LouB

Anybody in Brisbane have any advice for a scientific officer / laboratory tecnician? Applying for work from October and would like any info at all on job prospects in these difficult times. Any help at all would be good as previous searches have been futile!
Lou

Smartinis

What sort of lab work do you do? Have you considered school laboratories? I was a science lecturer in the UK but got a temp job last year filling in for a lab tech on long service leave (common here in Oz) in a local school for a term. I loved it and was amazed that there seemed to be regular jobs appearing in this field (the pay isn't great, but the holidays are awesome!!) I got a full time position in another school when that one had finished and love it. It may do to tide you over until you can find something more suitable if nothing else.

Deutschmaster

Have a look at QUT and the other universities up there. They might have something

Guest

What department are you looking at? Any specialties? Are you a scientist or a technician? How many years experience? What sort of visa are you thinking of coming over on?

Head over to Seek and put in 'scientist' in your search (That's how I got my position).

If you are looking at a skilled visa, you'll need to be assessed by AIMS although registration for scientists isn't compulsory (yet). You'll pay through the nose for the assessment and then have to sit an exam :curse:.

The company I work for has changed it's stance on recruitment and now, apparently, are actively looking at overseas scientists (unfortunately you can get technicians and assistants off the street). The two main private medical labs in QLD are SNP and QML and then there's the public QHPS but obviously a lot more in schools and universities. They are just the ones I'm aware of.

LouB

Hi
thanks for your replies. my name is Les, Lou's husband.
Just PM'd the Guest post so not sure if it will get through. apologies to smartinis and deustchmaster if you have to read this again (have improved the spelling).
I currently work for the Vet Lab Agency in the UK, a government laboratory. We have been involved with foot and mouth testing, BSE, Salmonella in poultry etc. Have 20 years microbiology experience, last 8 years lab management, have a BSc Hons in biomedical sciences and an in MSc Molecular Biology.

We are not registered like the medical labs i.e. hospital labs state registration (UK). Will the Oz hospital labs employ people without AIMS then let you register/take exam? Do you need AIMS/equivalent for scientist jobs at labs like QML/SNP or do you get a technician post with an aim to progress with AIMs? It's not very clear about AIMS requirements in job adverts.

We have just got permanent residents visa 175.

Have looked and applied for one job with queensland health, and with CSIRO. Both applications are in progress. But we are under the impression that applications from the UK are not very successful.

I am looking on the regular sites for vacancies, Seek, Unijobs, smartjobs and the SNP and QML websites.

I am quite happy to consider change as i imagine it's going to be difficult to find a similar job in the Brisbane area, vet labs in SA and NSW. School lab jobs sound like a very good option, are they advertised on the regular web sites (seek) or is there a more specialised site?

Guest do you mind if i ask who you work for? and have you taken AIMS?

thanks for your reply.
Les

Guest

Can't open the PM but I'm sure I'll answer when I get my 3 posts!

I also have a BSc (hons) from the UK (Uni of Wales) and was registered with the CPSM until I left and also registered with the MLTB in NZ. Until APR 07 AIMS were quite happy to register UK scientists who had the proper qualifications no questions asked. After 30/4/07 only scientists from the Aus unis and 2 NZ unis were able to register automatically. I applied on the 10/5/07 and my qualifications weren't good enough!!! I've been told it is due to arguments between AIMS and CPSM (or the HPC or whatever it's called these days) then AIMS spat the dummy and decided on these ridiculous hoops to jump through. It also puzzles me as registration is not compulsory.

If you already have PR then you are laughing. Labs (private labs anyway) only need the proper qualifications (Biomedical science degree) to work as a scientist and as yet don't require AIMS registration. All new grads are AIMS registered as part of their courses. We have scientists that have 'only' biology degrees. You should definately be able to start as a scientist with your qualifications and experience.

I would send your CV to the HR departments of the private labs (QML, SNP, Lavertys, Gribbles) as I know a couple advertise internally first and then externally. If a job is advertised internally but your CV is on their computer I reckon you'd stand a better chance.

If you aren't 'too' worried about Brisbane to start, you could go to a regional lab, get your feet under the table and an intranet link to the internal vacancy document and go from there. Just an idea of course.

Guest

Oh, and another thing that pi55ed me off about AIMS. To have them even look at your documents costs an arm and a leg, and then they will say fine but you need to sit our exam. Their exam consists of 5 sections and you have to get 50% in each section. I have never and probably never will work in histo or micro but I still need to know all about it. AND they have questions like how do you make 5 molar HCl from a small wooden chair. Normally I'd look it up on the 'net but you have to do it with a sliderule. Plus, and this REALLY :curse: me. They require a current IELTS exam. I was gobsmacked. UK passport holder, UK university degree, UK schooled, UK registered, NZ registered but they said it was mandatory. How is that?

...and breathe...

LouB

Hi Guest
thanks for the advice on AIMS, had a vague idea about it's structure but was confused as it is not did not seem compulsory like in UK medical labs.

Have already sent my CV to QML and SNP but i don't think there are many vacancies at the moment. will also send to Gribbles and Lavertys as advised. I think Gribbles also have a vet dept, I also think there is an Idexx lab in Brisbane, big American vet science company.

Quite happy to secure work in any lab as long as it is interesting and covers the rent.

cheers
Les

Guest

Primary Healthcare is buying everyone and everything (not really but it feels like it). They have thumbs in quite a few pathology pies.

LouB

I can understant the AIMS exams, it seems Australia has it's own agenda when ensuring qualifications are suitable. Alot of jobs/trades have special requirements when it comes to qualifications, maybe a good maybe not. The IELTs does seem a little confusing to say the least. Don't blame you feeling....annoyed.

lolcat

Am I right in thinking that AIMS is only required for medical science work?

I'm looking to move to Victoria and I'm an analytical chemist (currently)working in Pharma manufacture.
Is further registration needed for non medical work or is it just a case of mailing out the old CV and hoping for the best?

Cheers,

>A.

LouB

I think AIMS is equivalent to state registration in UK medical/hospital path labs. Don't think it is required for non medical labs.