For nurse Jackie, Tassie works like a dream

WHEN South African nurse Jackie van den Berg made the move to Tasmania three years ago she had no idea what she was letting herself in for, and envisaged a small civilisation surrounded by thick bush. 

She was quickly won over by the state's beauty, the friendly people and a job she loved, and now says coming here was one of the best decisions she's made.
Ms van den Berg, 42, of Hawley Beach in the state's North-West, is one of a growing number of skilled migrants coming to Tasmania.
Some 460 arrived last financial year, a 58 per cent increase on the previous year.
Ms van den Berg said for her the move was part of a lifelong dream to nurse overseas.
"It was something I thought of doing for a number of years but never got around to," she said.
So she and a friend registered with a recruitment agency specialising in overseas work and were soon on their way to Tasmania.
"I knew hardly anything about Tasmania, and didn't have any clue where I was going, but thought it sounded like an adventure," she said.
"And now I just love it."
Tasmania offered a much safer lifestyle than South Africa, she said, and more career and study opportunities. She has already completed a graduate certificate in critical care nursing since being here.
She said one of the hardest things was picking up Aussie slang.
Nationally, the ranks of skilled workers have been boosted by almost 78,000 in the past year in an effort to solve the country's skills shortage.
It's the largest intake of skilled migrants since the late 1980s.
The biggest increase came in the medical field, with 260 doctors migrating to Australia in 2004-05, a 300 per cent increase on the previous year.
Accountants, nurses and tradespeople, including mechanics, electricians and builders, were also among the most sought-after skills wanted by the Australian Government.
The number of overseas students migrating to Australia after completing their studies here reached a record level, with almost 16,500 visas granted in 2004-05.
About 97,500 skilled migrants are expected to come to Australia during 2005-06.

Article from www.themercury.news.com.au