British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
Mar 18th 2009, 11:51 pm
#61
Still alive
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,994
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
Yep, I agree.
Have worked with too many staff in the UK, who I cannot understand, let alone the poor patients!
Some years ago, we wanted to move to France but after looking into it, found that we would never get employed within our current professions unless we could speak (listen, write etc) fluently in French. We accepted that was necessary to work as a health care professional in another country, therefore despite taking evening classes etc to improve our ability, we gave up on that idea as we knew we would ever be up to that standard.
So I really fail to see what the problem is with requiring people to demonstrate they have a good working knowledge of the language if they wish to be employed in certain sectors.
Just a shame it is not applied equally.
Have worked with too many staff in the UK, who I cannot understand, let alone the poor patients!
Some years ago, we wanted to move to France but after looking into it, found that we would never get employed within our current professions unless we could speak (listen, write etc) fluently in French. We accepted that was necessary to work as a health care professional in another country, therefore despite taking evening classes etc to improve our ability, we gave up on that idea as we knew we would ever be up to that standard.
So I really fail to see what the problem is with requiring people to demonstrate they have a good working knowledge of the language if they wish to be employed in certain sectors.
Just a shame it is not applied equally.
Mar 19th 2009, 9:13 am
#62
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Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 242
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
As above a passport doesn't mean you can speak the lingo there are people who live in their own little segregated communities, who don't mix and never need to ever utter a word of English! The local councils are even kind enough (at the tax payers expense) to translate government documents like how to claim benefit so that you can live in the UK and not even need to read English either! Australia has the right to expect a high level of language ability it ultimately aids working better together and helps build more integrated communities who wants to repeat the mistakes of the UK?
Mar 19th 2009, 9:47 am
#63
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 197
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
personally i think it's barmy, but imagine if the english had to pass another driving test?
that would be far more ridiculous given the fact they drive on the same side and are far safer drivers
that would be far more ridiculous given the fact they drive on the same side and are far safer drivers
Mar 19th 2009, 9:57 am
#64
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Location: Brisbane
Posts: 242
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
I know plenty of UK Passport holders that can barely string a sentence together so on those grounds I can understand the test...but equally if you hold qualifications from the UK there is an assumption you can speak the language the course was presented in, so I see both sides of this argument (as my husband had to take the test to get here too). We didn't mind as you have to respect the rules in place by Australia its up to them on the standard of candidates they are after.
Mar 19th 2009, 11:08 am
#65
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Upmarket
Posts: 17,503
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
As above a passport doesn't mean you can speak the lingo there are people who live in their own little segregated communities, who don't mix and never need to ever utter a word of English! The local councils are even kind enough (at the tax payers expense) to translate government documents like how to claim benefit
http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-aus...h_translating/
Last edited by Grayling; Mar 19th 2009 at 11:10 am.
Mar 19th 2009, 12:56 pm
#66
And YOU'RE paying for it!
Joined: May 2007
Location: kipper tie?
Posts: 2,328
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
Mar 19th 2009, 8:54 pm
#67
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,555
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
It used to be the case when I arrived. Luckily it changed that month and I only had to do the quiz.
Mar 19th 2009, 11:04 pm
#68
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: county durham
Posts: 65
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
I can agree with some of the comments on here, however I was referring to English born nurses who are university trained and have probably completed many post reg uni modules Do you think that people in this category would actually fail the IELTS? because I don`t. This was the group that were previously exempt and still are in other states. Regardless of this, I would still do it if it was necessary, but I don`t agree with it
I passed the IELTS for the extra points, but for some it`s just another burden to add on to what is already a very costly and stressful process.
I would like to know what their rational is on suddenly changing the rules.
I passed the IELTS for the extra points, but for some it`s just another burden to add on to what is already a very costly and stressful process.I would like to know what their rational is on suddenly changing the rules.
Mar 20th 2009, 4:56 am
#69
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Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 242
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
I hear you, but if this is where you want to be that's what you have to do! I know about the cost as we had to lodge two applications (through no fault of our own) and pay twice just to get to where we are, including filling out all the forms twice!!! All I can say is that it is worth it all once you get here Australia is beautiful and lives up to all its reputations hang on in there.
Mar 23rd 2009, 4:50 pm
#72
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Oz, nr nowhere
Posts: 107
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
Australia = ~1700 fatalities/ year.
UK (2007) = 2946 fatalities.
UK has 3x the population but just under 2x the fatality rate.
Edit: Deaths per 100,000 people: Aus 7.7, GB 5.4
References:
http://www.aph.gov.au/House/committe...port/chap2.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7635345.stm
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...nt_Comp_06.pdf
UK (2007) = 2946 fatalities.
UK has 3x the population but just under 2x the fatality rate.
Edit: Deaths per 100,000 people: Aus 7.7, GB 5.4
References:
http://www.aph.gov.au/House/committe...port/chap2.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7635345.stm
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...nt_Comp_06.pdf
Last edited by theotherphil; Mar 23rd 2009 at 4:58 pm.
Mar 23rd 2009, 10:10 pm
#73
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,043
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
Australia = ~1700 fatalities/ year.
UK (2007) = 2946 fatalities.
UK has 3x the population but just under 2x the fatality rate.
Edit: Deaths per 100,000 people: Aus 7.7, GB 5.4
References:
http://www.aph.gov.au/House/committe...port/chap2.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7635345.stm
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...nt_Comp_06.pdf
UK (2007) = 2946 fatalities.
UK has 3x the population but just under 2x the fatality rate.
Edit: Deaths per 100,000 people: Aus 7.7, GB 5.4
References:
http://www.aph.gov.au/House/committe...port/chap2.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7635345.stm
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...nt_Comp_06.pdf
Mar 23rd 2009, 10:18 pm
#74
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,555
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
Any Googlophiles know the rate per KM
Australia = ~1700 fatalities/ year.
UK (2007) = 2946 fatalities.
UK has 3x the population but just under 2x the fatality rate.
Edit: Deaths per 100,000 people: Aus 7.7, GB 5.4
References:
http://www.aph.gov.au/House/committe...port/chap2.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7635345.stm
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...nt_Comp_06.pdf
UK (2007) = 2946 fatalities.
UK has 3x the population but just under 2x the fatality rate.
Edit: Deaths per 100,000 people: Aus 7.7, GB 5.4
References:
http://www.aph.gov.au/House/committe...port/chap2.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7635345.stm
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...nt_Comp_06.pdf
Mar 23rd 2009, 10:27 pm
#75
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,526
Re: British nurse told to 'take English test' before she can work in Australia
I know plenty of UK Passport holders that can barely string a sentence together so on those grounds I can understand the test...but equally if you hold qualifications from the UK there is an assumption you can speak the language the course was presented in, so I see both sides of this argument (as my husband had to take the test to get here too). We didn't mind as you have to respect the rules in place by Australia its up to them on the standard of candidates they are after.
I'd say it's probably the only area where the test is 100 pct necessary.
We've had all sorts of problems in the past here, with medico's misunderstanding the locals.
There would have to be a quite a few UK passport holders that dont speak or understand English fluently.