UK and Irish nurses: Australia wants you! Join You+Aus today

Australia is frequently viewed as a shining example of multiculturalism done right, ranking as the world’s second most diverse country in the world.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone – after all, modern Australia is a country built on immigration. According to the 2016 census, 26% of Australia’s population (more than 6 million people) was born overseas.

But did you know that one in six of those people hail from the UK or Ireland?

In fact, immigrants from the British Isles make up the single largest immigrant group in Australia.

And with the close historical, work and immigration links between Australia, the UK and Ireland we thought it would be a good idea to compare nursing in Australia and the old country – and why a working holiday down under is a great idea for British and Irish nurses!

Nursing in Australia: why take your nursing career down under?

Many of Australia’s medical professionals hail from overseas… and nurses are no exception, with a quarter of our nurses imported from the UK alone! Go to any major Australian hospital, and it won’t be long until you hear a familiar accent.

English, Scottish or Irish nurses are a common sight in Australian hospitals – but why?

Nurses in Australia enjoy better working conditions

“She’ll be right, mate.”

If there was ever a single phrase, to sum up, Australian culture, that’d be the one. Aussies are renowned for our laid-back lifestyle and steady-as-she-goes approach to everything.

Here’s a quick fact: the UK has approximately one nurse for every eight patients. And in Ireland, the picture is even more dire, where one nurse can be responsible for anywhere between 8 patients during the day and up to 12 at night.

On the other hand, nurse-patient ratios in Australia are approximately 1:4 in most major cities – and there’s a push to implement this number nationwide, with the states of Victoria and Queensland writing this ratio into law.

The upshot is that Aussie nurses have lighter workloads and can provide far more attention to individual patients… meaning better care!

Nursing conditions are far better down under. If you feel overworked in the UK or Ireland, a trip to Australia might be just the ticket.

Nurses in Australia enjoy better pay rates

Of course, when planning a working holiday it’s important to consider how much money you’ll be earning during your time overseas. After all, you’re going to be living overseas for months on end – and you can’t do that without money.

Of course, how much you’re paid as a nurse comes down to your experience and specialty. When you work casually with a nursing agency through the You+Aus (You and Aus) family of boutique healthcare brands, we’ll pay you at a casual rate higher than the industry standard so you can comfortably support yourself while you’re here!

Like the explorers of old…

Make no mistake, a working holiday in an Australian hospital is a great opportunity to advance your nursing career. But have you been neglecting the holiday part of your time here?

Of course, work is important (how else would you support yourself during your stay?), but you’d be surprised how many people taking working holidays overseas seem to forget to have fun while there!

Fortunately, Australia isn’t only a great place to take your nursing career: it’s also one of the best destinations for adventurous nurses who want to explore and have fun while working.

From our vast outback to cosmopolitan cities, there’s always something to explore Down Under.

After all, what’s the point of a working holiday without the holiday part?

Warm weather galore!

We’re willing to bet that if you asked any visitor from the UK or Ireland why they flew all the way down to Australia, the weather would be the first reason out of their lips.

Honestly, we don’t blame you. An average summer temperature of 19C in London and 16C in Dublin? That’s winter weather in most parts of Australia – brrrr!

The UK and Ireland have plenty of great things going for them. But pleasant, warm weather isn’t quite one of them. Quite the opposite, in fact: cold, rainy weather is one of the defining British and Irish stereotypes!

Are you sick of putting up with the cold, dreary and rainy weather at home? Come join us Down Under! If there’s one thing that Australia has in abundance, it’s warm weather. If you’re coming down under, forget about packing a scarf and coat. Instead, pack your sunscreen… you’ll need plenty of it!

Reefs, beaches, and adventure awaits

To say Australia is big is an understatement – compared to the UK or Ireland, Australia is MASSIVE.

And with its huge size comes a whole world of fantastic scenery to explore and exciting adventures to have.

We Aussies are proud of our wild, untamed nature. And with over 500 national parks and protected areas covering a whopping 10% of Australia’s landmass, it looks set to stay that way.

And this isn’t even getting started on our pristine beaches. There’s nothing like a relaxed picnic on the sand, breaking out the surfboards or spending some time working on your tan (or sunburn) when summer comes around.

We strongly encourage renting a van and going on a road trip around the country to see all our living treasures. Experience the freedom of an open road and explore our fantastic natural habitat – trust us, it’s not something you’ll ever forget!

Need help getting started on your working holiday to Australia?

You+Aus will help you every step of the way!

If you want a valuable experience for your career and lifelong memories and experiences, a working holiday in Australia is the perfect way to get the best of both worlds… on the other side of the world!

You+Aus is with you every step of the way – so take the first step and register with us today. Alternatively, call our UK team: +353 (85) 826 6569

And if you have any other burning questions, contact us now!