Marieke(39)

After my divorce I was on my own with two children aged 6 and 9. In Nijmegen I worked as a nurse at Radboudumc — part-time, because full-time work and solo parenting didn't go together. My income was just enough to get by. When my sister, who lives in Melbourne, said hospitals there were desperate for nurses, I dared to take the leap.

AHPRA registration was the first hurdle. As a Dutch nurse with a bachelor's degree my education was recognized, but the process took six months — longer than expected because I had to provide additional documentation about my clinical specializations. Costs were AUD 1,200 for registration plus AUD 400 for translations and certifications.

My employer, a large private hospital in Melbourne's south, sponsored my Subclass 482 visa. The children came along as secondary applicants — additional visa costs of AUD 3,000 per child. Total visa application cost was AUD 12,000. Heavy for a single mother, but my employer provided a signing bonus of AUD 5,000.

The Australian school system was a blessing. The children attend a state school in Bentleigh that offers fantastic after-school care — OSHC (Outside School Hours Care), from three to six. It costs AUD 30 per child per day, but with the government's Child Care Subsidy I pay half. That makes full-time work as a single parent possible.

My salary as a registered nurse in Melbourne: AUD 82,000 per year base, plus penalty rates bringing the total to AUD 95,000. In the Netherlands I earned EUR 35,000 part-time. The difference is life-changing. We rent a three-bedroom house in Bentleigh for AUD 520 per week — with a garden where the kids can play.

Australia isn't perfect for single parents — childcare is expensive without support but you have the Child Care Subsidy through Centrelink, and the Family Tax Benefit provides extra support. My tip: ask a MARA agent specifically about options for single parents. There are more possibilities than you think, and the nursing shortage in Australia works in your favor.