days with all the contract employees out there.

There is definitely a two tiered employment system in Australia though, Those with federal award protection and those on contracts. It's a lot like carte blanche in taking advantage of those people that dont know the Aus work environment, for the base worker at least.

Originally Posted by sam&molly

So after twenty yeas you get the entitlement that you get after 12 months in the Uk. That sees balanced.

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

One other thing about the LSL, is after the 10th year, you dont have to wait another 10 years to get another lot, from the day you qualify you are credited 9 days extra leave per year.... 12 days in my wifes case (in Victorian government health services) for some reason.

Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee

Is that the case everywhere? If so - woohoo!

BB

Originally Posted by sam&molly

So after twenty yeas you get the entitlement that you get after 12 months in the Uk. That sees balanced.

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

Well it is with both of us BB.... Pretty sure thats universally the way LSL works.

Originally Posted by bcworld

I'm pretty sure it's not the way it works...just to be clear, you're claiming that after 10 years there is suddenly additional annual leave entitlement?

Originally Posted by bcworld

I'm pretty sure it's not the way it works...just to be clear, you're claiming that after 10 years there is suddenly additional annual leave entitlement?