Advice from MDs in Oz

[ADK]

Hi everyone,

First off, thanks for a great forum

We have recently decided that we want to move to Aus, but find ourselves in a bit of a catch 22 situation

My husband’s dream is to specialize in anesthetics, he finished his community service last year, and is currently working in the anaesthesiology department of an academic hospital as an MO. At the rate things are going, we’re guessing they’ll offer him a registrar post some time next year. That means at least another 5 or 6 years stuck in SA

Does anyone know the process of specializing in Aus? Would you recommend us leaving now and try to get a post there, or rather wait and finish his specialization here?

We really want to go to Oz, but I don’t want him to give up his career

[jeremy]

Hi everyone,

First off, thanks for a great forum

We have recently decided that we want to move to Aus, but find ourselves in a bit of a catch 22 situation

My husband’s dream is to specialize in anesthetics, he finished his community service last year, and is currently working in the anaesthesiology department of an academic hospital as an MO. At the rate things are going, we’re guessing they’ll offer him a registrar post some time next year. That means at least another 5 or 6 years stuck in SA

Does anyone know the process of specializing in Aus? Would you recommend us leaving now and try to get a post there, or rather wait and finish his specialization here?

We really want to go to Oz, but I don’t want him to give up his career

Hi,

I am an ex SA specialist working in Australia and I am a lecturer at one of the well known universities. Lately I have been receiving numerous inquiries from Docs in SA about the feasibility of working in Australia.

My advice is to go to the AMC web site in order to find out precisely what are the current requirements for registration in Australia as an overseas trained doctor.

You can also go to the Royal Australasian College of Anesthetics web site in order to find out precisely what is required by you in order to apply for admission to the anesthetics registrar training program.

If you are seriously considering immigrating to Australia then it would certainly make sense to qualify in the country of your future residence. On the other hand there are many SA anesthetists who have been able to work in their specialty in Australia, however the rules constantly change.

The standard of medical training in Australia is very high and it is often difficult to enter a popular specialist training program.

Currently there is a shortage of doctors in Australia in certain fields and there are many opportunities to find work in the rural areas. You can often find these positions by searching the medical employment web sites on the Internet. Many doctors from all over the world are working in under staffed emergency departments where there are often vacancies. Direct inquiries to hospitals in areas of need may also lead to obtaining a position.

Cheers

Jeremy1

Edited May 26, 2008 by jeremy

[jgmalan]

Hi ADK

My girlfriend accepted a job offer from a hospital in Newcastle, she is also a MD, but is still busy with her 2nd year of internship (first group of medical students to have this , in a few years time this will probably change to 3 years or community service to 2 years). Don't know if you heard but the government is also trying to bring another 2 years of community service in after you finished as a specialists, so in other words you will be working in a government hospital till the age of +- 36, nice. We don't want to stick around for that.

She wrote her IELTS last week Thursday and is waiting for her results, because you need to have this to apply for membership at the AMC. Sad news is that if she is not registered at the end of June 2008, she will have to write the Australian medical exam to be able to work in Aus as a medical doctor. So it will be touch and go for us. Even more sad news is that the closest place to write this exam is London, Egypt or Perth, and it is going to cost you just under R30k, which includes the travel, books and registration for the exam.

They offered her a registrar post in emergency medicine, but she opted for a normal MO post, doesn't want to throw herself in the deep end right at the beginning.

Here is a very good website for all your answers : http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/

If you PM me, I can send you the contact details of the lady at the recruitment company which helped her to get the job.

She is very helpful and nice.

If you have any questions, just contact me, I will try to help where I can.

Gerhard

[ADK]

Geez, we didn’t know about the possible extra 2 years comm. service! They’re really want to milk them eh?

That makes our decision a whole lot easier, thanks for the help!

Deirdre

[PRos]

Hi ADK

My girlfriend accepted a job offer from a hospital in Newcastle, she is also a MD, but is still busy with her 2nd year of internship (first group of medical students to have this , in a few years time this will probably change to 3 years or community service to 2 years). Don't know if you heard but the government is also trying to bring another 2 years of community service in after you finished as a specialists, so in other words you will be working in a government hospital till the age of +- 36, nice. We don't want to stick around for that.

She wrote her IELTS last week Thursday and is waiting for her results, because you need to have this to apply for membership at the AMC. Sad news is that if she is not registered at the end of June 2008, she will have to write the Australian medical exam to be able to work in Aus as a medical doctor. So it will be touch and go for us. Even more sad news is that the closest place to write this exam is London, Egypt or Perth, and it is going to cost you just under R30k, which includes the travel, books and registration for the exam.

They offered her a registrar post in emergency medicine, but she opted for a normal MO post, doesn't want to throw herself in the deep end right at the beginning.

Here is a very good website for all your answers : http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/

If you PM me, I can send you the contact details of the lady at the recruitment company which helped her to get the job.

She is very helpful and nice.

If you have any questions, just contact me, I will try to help where I can.

Gerhard

Hi I am new to the forum, not yet in Australia.

Also a doctor and interested in goiing to Australia to specialise in Critical Care.

If possible would you be able to send me the details of the recruitment company which helped your girlfriend to get the job.

Thanks