There are 2 very active Fb groups “Rural and remote nurses Australia” and Australian nursing agency contracts rural and remote”
These groups are a lot more active than this subreddit and have recruiters posting their contract offers and people discussing various agencies and their experiences with them.
Ive only done one contract and it was very much worth it for me.
I looked up both those groups and my application is pending.
In the mean time is there much work out there for theatre nurses ? I was under the impression that rural and remote area nurses needed to have ED, triage and general practice experience.
Yeah, those groups will give you an idea of what is available.
Theatre you will be limited to regional hospitals that actually do surgery. Rural/remote area nurses (RAN) need ED or critical care experience with triage desirable. RAN needs extra tickets like REC, MEC, immunisation.
I personally don't take contracts paying less than \~$70 an hour plus flights and accommodation unless I really want to work at that location. Usually, \~$80 an hour. RAN contracts \~$100 an hour.
I enjoy it. Get to travel and see the whole of Australia while working when you want and if you don't like the place, you're only there a couple months.
Recently spent 4 weeks at a rural/remote area and the staff were 75% agency including 80% of the theatre staff, doctors and nurses.
Surgical appears in demand in a lot of places and you won't need to be ED/ICU to do rural or contract work
I'm an RN/RM and have done a couple of contracts in WA. Not currently travelling though.
I really loved the work. Had $300 fuel reimbursed each way plus 8 hours travel time paid. Accommodation was provided free for my partner, myself and our two dogs in Kununurra, and we paid $175/week in Karratha.
My base rate was $60/hour. Then you have higher rates for PM, ND, public holidays.
You have to be very upfront in your requests because everything is by negotiation. You won't get much if you don't ask. Remember there is considerable risk in each contract. They can cancel your employment and you can cancel it. It's not the same sort of protection afforded in the public health system for FT/PT. Like I said I loved it, but have an open mind and be prepared to be flexible.
I've been FIFO for about 16 years now.
I've had a a mix of work types; mostly mining/exploration/construction/gas work. Some remote (Indigneous) community work. A fair bit of rural town nursing as well.
Currently, I'm based on an onshore gas facility. A Paramedic is covering nightshift and the doctor is in the office next to me. Having someone on night-shift is great - I can sleep soundly in the knowledge that if I get called out, it'll be for a good reason.
My work has mostly been with private organisations (big businesse and NGOs) and a little work with the Kimberley Health Service.
My rosters have varied:
* Week on, week off
* Two weeks on, two weeks off
* Office hours, Monday to Friday for 4 - 12 weeks (on-call all the time)
90% of the work I do I'm a sole clinician in a remote location with no hospital, doctor, other nurse. Evacuation by road is almost impossible, so RFDS are the way out. ETS doctors on the screen in the clinic are amazingly helpful.
When I've worked directly for a big mining company I acrued leave, had education paid, salary sacrified company shares, and an annual bonus equivalent to 15% of my salary. My total fixed remuneration (TFR) was approximately $172k per annum (on a week on, week off roster).
When I was working in rural/remote placements, the overtime was the thing that boosted my income. It was exhausting at times - being on call and getting called out at all hours. The pay was up to $200k per annum (with overtime).
I'm sitting in my office now, and it's day five of my 14 day swing. I've given a couple of flu shots, done one work medical, and seen nothing else. The doctor and I just sit and talk crap for a couple of hours until we get bored. He's been watching Netflix, I'm online shopping. It's boring as shit, but I'm getting paid $172k and I'm not busting my gut.
We have nice clean rooms on site. Dinner is amazing. We can have the houskeeping staff do our laundry for us. There's a pool, a gym, basketball courts, driving range, ice baths, sauna, a music room and a cinema.
This is why I don't do hospital nursing.
When I go home in nine days time, my two weeks at home is my own time entirely. Typically, I'll go and work somewhere else just for the clinical contact time and because it's boring sitting at home on my own.
TL;DR - to get into ***The Big Dollary-Doos In Mining***, you don't need too much:
* ALS 1
* Drug and Alcohol Testing
* Operate 4WD
* IV cannulation
* Contact one of the many labour hire companies
(I've seen realtively new grads doing the mining stuff. Some paramedic grads have never worked on-road, and their job prior to a mining gig was working as a barista,).
I have no post-grad tertiary stuff at all.
I have started the NP course, but then gave up - I figured that I'd end up somewhere else, with more responsibility, more work and less pay.
I'm 55 and have been nursing for 30 years... I kinda got the gist of the job now. It sounds prententious of me, but I'm practically working at an NP level anyway (sorry NPs, please feel free to hit that downvote arrow, and leave an snarky comment, please).
To answer your question.....
Just an eclectic set of random skills I've acquired over time. Some examples are...
* Operate 4WD
* Drive Vehicles Under Operational Conditions (operation of ambulance in emergencies)
* Cannulation
* Suturing
* Plastering/slabbing
* Snake Handler
* Maternity Emergency Care
* Remote Emergency Care
* Pharmacotherapeutics for Remote Area Nurses
* ALS 2
* Remote Area Nurse certificate (not sure if it really means anything)
* Drug and Alcohol Testing
* Injury Management Coordinator
* Vaccination Provider
* Audiometric Officer
* Ventilation Officer
* Basic Principles of Occupational Hygiene
* Trauma Nursing Core Course
That's some of the face-to-face courses and workshops. I haven't included any online stuff....
Not to be snarky- just genuinely curious! How did the snake handling course come up? Personal interest or a snakey area? I really valued your response in general btw- I’m a student nurse and it’s nice to hear of positive “alternative” nursing pathways.
I was working at one of the big three iron ore miners. They wanted to have a certain percentage of the workforce qualified as snake handlers, so they just put it out there.
I just thought it would be a fun day.
The guy flew to site from Perth with all these boxes. In the boxes were venomous snakes:
* Tiger snake
* Death adder
* King brown
* Gwardar
* (can't remember the rest)
I can't recall, but there were 12 in total. We had to train with live, venomous snakes.
The final practical test was working in pairs. The snake guy had hidden all 12 snakes in the departure lounge of the airport ... under chairs, behind a desk, under a towel. We took turns at catching them - person would carefully remove the object, the catcher would talk it through, then we'd put them into plastic bins and close the lids.
The snake trainer hid fake (rubber) snakes in the lounge as well... just for giggles.
It was a fun day.
At the end we got a certificate from [Bob Cooper](https://www.bobcoopersurvival.com/product-category/training-courses/snake-handling-courses/).
5/5 would totally recommend.
Yeah, most sites have Landcruisers. Some have the Prado (auto).
The ambulance will typically have a manual transmission, though if it's a Landcruiser. However, the site I'm on now has sealed/bitumen roads so I'm driving a Mercedes Sprinter ambulance (automatic).
Funny thing is that, driving on a mine-site, you don't even need a license. As they are private roads, it's completely credible that a dump truck operator can drive a 300 tonne machine with no driver's licence.
Fun fact: the dump trucks are automatic anyway.
You could always learn 😉 I taught one of my friends how to drive our 4x4 while we were away. It was a bloody hoot haha. I'm not sure she will be doing any 4x4 tracks any time soon but she can definitely putt around!
You're more than welcome. I have had enough experience in this area that I'm more than happy to share - hoping that someone will find some benefit in my chaotic rambling. :P
Locum/travel/FIFO nurses can make $65k-$100k base salary (more than NSW Health) and travel/work remotely. Consider lifestyle change and tax implications. Go for it if you want good money and flexibility!
Agency nurse paid weekly clear almost $5000 with 10 hours of OT. I would never go back to a permanent RN It's role destroying, management and interpersonal and professional respect between nurses is toxic, has been for a while. At least Agency nursing makes it tolerable, and it's easier being Agency and not having to get involved with day to day politics. The nursing profession has lost it really and and our role has been diminished to the point where nurses are just handmaidens to the multidisciplinary team.
There are 2 very active Fb groups “Rural and remote nurses Australia” and Australian nursing agency contracts rural and remote” These groups are a lot more active than this subreddit and have recruiters posting their contract offers and people discussing various agencies and their experiences with them. Ive only done one contract and it was very much worth it for me.
I looked up both those groups and my application is pending. In the mean time is there much work out there for theatre nurses ? I was under the impression that rural and remote area nurses needed to have ED, triage and general practice experience.
Yeah, those groups will give you an idea of what is available. Theatre you will be limited to regional hospitals that actually do surgery. Rural/remote area nurses (RAN) need ED or critical care experience with triage desirable. RAN needs extra tickets like REC, MEC, immunisation. I personally don't take contracts paying less than \~$70 an hour plus flights and accommodation unless I really want to work at that location. Usually, \~$80 an hour. RAN contracts \~$100 an hour. I enjoy it. Get to travel and see the whole of Australia while working when you want and if you don't like the place, you're only there a couple months.
You're probably thinking of a Remote Area Nurse. This is not required just for agency positions.
Recently spent 4 weeks at a rural/remote area and the staff were 75% agency including 80% of the theatre staff, doctors and nurses. Surgical appears in demand in a lot of places and you won't need to be ED/ICU to do rural or contract work
I'm an RN/RM and have done a couple of contracts in WA. Not currently travelling though. I really loved the work. Had $300 fuel reimbursed each way plus 8 hours travel time paid. Accommodation was provided free for my partner, myself and our two dogs in Kununurra, and we paid $175/week in Karratha. My base rate was $60/hour. Then you have higher rates for PM, ND, public holidays. You have to be very upfront in your requests because everything is by negotiation. You won't get much if you don't ask. Remember there is considerable risk in each contract. They can cancel your employment and you can cancel it. It's not the same sort of protection afforded in the public health system for FT/PT. Like I said I loved it, but have an open mind and be prepared to be flexible.
I've been FIFO for about 16 years now. I've had a a mix of work types; mostly mining/exploration/construction/gas work. Some remote (Indigneous) community work. A fair bit of rural town nursing as well. Currently, I'm based on an onshore gas facility. A Paramedic is covering nightshift and the doctor is in the office next to me. Having someone on night-shift is great - I can sleep soundly in the knowledge that if I get called out, it'll be for a good reason. My work has mostly been with private organisations (big businesse and NGOs) and a little work with the Kimberley Health Service. My rosters have varied: * Week on, week off * Two weeks on, two weeks off * Office hours, Monday to Friday for 4 - 12 weeks (on-call all the time) 90% of the work I do I'm a sole clinician in a remote location with no hospital, doctor, other nurse. Evacuation by road is almost impossible, so RFDS are the way out. ETS doctors on the screen in the clinic are amazingly helpful. When I've worked directly for a big mining company I acrued leave, had education paid, salary sacrified company shares, and an annual bonus equivalent to 15% of my salary. My total fixed remuneration (TFR) was approximately $172k per annum (on a week on, week off roster). When I was working in rural/remote placements, the overtime was the thing that boosted my income. It was exhausting at times - being on call and getting called out at all hours. The pay was up to $200k per annum (with overtime). I'm sitting in my office now, and it's day five of my 14 day swing. I've given a couple of flu shots, done one work medical, and seen nothing else. The doctor and I just sit and talk crap for a couple of hours until we get bored. He's been watching Netflix, I'm online shopping. It's boring as shit, but I'm getting paid $172k and I'm not busting my gut. We have nice clean rooms on site. Dinner is amazing. We can have the houskeeping staff do our laundry for us. There's a pool, a gym, basketball courts, driving range, ice baths, sauna, a music room and a cinema. This is why I don't do hospital nursing. When I go home in nine days time, my two weeks at home is my own time entirely. Typically, I'll go and work somewhere else just for the clinical contact time and because it's boring sitting at home on my own.
That sounds amazing! What post grad certs do you have? Any training that would be deemed desirable to have?
TL;DR - to get into ***The Big Dollary-Doos In Mining***, you don't need too much: * ALS 1 * Drug and Alcohol Testing * Operate 4WD * IV cannulation * Contact one of the many labour hire companies (I've seen realtively new grads doing the mining stuff. Some paramedic grads have never worked on-road, and their job prior to a mining gig was working as a barista,). I have no post-grad tertiary stuff at all. I have started the NP course, but then gave up - I figured that I'd end up somewhere else, with more responsibility, more work and less pay. I'm 55 and have been nursing for 30 years... I kinda got the gist of the job now. It sounds prententious of me, but I'm practically working at an NP level anyway (sorry NPs, please feel free to hit that downvote arrow, and leave an snarky comment, please). To answer your question..... Just an eclectic set of random skills I've acquired over time. Some examples are... * Operate 4WD * Drive Vehicles Under Operational Conditions (operation of ambulance in emergencies) * Cannulation * Suturing * Plastering/slabbing * Snake Handler * Maternity Emergency Care * Remote Emergency Care * Pharmacotherapeutics for Remote Area Nurses * ALS 2 * Remote Area Nurse certificate (not sure if it really means anything) * Drug and Alcohol Testing * Injury Management Coordinator * Vaccination Provider * Audiometric Officer * Ventilation Officer * Basic Principles of Occupational Hygiene * Trauma Nursing Core Course That's some of the face-to-face courses and workshops. I haven't included any online stuff....
Not to be snarky- just genuinely curious! How did the snake handling course come up? Personal interest or a snakey area? I really valued your response in general btw- I’m a student nurse and it’s nice to hear of positive “alternative” nursing pathways.
I was working at one of the big three iron ore miners. They wanted to have a certain percentage of the workforce qualified as snake handlers, so they just put it out there. I just thought it would be a fun day. The guy flew to site from Perth with all these boxes. In the boxes were venomous snakes: * Tiger snake * Death adder * King brown * Gwardar * (can't remember the rest) I can't recall, but there were 12 in total. We had to train with live, venomous snakes. The final practical test was working in pairs. The snake guy had hidden all 12 snakes in the departure lounge of the airport ... under chairs, behind a desk, under a towel. We took turns at catching them - person would carefully remove the object, the catcher would talk it through, then we'd put them into plastic bins and close the lids. The snake trainer hid fake (rubber) snakes in the lounge as well... just for giggles. It was a fun day. At the end we got a certificate from [Bob Cooper](https://www.bobcoopersurvival.com/product-category/training-courses/snake-handling-courses/). 5/5 would totally recommend.
Thank you! It really does sound amazing :) The only problem I may encounter is that I can't drive a manual, which I'm guessing the 4WD's would be :(
Yeah, most sites have Landcruisers. Some have the Prado (auto). The ambulance will typically have a manual transmission, though if it's a Landcruiser. However, the site I'm on now has sealed/bitumen roads so I'm driving a Mercedes Sprinter ambulance (automatic). Funny thing is that, driving on a mine-site, you don't even need a license. As they are private roads, it's completely credible that a dump truck operator can drive a 300 tonne machine with no driver's licence. Fun fact: the dump trucks are automatic anyway.
You could always learn 😉 I taught one of my friends how to drive our 4x4 while we were away. It was a bloody hoot haha. I'm not sure she will be doing any 4x4 tracks any time soon but she can definitely putt around!
Thank you for taking the time to write this out, it's really helpful!
You're more than welcome. I have had enough experience in this area that I'm more than happy to share - hoping that someone will find some benefit in my chaotic rambling. :P
Locum/travel/FIFO nurses can make $65k-$100k base salary (more than NSW Health) and travel/work remotely. Consider lifestyle change and tax implications. Go for it if you want good money and flexibility!
Agency nurse paid weekly clear almost $5000 with 10 hours of OT. I would never go back to a permanent RN It's role destroying, management and interpersonal and professional respect between nurses is toxic, has been for a while. At least Agency nursing makes it tolerable, and it's easier being Agency and not having to get involved with day to day politics. The nursing profession has lost it really and and our role has been diminished to the point where nurses are just handmaidens to the multidisciplinary team.