If you are heading to Australia on an AHPRA-registered nursing placement, sorting your phone data is one of those practical tasks that sits quietly on the to-do list until you land and suddenly need a map, a messaging app and a way to call the ward. This guide covers what you need to know before you travel, without the jargon.
Why your UK SIM is not the right long-term answer
UK networks do offer roaming in Australia, and for a short holiday that is usually fine. For a placement lasting three, six or twelve months, it gets expensive quickly. Most roaming add-ons give you a smaller data allowance than your UK plan, charge a monthly fee on top of your existing contract, and some carriers still apply daily roaming charges if you forget to activate a bolt-on before you travel.
The practical alternative is a local Australian eSIM. You get a proper Australian data plan at local rates, your phone works exactly as it does at home, and you are not paying a premium for the privilege of being abroad.
Australian mobile networks: what you need to know
There are three main mobile networks in Australia: Telstra, Optus and TPG (which runs the Vodafone Australia brand). Telstra has the broadest rural and regional coverage, which matters if your placement is outside a major city. Many regional hospitals and health services in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia sit in areas where only Telstra has reliable signal. Optus covers metropolitan and suburban areas well and is the dominant network in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Most eSIM providers operate on one of these underlying networks. If you know your placement hospital is in a regional area, it is worth checking network coverage maps before you commit to a plan.
Is your phone eSIM-compatible?
Most smartphones sold in the UK since 2020 support eSIM. That includes iPhone XS and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, and most recent handsets from OnePlus and Motorola.
To check on iPhone, go to Settings > Mobile Data > Add eSIM. On Android, go to Settings > Network and Internet > SIMs. If your phone is eSIM-compatible, you will see the option to add a new plan. If your handset only takes a physical SIM, you can pick up a prepaid SIM from a Telstra or Optus store on arrival at any major Australian airport.
One thing worth checking before you travel: if you bought your phone on a UK network contract, it may be network-locked. Contact your provider to request an unlock before you leave. Unlocking is free and takes a few days.
How much data do you actually need?
This depends on how you use your phone, but here are some rough benchmarks to help you decide.
Browsing, messaging and maps without much video uses around 3 to 5GB per month. Add 30 minutes of streaming video per day and you are looking at closer to 8 to 10GB. If you video-call family back in the UK a few times a week, or use TikTok, YouTube or other data-heavy apps regularly, 20GB is a more sensible baseline. The 50GB plan suits heavier users, or nurses whose accommodation does not have reliable home Wi-Fi and who use their phone as the main internet connection.
Most nurses on placement find the 10GB or 20GB plan covers their day-to-day needs. You can adjust your plan each month, so there is no pressure to get it exactly right on day one.
SimScrubs plans for Australia
SimScrubs offers three 30-day rolling plans for Australia, designed around placement lengths rather than short-term travel.
All plans are data-only eSIMs on a 30-day rolling basis with no fixed contract. You activate by scanning a QR code, which takes around two minutes. Use code WELCOME25 for 25% off your first month.
View Australia plans on SimScrubs →
Keeping your UK number while you are away
If you have a dual-SIM compatible phone (most modern smartphones are), you can keep your UK SIM active in the same device as your Australian eSIM. This means you still receive texts and calls on your UK number without needing a separate handset. Incoming calls on your UK number while roaming may still incur charges from your UK provider, so it is worth checking your plan terms. Most nurses find it simpler to route UK calls through WhatsApp or FaceTime rather than the phone network itself.
A note on AHPRA registration
AHPRA does not automatically recognise NMC registration. UK nurses must apply separately and submit qualification documents, identity checks and professional references. Processing times vary but are typically several months, so the sooner you start the application the better. Your recruitment agency should be able to guide you through the paperwork, and the AHPRA website has full guidance for international applicants.
Getting your phone situation sorted before you travel is one less thing to deal with once you arrive. A 30-day rolling plan means you are not tied in, and you can adjust your data allowance as your placement settles into a routine.