anyone worked in Australia in the last couple of years?

RE: anyone worked in Australia in the last couple of years?

salome2001 — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 09:53:45 GMT

Thank you all for your input... Very wise.

I have actually been offered $90k Pro rata, and with the added super, cpd and ava membership I'm happy enough.

Yes, the cost of living is extortionate! I too remember coming to the UK and paying for groceries what I had paid in Australian dollars for the same items. Big change there.

Add to that the schools all require personalised uniform rather than what you could buy at Asda... but that's a whole other forum...

RE: anyone worked in Australia in the last couple of years?

jd2008 — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 06:49:09 GMT

I'm not sure how much use I'll be as I've only worked in universities since arriving in Australia 10 years ago. However, I do have colleagues who employed in private practice and have looked at a few positions myself, on the occasions I've considered returning.

[quote userid="12274" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/28892/anyone-worked-in-australia-in-the-last-couple-of-years/219545"]Full time experienced SA vet : Aus $80-$100,000 + super 9.5% +/- after hours bonuses. Country vets likely to pay a little less than a major city job.[/quote]

I'd agree with this general range but major city jobs are most in demand so you have much less negotiating power. All the new grads want a major city job so it's relatively easy for these practices to staff themselves at a low(ish) cost. I've yet to come across a GP position in a major city here offering 6 figures as a base salary (very happy to stand corrected, though). My colleagues have found the regional practices are more likely to offer a salary considerably above award, simply because they really struggle to recruit.

[quote userid="12274" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/28892/anyone-worked-in-australia-in-the-last-couple-of-years/219545"]after hours bonuses.[/quote]

These are a definite boost to overall earnings if available. There seems to be an after hours centre on the corner of every street nowadays - certainly in the cities and, increasingly, in the larger regional towns. SA practices invariably delegate after hours/on call obligations to these centres if there's one nearby (and, in some cases, even if they're not nearby. When I worked at one of the teaching hospitals, we'd regularly get OOH cases from a 5-6 hour drive away because there were no other vets available overnight).

My overall impression, from both my colleagues and my own experiences, is that your strongest negotiating power is around things other than salary, Margins are pretty tight for general practices but they're desperate for staff. They might not be able to afford much over $85k but they can be very flexible in terms of part-time vs full-time, balance of work (surgical versus medical/consults), even the hours worked. Some friends have been able to, essentially, design their own job.

[quote userid="9515" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/28892/anyone-worked-in-australia-in-the-last-couple-of-years/219646"]What is the cost of living like in Australia compared to UK? I thought it is many times more expensive but sure how much.[/quote]

Yes, this is a very good point. I see from your profile that you're returning to Australia after some time away. Depending on how long you've been out of Aus, you may be in for a shock . When my husband move back after 10 years away (with me in tow) he was horrified at how expensive Australia had become. I was living in London before immigrating so was used to things being expensive but wasn't prepared for costs over here. As an example the weekly grocery shop for the two of us in the UK was 80GBP (about $150) - it was $200 when we first moved and has crept up to around $220 now. House and rental prices are just bonkers. Even basics like clothes and healthcare/pharmaceuticals are substantially more expensive (I still order my underwear online from M+S. I refuse to pay $90 for one decent bra!!)

RE: anyone worked in Australia in the last couple of years?

bevs2251 — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 21:49:57 GMT

When I was in UK, cost of living was double that in Oz but that was over 30 years ago. It would be expensive in capital cities, esp Sydney & Melbourne rent-wise. Food staples costs likely to increase due to our recent bushfires & long-term drought. The OP is looking to work in a large country town so costs would be lower there (except Top End - WA & NT where transport cost on goods adds to price).

RE: anyone worked in Australia in the last couple of years?

Sarah Keir — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 08:59:01 GMT

What is the cost of living like in Australia compared to UK? I thought it is many times more expensive but sure how much.

RE: anyone worked in Australia in the last couple of years?

bevs2251 — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 21:57:13 GMT

Addendum - casual locum hourly rate approx $60-$70 per hour (NSW). Daily rate negotiable - corporates (& others) will dock you 1/2 hour for lunch so clarify that, especially if you work thru lunch, ensure you are paid correctly.

RE: anyone worked in Australia in the last couple of years?

bevs2251 — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 22:19:25 GMT

Full time experienced SA vet : Aus $80-$100,000 + super 9.5% +/- after hours bonuses. Country vets likely to pay a little less than a major city job. Casual locum rates - add extra 20%. Check Kookaburra Locum site for current salary offerings. Award rate is pathetic - corporates pay this so steer clear of them, unless you can negotiate a better rate. I did, then eventually ended up getting shafted. Plenty of jobs here. Country towns have difficulty getting vets so you should have the upper hand when it comes to negotiating. Might want to brush up on Aussie issues like snake bite treatment, paralysis tick, heartworm etc. Good luck.