Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. If English is not my native language, do I need to sit an English test?

Yes. There is a requirement that you sit a Basic English language proficiency test. You must achieve an overall score of 7.0 with a 6.5 in both listening and reading and 7.0 in writing and speaking and have sat the test no more than 2 years ago. Further details of the test can be found at IELTS. If you have any concerns about the testing process then please talk to one of our consultants. We are here to help you in all aspects of the migration process.

Q2. Is there an upper age limit for healthcare workers coming to work temporarily in Australia? 


No. If your qualifications are suitable you will be able to work in Australia on a temporary basis at any age.

Q3. Is the cost of living in Australia less than in, say the UK?

In some aspects life in Australia is much cheaper than in the UK. Petrol prices are significantly less as is the cost of meat, wine and sporting events. House prices are high in the capital cities here but rental properties can always be found to suit any budget. For more information see our Cost of Living table.

Q4. Do I need private health insurance while I am living/working in Australia?

This is advisable, as many employers will not consider you unless you are prepared to take out private health insurance. There are significant tax incentives to taking out health insurance so generally these equate to the cost of the insurance so you will not be "out of pocket".  Australia has reciprocal agreements with several European countries (see Medicare for further details) but there are exemptions. There is a choice of specific policies for visitors to Australia, which you can review by following these links:

Medibank Private
MBF

 

Australian Unity
AusHealth

Q5. What are schools like in Australia and will I be able to enroll my children at any point in the school year?

State schooling here is very similar to that in European countries. Children begin school at age 5 and the Australian system is well resourced and of a high standard. There is much less pressure put on children here than in the UK with the emphasis being on producing active and resourceful lifelong learners rather than attaining a specified standard.

State schools must accept any child who lives in that particular school's zone irrespective of whether they are "full" or not so you will always be able to get them in, although class sizes have been capped at 22 in primary schools. If you have children please speak to our consultants who will be able to help you find suitable accommodation and schooling for your child/children.

Q6. Do I need to have an interview with my employers before they accept me for my post?

You will be interviewed by one of our consultants prior to us matching you with a post. This allows us to get a good understanding of your skills and requirements and so should streamline the process for you. Your prospective employers may well wish to interview you and Plexus will arrange this for you usually via video or tele-conferencing.

Q7. How will my personal details be used and protected?

Plexus Medical Recruitment prides itself on the high standards of privacy and data protection we achieve. You can view full details of our relevant policies by following these links Privacy / Data Collection. All of our computers and computer held files are password protected and only Plexus staff has access to written information. If you would like to further discuss the use or protection of your information please contact Gillian Emond

Q8. Who decides on which post I am put forward for?

You do. Plexus Medical Recruitment will ask for detailed information from you that allow us to find a job that we think will suit all your requirements. If that post is not what you are looking for then we will be happy to repeat our searched until we successfully find a post that suits you.

Please contact us if you have a question that has not been answered here. Our recruitment consultants will be happy to answer any question that you have.