Pickle87

Hi everyone,

I'm currently in process of getting my nursing registration for Australia. I'm ideally looking to move to Sydney. I have 5 years experience and am working in cardiology. Although a junior sister, I don't want the senior position in Australia. I've read that Sydney is so expensive and was wondering if I would be able to afford to live there?! Has anyone any idea of the salary I would be on?
Thanks for you help.

curlytops

Nursing salaries vary from state to state. Not sure of the current NSW agreement. Also your pay will be based on your years of experience, I think you'd be looking at a salary of about $75 k. That's for a RN role (band 5). CN, clinical nurses are equivalent to band 6. Sydney is indeed expensive, but it'll depend on where you want to live. Why Sydney? All Oz cities are pretty expensive if you want to live in the CBD.
If it's sun & beaches your after then Perth may be a better option. I worked in cardiology over there for 4 years in a public hospital & loved it. They are just completing a new major teaching hospital called Fiona Stanley, they'll have a big cardiology service. There are jobs currently being advertised on the WA health website for the new CCU. With your experience, I'm sure they'd snap you up. The nurse unit manager is English.
Good luck

Pollyana

Quite a lot of Nurses from the Uk are on their way out to giona Stanley over the next few months. Due to open 1st December and certainly looks good! definitely worth a try

Pickle87

Thank you for that, I say sydney as I know a couple of people in sydney and am more familiar with it.
Having said that Perth hospital sounds great, I would really move to were I can obtain a job. Moving for the lifestyle and experience more than anything, just very daunting at the prospect of not knowing anyone but I'm sure that will change when I'm there!

spouse of scouse

Hi Pickle, I've been a Perthie all my life so if you have any specific questions about living here I'd be happy to help as much as I can. Best of luck!

Pickle87

Thanks for that spouse of Scouse. I don't know what Perth is like at all. Hadnt really considered it until mentioned above. I Know the beaches are amazing but is there lots to do and see and a reasonable nightlife/socialisation in 27!

Bermudashorts

Lots of people enjoy their life in Perth, but it might be better for a young family say than somebody coming alone? It is a city that can divide opinion like no other. For example, personally I cannot think of anything worse than going to live in the (one of the?) most isolated city in the world.

Perth seems to have nice beaches, but so does Sydney. The main thing I like about the east coast is accessibility to other parts of the country. There are so many place to see within say 60 to 90 minute flight (getting flights here is like getting buses), as well as the immediate area. Perth is several hours flight from anywhere and as a city no it will not offer the same nightlife or shopping as Sydney.

On the other hand, Sydney is really expensive for housing. Day to day stuff is going to be much of a muchness. Perhaps look into housing options for your situation and see if that would be a Sydney deal breaker.

Pickle87

do hospitals have nurses accomodation in Sydney, was thinking of starting there first and finding something once I'm more settled. I'd get a houseshare. I'm used to london prices currently... So hoping sydney isn't too much more expensive than that!

Bermudashorts

If you can cope in London on a nurse salary, then you can cope in Sydney on a nurse salary. I have no idea about nurse accommodation sorry, not my industry.

Pollyana

some hospitals may have accommodation, but its not very common. Also there is no "keyworker" type arrangement as there is in London to keep rents lower for people like nurses, I'm afraid.

curlytops

Agree with Bermudashorts post. There are still plenty of young 'uns in Perth, but if you're after a big nightlife & are used to London, then Sydney would be the better option. My advice about getting a job is research the hospitals that provide cardiology services, contact the HR dept & find out the name & contact details of the nurse unit manager (sister) of that area. Approach them directly. It worked for me, twice.

spouse of scouse

I agree with much of what's been already been said on this thread. Perth is a fantastic city to bring up kids, but if your idea of an ideal living environment is London or Sydney, then you'll find it quiet by comparison.

That's not to say that we are without café strips, pubs and clubs, theatres and galleries etc. There are also more and more 'small bars' arriving on the scene, that have live music such as jazz.

The thing about Perth is the vast urban sprawl. In my opinion, our planners are way too unwilling to embrace high density housing. That is changing, but slowly, and the vast majority of properties here are still the detached house on about 700 square metres of land. The suburbs in Perth are so big, geographically speaking, that a lot of them have designated City status.

So, if you wanted to be close to a bit of action (within walking distance) you'd need to either live in one of the pricier areas such as Mt Lawley, Leederville, Fremantle, Northbridge, East Perth, Claremont etc. Don't be conned by buying in the Perth CBD, it's dead as a doornail once the commuters leave (although it does have a couple of nice theatres and the Perth Arena stadium for big concerts etc). Victoria Park was undervalued and underutilized for ages, but it's a great area now with lots to do - it's still possible to get comparatively cheap housing there but prices are on the increase.

Other lower cost options for still being within cooee of restaurants and pubs are the hubs of some of these 'suburban cities' - Joondalup and Midland come to mind.

paddyo

oh oh......that old 'moving for the lifestyle' chestnut!!
Grass is greener and all that