Bower Healthcare Interview

This month, we speak to Graham Bower of agency Bower Healthcare, who specialise in recruitment for work within the healthcare sector. Here we find out a little more about applying for work through Bower Healthcare and making the transition from the UK to Australia.

With a great reputation of assisting those looking for work in healthcare, what are the key motivations that push the agency forward?
As a family-run, boutique-style agency we cannot hope to compete with the spending power and profile of the big players in our market and so instead, we strive to offer a far more personal and friendly service to our nurses and client hospitals alike. We enjoy the advantages this provides and gain motivation from the amount of positive feedback, word of mouth referrals and repeat business that we receive.

How early would you recommend someone contact your staff to get organised?
The earlier the better! We are always willing to assist nurses work their way through the myriad of compliance requirements for work-readiness and can advise on important issues that are best addressed from home before travelling.

For a nurse seeking work through Bower Healthcare, how long does the registration process take?
Dependent on what compliance requirements are already covered, registering with Bower Healthcare can be a simple and speedy process. The application can be started before leaving home and generally by the time you arrive, you may only have to visit the office to pick up your ID badge and uniform.

How does nursing in Australia compare to the UK? Also, what do you think it is about working as a nurse in Australia that is so appealing?
It’s been a very long time since any of us at Bower Healthcare nursed in the UK, but from when we did, and comments from our nurses received since, there’s very little difference. The training here was originally based on the UK model and standards are similar (sometimes better, we are told). It helps that we all speak the same language too! Part of the appeal of working here is the variety and the change from the everyday routines back home. Several of our client hospitals boast sea views from the wards and the experience of being at work, over-looking the pristine blue ocean bathed in glorious sunlight is probably worth visiting for that alone!

Finally, as a Brit yourself, what was the attraction that made your decision to come to Australia and specifically Sydney to live and work?
Like many others, it was the draw of the Australian climate and the outside-orientated lifestyle that
brought me over here initially. Sydney attracted me as I had nursing friends living and working here and to make it even better, I’m a rugby union fan and at the time the first ever rugby union world cup was being staged here. I found work, met my Australian wife, and the rest, as they say, is
history!

For more information log on to www.bowerhealthcare.com.au.