Rory is currently working as a Psychiatry Registrar in Queensland. Learn about his decision to move down under and his experience so far!
I had been thinking about a move Down Under for some time but wanted to find a potential training position rather than the usual year abroad working in ED. I contacted Head Medical (along with several other agencies) and they quickly came back to me to let me know they would probably be able to help me with this. Not long after, I found myself having a job interview by phone in the middle of the night and was offered a job in a Queensland Hospital as a Principal House Officer in Psychiatry.
Head Medical were very helpful in the whole process following this, not just in finding the job. There is a great deal of paperwork to complete to firstly get medical registration (via AHPRA - which is the time consuming and somewhat painful part of the process!) and then to apply for a visa. My partner was named on my visa and Head Medical were very helpful in getting everything together and completing the application, their expertise and experience made the process much simpler.
We moved out to Australia initially on a tourist visa intending to have a short period to explore and to arrange housing, cars and all that other good stuff before starting work. I had assistance in relocating my belongings and in meeting some relocation costs (covered by the hospital) arranged by the agency. We had a minor delay with AHPRA approval before we could apply for our visa and the agency were very reassuring and helpful with pushing along everything they could. When the visa came through Head Medical were again very helpful in making arrangements for starting work at the hospital.
I have been in work for a few weeks now and things are going well. The ward is busy much like working in the UK but with the added benefit of better pay and great weather whenever I’m not at work! The main difficulties have been differences in the Mental Health Act and in medications etc. and I have had to learn fast, but the patients are much the same and the staff are very supportive so it helps to settle in quickly. Australia is a fantastic country and we love living in Brisbane. There are so many more opportunities to spend time enjoying life outdoors. I will be looking to enrol on the Psychiatry training programme in a year once my registration is no longer provisional. Already we can’t imagine moving back to the UK. I can’t recommend moving here enough, and Head Medical are fantastic in helping to get here.
Are you Junior Doctor interested in finding out more about living and working in Australia? Why not contact Leona Young on +44 (0) 131 240 5265 / leona@headmedical.com today!