Hi,
I was wondering if any mental health nurses over there could advise on the general standards of working in Adelaide?
I was initially looking at Perth, but after having a phone interview, was rather put off by what they were telling me about standards there - i.e. caseloads on the community of 60 plus clients! No means of Care Coordinating - just ''do what we can'' Only 2 days a year study leave, etc...
If there are any mental health nurses reading this - is there a website I could look at or any contacts you would recommend for looking for employment?
Is it best to go through an agency? If so, are there any in particular who cover Adelaide?
Thanks for any info you can give me
Regards, JANE :)

Hi Jane I'm Podgy's husband Bill

first of all I would would have to say that by UK standards the system here will seem somewhat antiquated in some ways, having said that it works ok in some areas.

I'm currently working at an inpatient unit attached to the Royal Adelaide Hospital community team. I take it you are looking for a community position from your post. Andy who runs this board works from Flinders Hospital (community team I think) and would probably be a good resource also.

I don't know of any web sites that will provide more than a few words on Psych services here. I got my job through Geneva Health employement agency whom I believe are a present in the UK.

I don't think they're too fussed about Nurse education here as i had no orientation to speak of when I started still haven't and I'm now acting charge nurse for a month!

I have never been told how many study days are avaiable if any. My only knowledge of this is that the CN that I'm replacing for a month is doing a Masters in CBT and has had to fight tooth and nail to get any time off to do it and has done most of her study including clinical hours in her own time and unpaid.

Having said all that some of tyhe conditions are great, I only work 13 days a month (12hr shifts) so it's not all bad. Oh and also if you look at NSW and Vicoria they get on average $6000 a year more than SA (any job).

Hope this helps

Bill

Hi Bill,
Thanks for the info.
How long have you been nursing in Adelaide?
What are the wards like? 13 days a month sounds good - do you work nights and days?
Is there much shortage of staff? Do you think I would be okay trying to find a job? I don't really want to use an agency, as I don't want to commit myself to 12 months or so incase I hate it!
I have 16 years post reg experience, in patient acute and community.
Perth sounded very antiquated, caseloads of 60 plus, no crisis teams, no AOT teams, just stick a band aid on ....
Any contacts you could suggest would be greatly appreciated ... however as you are Acting Charge maybe you could give me a job ?? Ha Ha
Thanks anyway
Jane :)

Hi Jane..this is Bills wife podgy...well..no..not podgy no more i'm just plain old pickled now..(long story we wont go there) ...

This is all a bit spooky because Bill is actually a New Zealander and we also lived there for two years before coming to Adelaide las November!! Where in NZ are you right now? We were in Auckland and Bill worked at the Mason Clinic.

He has not done a night shift here since he started. He does days, although its 12hr shifts starting at 7am, but this really suits us as we get to spend a lot more time together.

I dont think Bill would have any say on who is employed as it comes from the powers that be in personnel and he has nothing to do with them. This is how we got to be in Adelaide.
First off contact Geneva Health in NZ. They specialize in nursing jobs all over the world. The woman who dealt with Bill was called Kathy, but i cannot fo rthe life of me remember her surname offhand. If i find out i'll let you know. Once you have given her all you rdetails and registrations documents etc. she will contact Adelaide on your behalf and negotiate vacancies and interviews. Bill ended up having his job interview over the phone and was given a permanent offer of employment a week later without having met him!! We were also offered a months free accomodation in the nurses residence at RAH. It was very basic but very handy for somewhere to go first off.

Lets just say...if you have all these years of experience they will probably bite your hand off to take you on!!! Of course, they try to make it sound like they are being choosy, but the truth is they are soooooooooo short staffed!! This job was also a permanent position and not agency work. You just need to state thats what you want.

Oooooooooh...just found all the Geneva info.

Contact name Kathi Evans

Phone 04 473 3709

Even if you dont decide to go via them its worth giving her a call to get info etc. I think she might remember Bill too so say hi from us and tell her we are doing great.

Hi Jane,
I'm a bit out of the "mainstream" as I work in child and adolescent MH.
However, I did a bit of everything when I first arrived. I would say you would have no probs on the job front. They do things a little differently here, and in all the services I've worked here, (adult, psychogeriatric, d+a, and kids) they all seem to be a little bit behind in some areas.
I would recommend agency work when you get here
1) cos you can work when and where you like
2) it gives you ideas about where you might want to end up as a permanent staff member
I'm not sure what you mean about being signed up for 12 months.....You do as much, or as little as you want.....for as long as you want.
I used what used to be called NASA, who are now called Nursing agency of australia...go here, http://www.nursingagency.com.au/index.html . They were pretty good, just gave you the hours you wanted, didn't ring you at horrid times when you hadn't put your name down as available to work!
The other option is to join a hospital casual pool - that way you will probably be eligible to apply for govt jobs when they come up.
Have a peek at http://www.flinders.sa.gov.au/, That's the hospital I work at.

Andy