Q&A With A Bower Healthcare Nurse

Victoria Simpson has worked as a nurse in New Zealand, the UK and now Australia. Finding shift work through Bower Healthcare, she has settled into life in Sydney. Here, she offers her tips on nursing in Australia, the benefits of nursing as a career and her quality of life.
What’s your name and where are you originally from?
Victoria Simpson, originally from New Zealand
What area of nursing are you specialised in?
I have been nursing for 11 years. I started out in NZ in Oncology. I moved to London after 2 years, in 2006. I did live-in work for a couple of years, but the majority of my time was spent at The London Clinic on Harley Street, specialising in Orthopaedics and Spinal. Since moving to Sydney May of this year, I have not had a speciality. I have been taking agency shifts and go where I am told.
Why did you choose Bower Healthcare to work as a nurse in Australia?
Originally they were part of Nightingale Nurses, the agency I first worked for when I moved to the UK. Although no longer affiliated, their history showed up on Google and I thought I would give them a try. From the first phone call Bower were helpful, and were able to arrange for me to come in within a few days and get the ball rolling.
Did you move to Australia before or after making arrangements with Bower Healthcare?
We moved to Australia beforehand. I hadn’t decided wether I would take a full-time contract or enjoy the lifestyle agency nursing allows me to have. Also, working with Bower has allowed me to work at different hospitals in a variety of wards which means I can suss out which area I would like to potentially work in.
What part of Australia do you live in and does it benefit your work in any way?
I live in Paddington, Sydney. There are two major hospitals close by (a 20-minute and 35-minute walk) and both are very accessible by bus. I have never been short an agency shift. And Bower always work hard to get me another shift if one is cancelled. I have found there seems to be plenty of opportunities for work as a nurse, maybe because Sydney is a bustling metropolis. Also Sydney has lots of hospitals in the public and private sector to work in.
How did you settle into Aussie life? Was it easy meeting new people? Where are you currently living?
Dating an Australian certainly helps! And I have a brother and several cousins living here, as many Kiwis tend to do. So it has certainly been easier for me to adjust – except when Australia beat the All Blacks in the Rugby! Living in Paddington gives me close access to two hospitals, only a 20-minute bus into the city and 20 minutes from Bondi and Coogee beaches. We are lucky that we live by 2 Saturday markets, which we find ourselves at most weekends enjoying a coffee, an array of international foods and listening to live music. The bonus of nursing as a career is that it is social, and you meet lots of other foreign nurses along the way who share their tips about the city they have made home.
What’s the best thing about living in Australia?
Coming from London, certainly the weather! The occasional 20c day during winter is quite bearable! Sydney pace isn’t quite as busy as London, which I miss occasionally. Another thing I won’t take for granted is good public transport. As much as we malign it, the Tube in London beats Sydney buses hands down. But I do love being so close to sandy pristine beaches, with cafes and bars to cool down in after enjoying a coastal walk like Coogee to Bondi.
How long after getting in touch with Bower Healthcare did you have work lined up?
Bower had work lined up within about 3 days from when I signed up. Initially I worked as an AIN (Assistant in Nursing, equal to an HCA in the UK), while my Australian nursing registration was being processed. The necessary police and working with children checks were surprisingly quick to complete and came through within 48 hours. The team at Bower were very supportive, aware that I was nervous about starting a new job in a new country.
What’s your preferred type of work? Are there a variety of options available?
I prefer temporary (agency) work because it suits my lifestyle in that it gives me the freedom and flexibility to travel, which is my passion. I have been offered several permanent jobs in the few months I have been working, so it seems there is plenty of both. And shifts are either 8 hours or 12 hours. It’s nice to finish around 3pm and go down and enjoy the beach or go off for a run around beautiful Centennial Park which we live next door to. Or meet up with friends and head to a restaurant, which Sydney is not short of.
Does your work enable you to travel or see much of the country?
Yes, the beauty of agency nursing is the flexibility and no limited annual leave. I am in charge of my own roster, thanks to Bower’s good online roster website, so when I want to take some time off to travel, I simply mark myself as unavailable those days.
Where in Australia are you most looking forward to visiting?
I would love to sail around the Whitsundays, the photos look amazing. And explore Tasmania and get to more wine regions. I recently visited Mudgee (4 hours from Sydney) and that was amazing. The Barossa and Margaret River areas are calling me.
What would you recommend or advise to someone else wanting to work as a nurse in Australia?
I find that wages are good for nursing. The full-time staff on the wards I have been sent to have been very supportive and kind, which I didn’t expect as an agency nurse. They are always helpful and welcoming. Remember that when transferring your registration if takes a few months and I have heard in some cases it can take around 4 months. So be prepared to wait and find interim work.
Discover how you can find work nursing in Australia at www.bowerhealthcare.com.au
Image courtesy of Destination NSW