How to Work in Australia, via City2City international recruitment agency
Thank you for your recent enquiry to City2 city to discuss employment in Sydney Australia. What makes us unique to other agencies is that we deal with an exclusive group of clients. We are here to assist you in gaining employment and we will also facilitate many of the other processes required before you live and work in Sydney.
Included in this pack is comprehensive information on living and working in Australia, it will hopefully address many of your questions. And point you to web sites that will assist you. This will include the immigration options you need to know about, if you are not travelling on an Australian passport. Part of our team is an immigration agent who will work with you on this aspect of your journey. Please keep this document as a reference for all the questions you will have.
There is a lot to consider!
We appreciate that changing job and moving countries can be stressful, even if it is your big Overseas Experience! We are here to help you every step of the way and our knowledgeable consultants are able to offer you all the information you need and if required will point you to the appropriate organisations to ensure that all your needs are met.
We will be their to meet and greet you when you arrive in your new country and ensure you have somewhere to stay for your first two months (optional but none of the others offer this, we could work with a real estate agent and have a unit where they state for maximum two months.
You will find that we won't bombard you with all this information when we first speak with you; however, our expertise in international recruitment has taught us how to guide you through the process within the appropriate time-frames.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Why use a recruitment company instead of going direct to the hospital?
- City2City International Recruitment Agency is a specialist boutique healthcare recruitment agency, with exclusive supplier contracts and long-established relationships with a large number of hospitals throughout Sydney.
- Unlike the UK, where you would probably multi-list with Agencies in order to get the best opportunities, in Australia you should register with only one in order to get the best possible support from the Consultant you are working with. Australia is a finite market and dual or multi agency representation results in duplication and can affect priority given to you by us and the hospital.
- With City 2 City, you get step-by-step guidance and support from an experienced consultant who has extensive knowledge of Sydney and the vacancies. We talk to you in detail to ensure that you move to a location that suits your lifestyle and to a job that will match your skills.
- Your application doesn't get "lost" in a large hospital Human Resources Department where you become a "number" with no personal contact.
- We deal with immigration and relocation issues on a daily basis, so can offer you specialist knowledge and advice, right down to how to ship over your pets!
- If your application to a hospital is not successful for one position, they won't contact you about other opportunities. We know what other options there are and can talk to you about these and represent you for other positions as they come up.
How much will it cost me to relocate to Australia?
Your costs include:
| Australia nursing registration |
Approx AU$50-$120 |
| Police clearance |
£10 |
| Australian police clearance (if going to Northern Territories) Visa cost |
Approx AU$70 |
| Medical, blood tests and chest x-rays |
AU$180 |
| Flights |
Approx AU$ 340 |
| Accommodation |
Please see your travel agent Initial, approx AU$120-400 per week (then rental property costs, depends on State) |
Do I pay for City 2 City's service?
No, our service is completely free.
What will I get paid in Australia?
Each State has its own salary scale set by the State Government. These salaries are not negotiable and are based on your years of service as a Registered Nurse.
How do I prove my years of service?
Please ensure that each of your past and you present employer states your position e.g. Staff Nurse, the actual day, month and year that you commenced and completed your employment, and if you worked part or full-time within this position (if you worked part-time your employer must state the hours you worked per week). This information must be presented on the hospital's letterhead, and signed by your employer or personnel. For your current position, you can ask personnel to write this for you on your last day so that it states the maximum time you have worked. It is in your favour to have these completed as the more hours you can prove you worked, the higher the salary level you will be on in Australia
When do I need to start?
If you are successful you will be offered a position that is available at the time that you indicate you are available. Like any other job offer, it is essential that you organise yourself to arrive and start at that time. Positions cannot be held for you.
Can I work part-time?
We will try to accommodate this although most of the positions that we recruit for are full time, rostered and rotating shifts i.e. 40 hour week, Monday-Sunday, mornings, afternoons and nights
How long should nursing registration take?
This should only take 1-2 months however often the registration board will hold on to your application if there was a document missing or it was not certified correctly, without letting you know.
What should I do if I have not heard from the Registration Board?
Ring them 3-4 weeks after you have sent off your application to check how it is going.
What are the types of visas I can travel on?
Working Holiday Visa
You can apply for a Working Holiday Visa if you are between the ages of 18 and 30. This allows you to work in Australia for up to one year but only for 3 months with one employer and then you must move on to a different health board or hospital. These visas are designed to enable you to work and have a holiday in Australia, as immigration does not permit you to work for the entire 12 months. These cannot be extended beyond the 1 -year period and you are only entitled to one in your lifetime.
Sponsorship (Long Stay Temporary Business Visa Subclass 457)
Certain hospitals will be prepared to sponsor you to work in Australia for up to 4 years and may also agree to sponsor your dependents/spouse etc. This process takes approximately 4 months and cannot be commenced until you accept a job. There are certain requirements to be made prior to the hospital applying for your sponsorship nomination. Your Australian consultant will walk you through this.
Permanent Residency
You can apply for Australian Residency, which can take up to 18 months if you do this from outside of Australia. We advise you to contact the Australian Consulate for advice on this at http://www.immi.gov.au
Can I change the type of visa I am working on whilst in Australia?
Yes you can, however you will be asked by immigration to leave Australia in order for your passport to be stamped with the new visa. You could visit New Zealand to do this.
When do I apply for my Sponsorship Visa?
You cannot apply for your sponsorship visa until we give you your sponsorship nomination number, which the hospital applies for. Some hospitals require your Australian nursing registration and police clearance before applying for your sponsorship nomination number, and others do not. Your consultant will let you know what is required. The important thing is that you do not apply for your sponsorship visa until we instruct you to, otherwise you may have to start over again and repay the fee.
You do not need anything from us to apply for a Working Holiday Visa. You can do this at any time.
Do I send my original documents when applying for my visa?
No, it is important that you keep these with you, as you will be asked by the hospital on your arrival to show them your original documents. Please send copies of your documents to immigration.
How is my visa issued?
It is now not necessary to send your passport with your visa application. You will be sent an e-mail or letter stating that your visa has been granted. You will need to take this letter with you to the airport. When you arrive in Australia you will need to go to the immigration office to have your passport stamped within a certain time frame.
Can my husband/wife/child travel on my sponsorship visa?
Yes. We will require your spouse and children's full names and dates of birth. The hospital will then include them on the sponsorship nomination.
Can my husband/wife work on my sponsorship visa?
Yes, s/he is entitled to the same benefits as you.
What about my defacto partner?
Immigration requires that you prove you have been cohabiting with your partner for a minimum of 12 months. This includes documents such as joint utility bills etc. Please see httr,:h;'www.immi.aov.au for more information on this.
Where do I send my visa application off to?
It is recommended that you apply for your visa on line however if you do not have access to the internet, you need to ensure you have all the required paperwork and send your application to the Australian address at the bottom of your nomination approval letter (N.B This is different from the address where your medical and chest x-ray results are sent to.
How do I pay for my visa?
This needs to be paid in Australian dollars and can be made via credit card or money order, made payable to DIMIA, which can be applied for at your local bank.
Do I need a medical?
As you will be working in the health profession you will need a full medical, chest x-ray and blood tests, including Hepatitis B and C and HIV.
Does my partner or children need medical, blood tests, chest x-ray?
We have been informed by immigration that unless your partner will be working in the health or education field, or s/he has a pre-existing medical condition, s/he will only require a chest x-ray. Children 11 years and over require a chest x-ray and a medical exam, but no blood tests. Children under 11 must have a medical examination only, and no blood tests. If children are turning 11 during the visa process, they require a chest x-ray as well.
How long will it take to relocate to Australia?
On average, we say to allow a minimum of 6 months from the initial enquiry to arrival in Australia. This takes into account gaining registration, job offers, work visas and giving notice to present employers. If you have already started the process of registration with the Australian Registration Board, then you could be here within 4 months.
When can the medicals, blood tests and chest x-rays be performed?
Do not have your medical or chest x-ray more than 4 weeks out from when you are applying for your visa.
How do I get the medical and radiology forms?
These cannot be downloaded from the Internet as they are self sealing. You will need to apply for these forms by e-mailing forms.lhlh@dfat.gov.au or write to Medical Information, DIMIA, Australia House, Strand, London WC2B 4LA.
Where do I have these done?
These must be performed by an immigration approved panel doctor and radiologist. Your City2City consultant will send you a list of these. If you do not have these done by an approved doctor or radiologist you will not be granted a visa and will have to pay an additional cost of having these done correctly. http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/doctors/index.htm
Where should these results go to?
The doctor and radiologist should send the results directly to:
Local Clearance Centre, DIMIA, Level 6, 26 Lee Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
If they give them to you, please do not open the envelope and send them directly to the Local Clearance Unit yourself.
Do I pay school fees?
In New South Wales, people on sponsorship visas are required to pay international school fees.
The fees are as follows:
Children from kindergarten (5 years) to Year 10 - $4,500 Senior year of high school Year 11 - $5,500
One off application fee of $110.00
These fees are payable for each child per year. When enrolling your child in an Australian School the school office will provide you with forms, which are to be filled in and returned to the Temporary Visa Holders Unit with your payment prior to your child commencing their schooling. Please contact the Temporary Visa Holders Unit in Australia for more information on 0061 1300 300229.
At the present time, other States do not charge these international fees. You will be required to pay the regular school fees which are approximately AU$60 per term.
Am I covered for health insurance?
The Australian Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with the governments of the Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Malta, Italy and New Zealand, which entitles you to limited subsidised health services for immediately necessary treatment. The website for the Medicare Public Insurance Scheme is http://www.hic.gov.au
If you are not eligible for Medicare you must take out private health insurance or travel insurance. Or this is recommended if you want additional private cover. A health insurance company that has been recommended to us is Iman Health Care http://www.iman.com.au
How much will it cost me to relocate to Australia?
Your costs include:
Do I pay tax?
Yes, the tax rate depends on how long your contract is for. Tax rates are higher for those working for less than a 12 month period. Income is taxed progressively which means, the more you earn the more you pay. Please go to the Australian Taxation Office website to find out the exact rates http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/12333.htm
You will need a Tax File Number (TFN) to work in Australia; these can be applied for upon arrival in Australia and will be sent to you within 28 days of application. You will need to present proof of applying for the tax file number at your Pre-employment Appointment. Without this number your employer will tax you at the highest rate (48%).
