settling in brisbane - help

[Igor]

This is your lucky day Jam. My fiance (originally from the UK but worked in Oz long enough to get citizenship) worked at the Matre (pronounced martyr I believe) she's a midwife and we're planning to go back there August time. Just waiting for my visa now. We're both here in the UK at the moment so I'll ok it with her and give you her number and you can pick her brains. But I can tell you that she'll tell you to stop worrying and just do it.

She's working as a midwife here at the moment and hates it. The lack of resources etc. The Mater are holding a post open for her and we're trying to get everything done asap to get back there before they have to fill it with someone else. In nursing terms the difference between the UK and Oz are a world apart. It's so much better there the two cannot compare.

[MatthewNYC]

Congrats on the job! Will you live in close to the hospital in Woollongaba? How was the registration process with QLD board?
I'm also a nurse and may move to Oz in Spet '09. Would love to hear how your process is coming along.
Matthew

[bleez]

Originally Posted by clairer

Hi I moved here in jan and we live in a suburb called springfield lakes, i guess from here to matar would be about 30-40minutes drive but its a lovely suburb,

Yes.. it is a nice area out there. However - I will add my two cents :-)

1. I think 30-40 may be a little optimistic in peak hour traffic - that highway is an absolute nightmare!! I would allow at least an hour - sometimes more.

2. Public transport at the moment is basically non existent out there. Though, I do believe the train line is being extended out that way, but, not for some time.

3. It is certainly a cheaper area to live - well, you get more for your dollar.

4. Areas close to the Mater Hospital - Wooloongabba itself (some very nice places there), East Brisbane, Coorparoo, Greenslopes, Bulimba, Kangaroo Point, Hawthorne.... to name a few. All those suburbs are on the right side of the city ie, no need to go through or around the city to get there.

5. There is major public bus interchange right at the hospital.. so, getting to work should be easy!!

[jam]

hi clairer,
thank you for your advise on springfield lakes, it,s an area we've been looking at on the internet, it sounds lovely. how did you find the move and have you settled in well. sorry bout the questions but i'm so excited but a little anxious at the same time x x

[jam]

hi Igor, I would love to have a chat with some one bout the big move. i work in neonates and have been given a start date of 5 jan 09, their holding the job for me. i'm so excited, this just feels like the right thing to do, both for myself and my family, be great to stay in touch, jaime x x

[jam]

hi matthew, do you have a job to go to? i haven't applied for the nurse reg yet, i'm in the process of collecting all the infomation required, but the mater hospital have been really helpful. we haven't decided on what area to settle down yet, we still investigating but will keep you posted, jaime x x