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Date
01 July 2025
Robert works at a community residential unit that provides extended withdrawal support for patients requiring additional time to stabilise their physical and mental health after addiction treatment.
Where did you train and qualify as a nurse/midwife?
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In the United Kingdom as a Mental Health Nurse.
What made you decide to move to Australia and practice as an RN/RM?
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I was drawn to Australia by the opportunity to experience a different lifestyle, particularly one with a more favourable climate.
Additionally, I heard that the Australian system is very family-oriented, and the country offers a supportive environment for raising children, which strongly appealed to me both personally and professionally.
What are some of the main differences you noticed about practicing in healthcare in Australia vs where you trained overseas?
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In Australia, nurses receive generalist training and then complete a graduate year to develop expertise in a specific specialty. This pathway provides a solid foundation for holistic patient care. Having trained in the UK, I recognize I have certain gaps in general nursing, but my specialized skills remain a significant strength in my chosen field.
What are your thoughts on settling into nursing/midwifery life in Australia?
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As a family, we initially struggled to settle in a rural area that lacks the multicultural diversity of Melbourne. This presented several challenges in terms of community integration and cultural adaptation. Ultimately, we made the decision to move closer to Melbourne to better connect with a more diverse and inclusive community.
Navigating the mental health system here was also difficult, particularly when trying to understand the scope of practice. Many procedures and practices that have long been abolished in the UK were still in use although fortunately, recent reforms following the Commission’s report have brought about some much-needed changes.
Compared to the UK, I was particularly surprised by the difference in safeguards around prescribing antipsychotic medications to patients. The differences in practice are extensive. That said, it’s encouraging to see that progress has been made over the past two years, and positive changes continue to emerge in the mental health space.
What advice would you have for any nurses/midwives recently arrived in Australia or thinking of moving here to work?
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Australia is a very family-oriented country—any excuse for a family barbecue is warmly embraced. Compared to the UK, salaries here are generally higher, and the overall environment feels much safer for raising children. Workplace and union support is also more accessible and effective when needed.
Getting onto the property ladder is considerably easier, and the financial systems in place—like superannuation—provide more autonomy and security when planning for retirement. Superannuation can even be self-managed and used for investments, a feature that isn’t available in the UK.
Related Links
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- Andrew, Associate Nurse Unit Manager.
- Maeve, Midwifery Program Coordinator (Acting)
- Alex, Nurse Unit Manager at an Addiction Medicine Unit
- Celebrating and Supporting Our Internationally Qualified Nurses and Midwives