Hi,

I'm not sure if you are talking about limited registration to work, or temporary registration to have a clinical placement in preparation for the clinical exam. So, I'll try to explain both.

Limited registration: you can work for one year under supervision even if you haven't passed Aecop process yet. This doesn't apply in WA and QLD.

Temporary registration: it is given after having passed the written exam and allows you to undertake a placement to practise in order to sit the clinical exam. You can't work with this type of registration. It applies to all the States.

Regarding the cost of living, it depends on what country you compare. I am from Italy and I can tell that Australia is terribly cheap for me. I live in Perth, which is still cheaper than Sydney and Melbourne.

While you are here you can work if you have an appropriate visa. In this case I wouldn't know what to say as I don't know your situation. But definitely people can support themselves even working as a waiter (which doesn't happen in my country for example).

If you are interested in joining Aapta study group to prepare your exams and to get more info by the colleagues involved in the process, let me know, I just need to have a yahoo email address to invite you to subscribe.

I hope this helps.
Emanuela