Podiatry Arena members do not see these ads

Hi all,

I am new to the board. I am interested in the job situation around the Brisbane area. It must be within commutable distance of the CBD as my husband is likely to be offered a position there.

I have not applied for my visa yet, but am just waiting for my references so i can get APODC skills assessment complete.

So at the minute am just testing the water. So i can future plan.

I qualified in 2002 and have worked for NHS since.

The word over here (UK) is that they are crying out for podiatrists in Australia.

How true is this?
Is it location specific?

Any responses appreciated.

Toughspiders

Hi there Toughspiders (if that is your real name )

There is just one job advertised in Brisbane at present on A Pod A website... but whether it has been filled or not I am unsure.

Also you might need to check out some of the other threads in the "Podiatry Employment" section to see what needs to be done with regard to registration in Australia...

Good luck

Regards

Donna

Thanks Donna

I have my froms ready for sending to APODC for the skills assessment which is required for the visa. It will be sent next week after they have been certified.
When this is through i can send for the visa. APODC have told me it takes about 2/3 weeks.

I am concerned the job situation in this region isn't as good as in other areas.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi Toughspiders (What a name!),

Yes there is plenty of work for Pod's. But same old deal, only relatively few jobs advertised. but DON'T WORRY, once you pick up a little work, you'll make contacts and pretty soon you'll be inundated with offers for work. It always takes twice as long as you expect, but hang in there. Have you tried Networking with Podiatrists near to you? Just phone up a bunch of them and ask if they need someone themselves, or, often they've been offered work but can't do it. That's what I did in SE QLD and within a few weeks / months...busy, busy, busy......when can I get a Holiday!!
Pick up that phone and get calling.....

Good Luck, but you'll be fine....
Julian

__________________
A bientot...

Julian
Podiatrist-at-large

Hi Toughspiders,

Julian does have a point there, it is reasonably easy to get locum work in and around Brisbane but finding something more permanent might take a bit longer. You can actually list your name with the A Pod A as a locum if you're a member, and this is provided to prospective employers who can get in touch with you when you're needed...

When were you looking at starting work in Australia? ASAP?

Regards

Donna :)

Thanks Donna and Julian

Im still in the Uk at the moment. I'm going to be applying for the skilled independent migration visa. Hubby has been offered (sort off) work in Brisbane CBD. SO i will be looking for somewhere which is commutable for us both.

I think, from what i have read, the healthcare system is different over there. Over here it tends to be larger percentage of high risk stuff/nail ops in the health service, dont get me wrong there is a still lot of what we call "cut and come again", but its getting to a point now where only high risk patients are taken on for care.

Working for the NHS is rewarding but it can be real damn hard work. I see 9 or ten patients a session and also have to do all the clerical work - most days there are about 20 to 30 messages to ring back on top of this. It is not usual not to have a dinner break. Is it the same there? Is the grass really greener on the other side?

The private sector tends to be those below 65 without major health complaints.

How does it work in Australia?

I was asking about the job situation because i didn't want to make a wrong choice in terms of location, ie i didnt want to get there and not find work.
However im glad you have replied and put my mind at ease.

Bex
x

Toughspiders - you not the only one:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=477868

__________________
Forum Rules |FAQ's | Earn CPD Points
Have you added your location to the map? (Map FAQ's)

Thanks Robo!!!!

Lots in common with them!
1.On both counts of occupations!
2. Age, well i like to think i'm more mid thirties at 36!
3. Love of motorbikes

but

1. Unfortunately not the same sex thing though each to their own
2. More interested in the High Risk Podiatry field than the biomech stuff....

ah...lets hope i see sunshine sooner rather than later! Its been raining in Manchester today! now that is a surprise!

Hi Bex,

The majority of Pods in Brisbane would be practicing in general Private Practice, with a very small relative number of Pods in high-risk public clinics. The type of patient that you see in Private Practice does depend on the demographic of the area that you are working in. Do you know which suburb your husband is going to be working in yet?

Most locum positions that become available are in Private Practice, but if you are particularly interested in working with high-risk groups, perhaps you could enquire with organisations such as Blue Care with regard to job vacancies. Or you could look at Queensland Health for vacancies that would be more of the high risk type.

I hope this helps.

Regards

Donna :)

Hi Bex,

As Donna states practice here is divided into Private and Public sectors. I've worked in both in QLD and W.A. Can't recall ever missing lunch in the Public Sector, but happily miss lunch if I can finish earlier in the day in Private Practice!

Can't speak for all, but a far more relaxed pace here compared to what you have outlined. Phone calls are an interesting point, quite hard to actually get someone to return your calls....on the other hand.....no great stress in you returning calls either! I work exclusively in Private practice and employ a brilliant Secretary....so paperwork is minimised.

One peculiarity that may be a slight culture shock is that the Days here CAN (This is what I angle for) start and finish quite early....eg I routinely start at 0730 and try to finish in the early afternoon. Very usual for people to be up and walking / jogging at 0530 in the Summer as it gets light around 0500. No driving home from work in the dark for me! Having lived and worked in N.Ireland I loathed finishing work in the pitch black. So here, especially in the Hot Summers, one can finish early enough to go for a swim, jog, visit friends, shopping etc etc....

Cost of living, well I can compare N.Ireland with Aus, and say much cheaper to live here for all basic and consumable items (Petrol 40p/litre, meal in a mid-level restaurant 8 GBP etc etc...). Not that everything is rosy, summers too hot and too long, not as many cultural pursuits as UK, reasonably safe - but getting rougher quickly, distance from Europe / US, somewhat parochial mindset of many etc etc...

Hope this helps, and again, don't worry about the work too much. Who wants to get off the Plane and go straight into 8 hour days anyway?

__________________
A bientot...

Julian
Podiatrist-at-large

Thanks Donna, Julian

Could you enlighten me on the salaries???

I am not really bothered as to whether i work in private practice or public. Eight hour days would be a holiday!!

Im in the process of gathering the documents for my skills assessment. They wish to have all my exam marks from university. I only have my third year. I have contacted the uni and no doubt will have to wait ages for them to sort them for me arghhhhh...

It just seems like, now i have made the decision to up sticks, that, i wanna be there NOW!!! SO impatient.

From what you have said it seems like the pace of life and work is so much more relaxed...which would be NICE!!!

Thanks

Bex

Hi Bex,

Salaries vary greatly, and it depends on where you are employed. And it's kind of complicated, so forgive me if I don't explain this very well...

In private practice, you are most likely to be paid a retainer salary (e.g. $40000 pa) with a percentage for what you bill in excess of a certain figure (e.g. billings over $80000 pa). Or you might be paid a certain percentage (e.g. 50%) of the billings as a "contractor" which means you'd be using an ABN and then pay taxes and superannuation yourself.

In the public sector, you are generally paid a salary, and the salaries are graded on different levels like PO2 and PO4 depending on your level of experience and your role in the clinical setting. I have never myself worked in the public sector, so I have no idea what the levels mean or how anything works

Anywho, I hope this helps a little, hopefully I haven't confused you too much...

Regards

Donna :)

Hi Bex,
As Donna has outlined, highly variable and no one really talks about it to one another (Although I heard Donna only uses the Rolls on Thursdays as the Mercedes is easier to park ).

As a percentage deal, Donna is about right with 45-50% commission. Its been a long time since Public Practice but around $45-$70K AUD sounds about right depending on Level (It may not sound like that much in GBP, but believe me, goes WAY further here than in the UK.)


None of us seem to be starving.......
Julian

__________________
A bientot...

Julian
Podiatrist-at-large

Thanks you two. It doesnt sound too bad. I currently earn about 62k (aus dollars converted!) working for the NHS and thats 5 years in.

Its goes up considerably obviously the longer you are in the job the more you earn.

It doesnt go a long way at all over here considering i work part time and pay about 1700 $ in childcare.....not to mention council tax at 2500$ a month and lets not go into mortgages!!!

I believe the childcare in Australia is far superior and less expensive (im not sure if you can comment on this one!)

Why does noone talk about wages. It is a bit of a taboo subject?

Also how much of your work is insect related????? :)

Bex

Hi Bex,

I can't really comment on the childcare situation since my children are of the avian variety and they can be kept safely in their toy-filled cages at home all day But maybe you could get in touch with a child care centre and ask for a quote? :p Try ABC Child Care Centres , they have heaps of locations all over Brisbane...

And yeah, we don't really talk about money much, most of the time when jobs are advertised they say that the salary is negotiable depending on experience... After surveying a couple of my Podiatrist friends (in their 4th to 5th year out of uni), most are on 50% commission and then they pay tax and superannuation out of that figure...so I guess it depends on how hard you work really...

And I don't really get any insect related work myself... what exactly have you been told about Queensland? Believe it or not, there's not that many bugs... but then I haven't been to the UK so cannot compare insect populations accurately!

Regards

Donna :)

lol:) my word what time is it there? U a night owl?

We see some nasty insect bites in patients with diabetes when they come back of their hols or when they've been gardening. I always tell them they attract em coz they taste so good!

You have mozzies their dont you? We dont have them here, we have midgies, but no biting spidles either!! But then again we don't have summers either! Not this year anyway!

Bex
x

Hi Bex...

It's actually 8:11pm... so not exactly a night owl... :p

I don't generally have patients complaining solely of insect bites, but then over here it's actually not that big a deal to have a mozzie bite, it's just a matter of basic first aid here... ah another mozzie bite... meh

We have mozzies and midgies, and plenty of spiders, cockroaches and flies, but most common house spiders don't bite (unless they're really hungry). We do have massive huntsman spiders which again don't bite, but are pretty huge and hairy looking things :( but definitely harmless!

There is a wonderful fellow called a pest-controller who can prevent most of these nasties from invading your home, the only thing that can't be exterminated is the gecko (yes I actually enquired about this )... they are seemingly cute and quirky until they invade your home and make the most annoying loud call... but there is a pro to having geckos, since they feed on any insects that manage to sneak into the house...

Regards

Donna :p

Yeah, i heard you can have your house sprayed. I've seen pictures of those hairy beasts. Plus im married to one to will have no problems there then!

Where in Oz are you..its 11:30 here.

Bex

I'm in Brisbane...

Thanks Donna Julian

Bex
x

TOUGHSPIDERS

Didn't think I would see a thread of mine from another site appear on Podiatry Arena Forum. Good luck with your efforts to find work around brisbane area. I can supply you with a contact in the Caloundra area..North of brisbane..very nice beaches who I turned a position down with last month...we preffered Cairns...as you say "each to their own"!!! I have taken job offer in Cairns just doing Sports Podiatry which I would have had trouble finding over here in U.K.

I wrote to every podiatrist registered with Oz Podiatry council and got around 10 offers..3 in the Brisbane area. Not all were great either for financial reasons or just how they were prepared to employ me (self employed basis with no guarantee of how much work i would get).

You may be able to help me out..for the regional state sponsored visa do you know if we have to register with Oz podiatry council before sending visa off?? Just worried about how much this will cost if visa unsuccessful!! I have also been on website and it looks as though if you have trained at the approved university, have references and are registered over here that you may not need to sit part 2 exam to register with them. How have you interpreted this?

TOUGHSPIDERS

Small world..just reading your threads..we are in sunny Manchester too!! Am I mad, going to be moving to Cairns where it rains..although in between the rain you have blue skies and heat so I guess I can cope with that!!

lol :)

So near!

I think with any visa you need your skills assessment completed first - via the aus podiatry council. I sent my stuff off last week and it looks like they have taken the money out just today about (£291). If you have studied at one of the approved schools you need not sit any test.

I sent off my cv to one company no too long ago and they offered sponsorship though i want the option of not being tied to someone in case i dont like it!

After which you then need to gain registration in the state you wish to work e.g Queensland. Though you don't need to do this before your visa.

Are you working in Manchester at the mo?

Bex