Thinking of nursing under the Aussie sun? Here’s what to pack before you fly.
So you’ve made the leap—you’re trading in UK drizzle for Aussie beaches, ward shifts in NHS greys for something a little more sun-kissed. Whether you’re heading to Darwin’s Top End or Melbourne’s laneways, packing smart can save you heaps of stress (and dollars!) when you land.
I moved as a UK nurse and know how overwhelming it can feel staring at your suitcase wondering what’s actually essential and what’s just taking up space. After settling in and chatting to loads of nurses and midwives doing the same thing, here’s the packing list I wish I’d had from the start.
Documents:
- Passport (at least 6 months left)
- Drivers licence (if you have one 🚘)
- Certified copies of your degree & transcript
- Police checks & any visa documents
- Printed job offer and contract (needed for Medicare application)
- Travel insurance copy (always good to have close to hand!)
- Application for bank account (can open commonwealth two weeks before landing in Australia!)
- A copy of your immunisation record (trust me – this will save you hours on your onboarding process!)
Work Items: 👩⚕️ 🩺
- One set of plain scrubs (some settings don’t give free scrubs to staff, and if you don’t have a permanent address at the start this can be a problem!)
- Fob watch
- Stethoscope 🩺
- BIC coloured pens (essential🤣)
- Name badge
- Day bag for work
- Work shoes
- Pencil case
- Water bottle (get one that keeps your water cold- you’ll thank me later!)
- Compression socks!
Everyday clothes:
- A mix of comfy casuals (especially your joggers for post nights!)
- Swimmers & beachwear (& goggles if you’re a swimmer!)
- Sun hat & sunglasses (the UV is no joke!)
- Something warm – I only brought one jumper, and honestly that’s been enough! But it can get cold in the evenings!
- A lightweight waterproof /& an umbrella
Health & Toiletries:
- Enough prescription medications for your first month! Or more months if you can!
- NHS / private GP letter for ongoing prescriptions
- First aid bits! Especially panadol and ibuprofen – you’ll need it for those unexpected hangovers 😵
- Menstrual products (for my girlies!)
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothpaste
- Body wash
- Razor
Tech & Essentials:
- Power bank (especially if you’re on the greyhound buses!)
- Unlocked phone (needed for an Aussie SIM!)
- Plug adapter (UK to Aus!)
- AirPods / earphones
- Toothbrush charger (if you have an electric toothbrush)
- Phone charger
- Tablet / lightweight laptop (not essential – but does help for Netflix hehe)
Extras:
- Earplugs
- Eye mask
- A few photos or keepsakes for those homesickness days 💓
- Basic hair products or makeup that you swear by!
- Snacks from home (chocolate is not the same in Australia)
Sorry this is not a written blog piece – but I hope that it’s helpful! I am back to Australia in the morning, so thought it was quite a fitting piece (as I’ve just packed my 35kg suitcase!)
As always,
Thank you so much for reading,
All the best,
Emily the UK Nurse Down Under
xxx
Contact details:
@emilytheuknursedownunder (TikTok)
@emilytheuknursedownunder (Instagram)
emilytheuknursedownunder@gmail.com (Mail)
UK Nurse in Aus 