Overseas Nurses - Nursing in Australia

Why choose to work in Australia?

There are numerous reasons to choose to work in Australia. Australia provides an ideal lifestyle, with the opportunity to travel and explore the country and surrounding regions at ease. With Australia’s beautiful Mediterranean style of weather and a friendly game of cricket happening on the beach or at the local park, Australia is a beautiful backdrop with an abundance of opportunities.

Due to Australia’s lower cost of living compared to the UK, people in Australia enjoy a higher level of disposal income and more value for their dollar, especially when it comes to housing. Compared to other countries Australia offers better salaries and working conditions for their nurses. With flexible work hours, free MRSA screening, and free emergency handling and CPR courses available Australia offers a unique learning experience which you will treasure for a lifetime and be the envy of your family and friends back home.

Australia provides nurses with rewarding work, especially in rural areas where a friendly face and a smile is always welcome. Nurses in Australia enjoy a lower staff to patient ratio in a supportive environment. There are also various opportunities for professional development and advancement.

Australia currently has an abundance of nursing jobs available and at Mediserve we provide qualified nurses the opportunity of a lifetime.

Why choose Mediserve as your placement agent?

We are able to find you placements for both the metropolitan or country regions of Australia. At Mediserve we pay for travel both to and from your contracted placement within the country. Our nurses are rewarded with a free domestic flight within Australia after completing a year’s work.

Once you arrive in Australia we help you settle in to your new life with social events, arranged accommodation (selected capital cities), bonus incentives for rural placements and even a free uniform. Nurses are also offered heavily subsidised training and staff development courses. For ease and convenience salaries are paid weekly directly into your account via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).

Many of the Mediserve staff have experienced working in Australia and can help you put your fears to ease. If you introduce other nurses to our services we will pay you a referral fee. We can help you with placements for a range of countries; including: UK, New Zealand, Middle East and Australia.

Information for Overseas Nurses

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Accommodation
Of concern to many travelling Nurses is the difficulty of obtaining accommodation and the cost. To help our Nurses, Mediserve has initiated a number of cost-saving measures:
- Negotiated with Public and Private Hospitals around Australia for low cost rent or no rent at all.
- In regional/ country hospitals Australia-wide accomodation is arranged through the hospital. This is generally in Nurses-quarters or hospital owned houses. Rents are very heavily subsidized.
In Darwin we have comfortable and well located accommodation close to the hospital. All accommodation is furnished and close to public transport.

Enlist a Travel Agency to arrange accommodation
Australia and our Weather
Australia is divided into 7 States and Territories. Each State has its own characteristics and weather patterns. Due to Australia’s vast country and weather conditions, living in Australia can involve sunbathing on the beach to snow skiing, to sweating out the humidity and wrapping up during cold winter pours.
In general, when travelling North it is hot and humid between December and March (30 and 50 degrees) and perfect weather between May and October (around 20 degrees). Travelling South offers 4 seasons, namely Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring.
- Summer - December to February (30-40 degrees)
- Autumn - March to May
- Winter - June to August (16-24 degrees)
- Spring - September to November
Travelling Centrally is cold at night due to the desert like conditions, so please be prepared.
Criminal Record Check

In Australia there are essentially a number of different methods for Criminal Record Checks. These checks are required prior to commencement of work. Please contact our Perth Office for further information.
Communication and Concerns

It is essential that open communication be maintained between Mediserve Managers, Nursing Staff and Health Service Representatives at all times. Should staff have any concerns, please contact their Mediserve Managers for assistance. All Mediserve Staff, Health Services and Patients are of paramount importance to Mediserve.
Insurances

Mediserve Nursing Agency carries all the statutory insurances including Professional Indemnity Insurance, Medical Malpractice Insurance, Public Liability Insurance, Workers Compensation. This means that your Nursing Practices are covered within all Health Services. Midwives are covered for separately, please contact our Perth Office for further information.
Manual handling and CPR

Continued Professional Development of our Nurses is extremely important to Mediserve. All Staff are encouraged to participate in Independent Courses and those organised by Mediserve. It is a pre-employment requisite that Manual Handling and CPR be maintained every year.
Click here for available courses and dates.
MRSA (WA only)

Since 1982 West Australian Health Services have put measures in place to prevent the spread of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in their hospitals. All employees who have been working in an interstate/overseas hospital in the past year must therefore have swabs taken and a negative result obtained.
Swabs can be taken at Mediserve in WA or alternatively at the: Royal Perth Hospital, Central Specimen Collection Area, Level 2, North Block from Monday-Friday (8am to 5.30pm)

Other collection areas in West Australia are also available.
Mobiles/Phones

Mediserve recommends that whilst traveling around Australia it is best to obtain a mobile phone for convenience. The largest network coverage around Australia is Telstra. Purchasing a pre-paid mobile telephone card can save money.
Nurse Board Registration

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Professional Conduct

All staff employed by Mediserve must have a current Nurses Board certificate, have undergone a criminal record check and act in a professional manner as per Nurses Board requirements.
Opening a bank account

Banking facilities in Australia are well organised and operated 24 hours a day via electronic and Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) services. To open a Bank Account you will need to provide identification, ideally a Passport and/or Drivers Licence. The four large banks of Australia are ANZ (Australia New Zealand), CBA (Commonwealth Bank of Australia), NAB (National Australia Bank) and WESTPAC. Other banking institutions are also available.
Superannuation

Superannuation is a very important benefit to Employees. Under the Government Superannuation Guarantee, all Employers are required to top up Employee weekly wages by 9%. The effect is that for every $100 earned an additional $9 is given. Employers are obliged to deposit this payment into a nominated Superannuation fund of their choice. Mediserve’s default Superannuation Fund is HESTA. For further information please contact Mediserve’s Head Office in Perth.
Tax File Number (TFN)

In Australia all employees must have a Tax File Number (TFN) which is a requirement of the Government. Failure to do so will result in individuals being taxed at a higher rate. To obtain a Tax File Number application form, simply go to the Australian Taxation Office web site on www.ato.gov.au.
Tax/Accountant

All income is taxed by the Government. The rate of tax is dependent on earnings and is based on a sliding scale. As an example, for full time Australian resident employees earning $58,000, the tax liability is $13,572. It is recommended that you contact an Accountant in Australia to assist with your financial matters.
Uniforms

Professional standard of dress is required. Mediserve supplies blouses free of charge to all staff. Please have blue or white trousers available and closed shoes. Minimal jewellery is to be worn at all times.