Working overseas can be an amazing adventure full of wonderful experiences for Nurses, Midwives and healthcare professionals. The yearning to travel is a given, but the big question on the lips of every travel Nurse is where do I base myself?

We’ve compiled ten (10) reasons why you should pack your bags and set a course for Melbourne, Australia.

Number 1: Melbourne is the most liveable city in the world

In 2017, Melbourne was named the most liveable city in the world for the seventh straight year! The city scored a 97.5/100 on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) liveability index, which comprised of perfect scores for education, infrastructure and of course healthcare.

Source: Economist Intelligence Unit research report

As a healthcare professional, working and travelling around Australia, you can feel comfortable knowing that Melbourne scored a perfect ‘100’ for its healthcare system. In fact, all Australian major cities scored 100 when it came to healthcare, which is indicative of the importance placed on continuous efforts to maintain the highest clinical standards.

Number 2: The sporting capital of Australia

Home to the AFL grand final, Melbourne Cup, Formula 1 Grand Prix, Australian Open of Tennis and Boxing Day Cricket, it is without a doubt that Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia. Melbournians live and breathe sport every day.

Did you know: The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) can seat over 100,000 spectators, which makes it the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere.

In fact, we love sport so much that we’ve joined forces with one of Melbourne’s oldest Gaelic Athletic Clubs ‘St Kevin’s’ to bring our healthcare professionals the ‘Work and Play with HCA’ program. Check out our video below.

Number 3: Art, culture and the surrounds

Whether you’re looking for traditional or contemporary street art, you’ll get your fair share of culture when you base yourself in Melbourne. City lane ways are head to toe with art murals as the city embraces the culturally diverse communities that inhabit every area.

Number 4: Food and Restaurants

Whether you are on a tight budget or looking for a fine dining experience, Melbourne is known for its food scene. With hatted restaurants, and cool little quaint cafes, there is something to suit everyone’s tastes.

Number 5: Working Holiday Visas

Melbourne welcomes travellers with open arms and gives them the opportunity to be employed on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). If you’re from an eligible country and 30 or under, you’d be crazy to miss an opportunity like this! There are also permanent sponsorship opportunities available for those Nurses that embrace the HCA values and don’t want to leave. For more information on visa eligibility, check out our useful links section.

Number 6: 250+ Agency Nursing shifts each day

HCA, Australia’s #1 Nursing Agency, offers shifts for healthcare professionals in both Public and Private hospitals across Melbourne. By working as an Agency Nurse on a Working Holiday Visa with our team, you can access the best opportunities and enjoy the flexibility and convenience to enjoy your adventure.

6.1 Opportunities for all Nurse specialists and Midwives

Whatever your specialty, we have ample shifts to suit your needs. Whether you’re a specialist Theatre, Mental Health or any type of specialist Nurse or Midwife, there are opportunities available for you in Melbourne, as well as regional Victorian cities such as Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Frankston, Bendigo and Ballarat.

6.2In all types of facilities

We provide extensive opportunities in both Public and Private Hospitals, Private Care Centres and Aged Care facilities. This enables us to deliver our healthcare workers with variety and flexibility in their work.

Number 7: The Aussie Temperature

Although Melbourne has a comical reputation for having 4 seasons in one day, it’s hard to complain with average summer temperatures of around 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit) and winter averages of 14 degrees Celsius (57 Fahrenheit).

Number 8: More Money

When you Nurse and holiday, you have more money to spend on all the fun things Melbourne has to offer! Plus, we can’t help but mention that Australia has one of the best pay rates in the world for Nurses. Extra money means longer holidays!

Number 9: Travel, Travel, Travel

Travel experience, nursing experience, life experience. Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, say YES to new adventures. Say YES to visiting beautiful Mornington Peninsula, say YES to hitting the slopes for a weekend in the Snowy Mountains, say YES to diving off the Southern Coast with Sharks. Victoria is such a large and diverse, you can do so many different things. As a Nurse, you have the ability to travel, to explore ‚ to work where you want to, when you want to, and enjoy.

Number 10: HCA Difference ‚ Work and travel across Australia

Working with HCA, you will have access to over 2,000 shifts daily across the country. If you want to experience different parts of Australia, we can make that dream a reality. From Contract Nursing placements in Rural and Remote areas to Agency shift work in all major cities.

Plus, if you come and nurse with HCA from an overseas country, we’ll pay for your flight over here*!

So, what are you waiting for? Your journey to Australia can begin with a click of a button! If you are a Registered Nurse, or any other healthcare professional looking to work and travel in Australia, register your interest with us below!

Started planning your trip to Australia? Stay up to date with the latest news, get advice and meet fellow travellers by joining our Facebook Group here.