Many thanks for that
Am staying just round the corner from the medical place, so thankfully will miss that cab fare!
Am flying out on 22nd July ready for Tests starting Mon 27th, and leaving on 2nd Aug. It's a brief stay due to having a new born at home, that at time of writing isn't yet born!

Well, I'm 3 months into it now. Just coming up to start my second 10 weeks where I begin working with an ICP. Will have my panel viva in a couple of weeks. Spent first 10 weeks working with P1's which can do everything except intubate, give arrest drugs, few others like Glucose and few less skills. I found it frustrating at first, as I found myself thinking what I couldn't do for the patient as opposed to what I could do. After a few weeks I have settled into it and have been grateful for having to think less while trying to get used to all the other things like the Ambulances themselves and finding my way around.
The day shifts in the city areas are relentless and with the new award, they do not have to give you breaks, so they more often than not don't. All this means is that for each 1/2 hr break, you get compensated 1 hr's pay. Have only finished on time once on day shifts. Usually a 8 p.m. finish. Nights are better. Fri, Sat busy as you'd expect but had some good nights. 4-7 hrs sleep. The shift pattern of 2 days, 2nights then 5 off is a good balance I feel.
Financial side is a bit easier now on shifts. Averaging about $2,450 take home per fortnight on P1 wage with salary packaging which anyone who's starting soon should make their priority as it really does help. When you arrive you will feel as though you are bleeding money with everything that needs to be done. It soon settles though!
Impression I get of staff is that some are not happy about them employing Internationals to take their ICP jobs when so many of their P1 staff want to progress and the service are not running regular courses. There is also some question marks in the new pay offer about how ICP's are going to be utilised in the future. At present they usually work together and get called to the more serious jobs. They are only stationed in the busier areas. The new pay offer seeks to get ICP's working with lower grade staff thus widening the amount of stations that have ICP's. This is going down like a S**T sandwhich from what I gather.
Anyway, glad I made the move. It has more than got me out of my little comfort zone I was in and has re-focused my mind and got me back in the books.
Good luck to all those undergoing their assessmnets soon.

Hi Swigski, glad everything is going well for you, and thanks for all the advice in the past.
Have you found that staff over there have been 'off' to you personally, or obstructive? Had a made join QAS a couple of years back and she said there was quite an 'atmosphere' with so many Brits joining!
Good luck with your panel viva

No one has been off to me personally. Just a few comments made in jest? Majority of staff are fine/don't care! Have the usual 'pommy' banter. Don't think there is the volume of Internationals joining as in QAS. Just woken up to the promise of another 22 deg day mid winter!!

good luck with the viva swigski, you seem to have it all sewn up but if i can be of help just ask.

Glad to hear it's mainly banter. Only 22 deg? How do u cope!! lol!
Think i'm just about psyched up here for my interview etc, suddenly feels so real, especially after flight tickets came today.
Time to dig out that Aussie bit of money thats been rolling around for ages in the spare drawer

i just celebrated my first year here in oz and in a tipsy moment sent a text to all my new Aussie freinds here saying 'happy pom day' without exception everyone text back with congrats and several said 'good to have me here'. i think wherever you go you will get the occasional a**e but i have only had good vibes from everyone i have met. however, we have the ashes to get through yet.....

my daughter is having a great time at school and is more popular than she was in the uk. (she is 17 and popular is important)

my wife is working for the fireys and again has only had good experiences. i think its because a lot of Aussies travel themselves and so put themselves in our position. heres to the future. cheers!

I wan tee go oz. all the best for your interview/tests etc.

Teepee, swigski, the other phil and robbost, glad things are going well for you guys.

ASNSW only just contacted my lot in uk for references/service checks, after my verbal job offer at end of march!

Rang them last week to say that the October course at AEC is going to be too soon for us to arrange stuff, so now provisionally on first course of 2010 (March I think).

Anyhow, am coming over for another recce next week. Am in Sydney for 2 weeks from the 11th onwards, so if any of you guys fancy a quick beer/coffee that'd be great.

If so, drop us a pm and I'll give my mobile no. to make arrangements etc.

Thanks for that. I have sent you a PM.

Hi to all,
Just to say i have been here now since 7th june and started my induction course on the 6th july as Swigski has said you haemorrhage money on arrival but it does settle down eventually , unfortunately i am the only ICP paramedic on this course , there`s 25 in all , 3 p1 RPLS , 2 RPL nurses , 19 new recruits and `billy no mates` ME! I`m in my second week now and it`s been like pulling teeth , loads and loads of codes of conduct , HSE , infection control and much more ,i now know where the Amazon rain forest is disappearing to...the AEC in Rozelle !.
I got my first chance to chat to a UK Para today who`s doing his VIVA assessment he seems to be going fine , it takes time to get on your feet especially the first weeks at AEC , however all the instructors are really helpful , the class are a good bunch and the p1 `s have been great with me , you may begin to ask yourself what the hell am i doing here but it`s getting easier , i thought that coming out of my comfort zone would be daunting but i`m proving to myself that getting into the books again seems to bring you out of that vegetating state that i was falling into.
For the ones who are making the interviews you will be asked most likely to move at least 2 weeks prior to starting due to the fact that you`ll need you light rigid licence before you start i can recommend the Mcquarie driver professionals in in they charged me $650 for the days assessment and if you want to do the medium rigid the cost is the same , this allows you to drive over 8 tonne vehicles , ask for Brad (now there`s an uncommon aussie name for you!)he a good bloke and makes the day go well.
As regards to the assessments there are none in the 8 weeks , just self study and loads of caffiene ,the only ass`ment will be your VIVA which is 2 instructors asking for ECG recognition and 3/4 orientation scenarios which all UK Paras seem to have passed fine , the instructors seem to have alot of respect for us uk para pommies which is quite flattering (nice bunch it seems).
Anyway , if you guys or sheilas want any advice ....ask Swigski !!!!! , i can oblige too! Take care all and good luck in whatever you decide , just one thing more , when weekend comes i walk to the beach (5 mins away) look across the beaut blue sea and realise exactly why i`m here.Ciao.

Hi, I'm having my VIVA on Fri so hope to meet you then.

Sounds good ...am sure Alf will point you out good lock for friday if i dont get to see you before hand , one question the 2450 AUD per fortnight is that with o/t or just working the unsocial hrs and incidental, speak soon ..

That is the average I have been taking home with unsocial penalties and incidental O/T. It does tend to vary quite a bit some weeks though depending on where you are on the roster I suppose. Some weeks are all high penalties others are not!
Salary packaging makes a few hundred $'s difference too. You have to do that ASAP.

Hey Swigski & Robbost

I've been quietly watching in the background over the past months how you're move has been going. I've picked up quite a bit by reading about the things you've come across like the driving licence, the course and the pay. It's all been really helpful so thanks.

I've been offered a post of ICPara subject to the training like yourselves having attended the interview and testing back in January. They've recently contacted me to say that I could start on Oct or New Year course. But I'm still a little hesitant. Mainly coz I'm not sure how life outside the ambulance service would be. Not sure exactly what I'm asking here, but feeling a bit anxious about cost of renting a place over there, and developing a social life/ network as I'm doing pretty good in that respect here.

Don't know whether these were things that you thought about before moving out but if so just wondering how it all turned out since you got there.

Welcome AHTT i`ll speak for Swigski if thats ok (S) , he`s probably swatting for his VIVA tomorrow!
I think since agenda for change all UK Paras have done nicely out of it , some on band 6 , others on band 5 , i can understand you`re delime as we all have gone through this ...more than once i suspect!
What you have to ask yourself is why you are considering the move as the Ambulance service here is more or less the same , they do have different equip`t and some i hesitate to say is quite dated ie stretchers you still lift , tiny space in the Ambo`s and cardboard leg splints to say but a few.The politics are virtually the same , pay , shifts etc.All this is from the uk lads who are on the road as i am still in HQ doing my induction course...i`ve been in the service 22 years but they treat you with respect and are helpful and willing to listen to any input you have .
Anyway my move was purely lifestyle , nothing else , where i am based is on the northern beaches which is beautiful , but comes at a cost , above all Sydney is an expensive place to live and food , drink clothes etc are more or less the same , however the Aussies eat out alot cos this is the cheaper option (correct me if i`m wrong Basil) it`ll cost you on average between $650 and upto $1000 per week for rent depending where you want to live , my advice is you`ll want to live as close to the cost as you can if affordable , the east coast is lovely and makes it all worth while , however thats a choice you`ll have to make .
Starting salary is $55,000 rising to basic of $63,000 after 28 weeks on road practum , the guys are telling me that $80,0000 is achievable if you put the time in .
After 28 weeks you will given a permanent posting , however it will be on a busy station and at present there is a bit of a kick off as the road staff can work up to a 15 hour shift if its busy, nature of the beast!!
These are all things i`ve been told by the UK lads but they seem happy at present.Sorry if this sounds a little glum and please correct me if i`m wrong anyone but if you are unsure then you must sit down and weigh up what suits you and your family , for me i`m doing fine HQ is a little boring but i`m glad i`m here , so role on summer and if you make that big leap , good luck and i`m sure you`ll bump into us,,,,,FACT!!!!! Hope this helps.