Home   Student Electives   Preparing your Elective   Preparing for your Nursing/Midwifery Elective Overseas

Plan well in advance. Generally the earlier you book your ticket the cheaper it will be. Do consider how you’re going to get to your actual destination at the other end – can the people you’re going to be working with arrange to have you collected or can they tell you the best way to get to where you’ll be staying. On that note it is a good idea to let your hosts know your travel arrangements as soon as you can (especially if they’re arranging to collect you at the airport) and to confirm them just before you leave.

Keep your baggage to a minimum. Generally you’re allowed 20kgs in the hold and 6kgs hand luggage. If you’re taking any medical equipment and supplies out with you it’s a good idea to keep them together and to have a letter from the hospital you’re going out to saying that you’re carrying equipment for them. Sometimes airlines will wave any excess baggage fee if it’s for humanitarian purposes.

Don’t forget to pack your bags yourself and padlock all zips together. This doesn’t deter the determined thief with a mean looking knife, but it is effective against the opportunistic thief and people trying to plant illegal items in your luggage.