Australia&rsquo;s health ministers have approved the registration standard that paves the way for a range of specialist international medical graduate (SIMG) reforms.
<h4 class="MsoNormal">A new fast-track pathway to specialist registration for eligible internationally qualified medical specialists will open on 21 October 2024.</h4>
The new Expedited Specialist pathway will allow well credentialled international medical specialists from similar health systems to see Australian patients sooner. It is designed to remove unnecessary regulatory barriers and increase the number of SIMGs seeing patients in Australia, while maintaining high standards.
The gateway to the Expedited Specialist pathway is a list of pre-approved qualifications.
Medical specialists with a qualification on the Board&rsquo;s&nbsp;Expedited specialist pathway: accepted qualifications&nbsp;list can apply directly to the Medical Board/Ahpra for specialist registration, rather than be assessed individually by a specialist college.
<h4 class="MsoNormal">Specialist GPs with one of the following accepted qualifications will be eligible to apply through the new pathway from 21 October:</h4>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners (MICGP) from 2009 and a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP) from 2012</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (United Kingdom) from 2007 and a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).</li>
</ul>
Specific specialist qualifications in anaesthetics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry will be added to the accepted list in December 2024, after a rigorous qualifications assessment process.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Will I need to take a qualifications assessment?</h2>
A rigorous qualifications assessment process underpins the Expedited Specialist pathway:
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Specialist colleges are asked to nominate international specialist qualifications that they have generally accepted as substantially comparable to approved qualifications, through the existing Specialist pathway</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">The Australian Medical Council (AMC), in consultation with specialist colleges, exhaustively assesses each proposed international specialist qualification against an established qualifications assessment framework and recommends specific qualifications to the Medical Board</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">The Medical Board decides which international specialist qualifications will be included on the&nbsp;Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualifications list.</li>
</ul>
All three qualifications on the accepted list were proposed by the specialist colleges (the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACCRM)), assessed by the AMC against the assessment framework, and approved by the Medical Board as substantially equivalent or based on similar competencies to an approved qualification. (Approved qualifications are the qualifications awarded by the accredited Australasian specialist colleges.)
<h2 class="MsoNormal">What safety checks and balances are required?</h2>
There are additional strict safety checks and balances in place to make sure new specialists coming to Australia on this pathway are safe to practise.
Specialists on the Expedited Specialist pathway must meet the same registration standards as all other specialists and doctors &ndash; including English language, criminal history, recency of practice.
Each SIMG on the Expedited Specialist pathway will be supervised for six months by an Australian-registered specialist, have an orientation to Australia&rsquo;s health system and do mandatory cultural safety education.
A national Medical Board committee, made up of doctors and community members, will make all registration decisions about individuals on the Expedited Specialist pathway.
Find out more on the <a href="https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2024-10-14-Fast-track-pathway.aspx">AHPRA website</a>.

For any enquiries about the above information

Fast track pathway to specialist registration opens 21 October

Looking for jobs in Australia and New Zealand to pursue a different lifestyle?

Dr Catherine Nyuthe: Moving from South Africa to Melbourne, Australia

Are you ready to take the next step in your career?
Visit us at the RANZCOG ASM from 14 - 16 October 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand.&nbsp;<a href="https://apac.globalmedics.com/about-us/meet-the-team/kylie-tremain/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kylie Tremain</a>and <a href="https://apac.globalmedics.com/about-us/meet-the-team/david-girdlestone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Girdlestone</a> from our Women and Children's recruitment team will be there ready to have a chat and answer your questions.
Visit us at Pod 4 - Level 2.
Together we'll find the most rewarding jobs to help you achieve your medical career goals.

RANZCOG 2024

Are you ready to take the next step in your career?
Visit us at the RMA Conference on 23 - 26 October 2024. <a href="https://apac.globalmedics.com/about-us/meet-the-team/jessica-barber/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jess Barber</a> and <a href="https://apac.globalmedics.com/about-us/meet-the-team/or-el-azani/">Or-el Azani</a> from our General Practitioner &amp; Rural Generalist recruitment teams will be there ready to have a chat and answer your questions. Booth number is 29.
Together we'll find the most rewarding jobs to help you achieve your medical career goals.

RMA 2024

<h3 style="margin-top: 0cm;">Find the most rewarding role to advance your Psychiatry career.</h3>
Visit us at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2024 New Zealand Conference from 18-20 September.&nbsp; <a href="https://apac.globalmedics.com/about-us/meet-the-team/lucy-bellette/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lucy Bellette</a> and <a href="https://apac.globalmedics.com/about-us/meet-the-team/david-girdlestone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Girdlestone</a> from our New Zealand and Australia teams will be there, ready to have a chat and answer any questions you may have about locum and permanent Psychiatry jobs. Be sure to visit us at the Global Medics booth number #9. We look forward to seeing you there!

RANZCP 2024 NZ Conference

Visit us at the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) 2024 Conference from 1 - 4 October.&nbsp; <a href="https://apac.globalmedics.com/about-us/meet-the-team/siobhan-otoole/">Siobhan O'Toole</a> and <a href="https://apac.globalmedics.com/about-us/meet-the-team/jon-wallace/">Jon Wallace</a> from our Global Medics and Medacs Healthcare team will be there, ready to have a chat and answer any questions you may have about recruitment.
The booth number is 11.
We look forward to seeing you there!

RACMA 2024 Conference

The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa, known as the 482 Visa, is important for Australian businesses to address labour shortage issues by employing skilled workers from overseas when local talent is not available.
 The Australian government recently announced its intention to replace the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 Visa with a new Skills in Demand Visa by November 2024.
 The government will also reduce the work experience requirements from two years of full-time work experience to one year of full-time work experience from 23 November 2024 onwards.
For more information, visit the <a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-skill-shortage-482" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia Government Department of Home Affairs website</a>.
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Talk to Global Medics today for more information about relocating to Australia</h3>
Simply complete this form and a recruitment consultant will be in touch.
<a class="orangeBtn" href="https://apac.globalmedics.com/candidate-support/regulatory-and-visa-support---candidate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Start your journey</a>

Changes to 482 Work VISA

Once again, <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=2A7C7C9F437F4CE4AE51E141D47AE138&amp;_z=z">Babs Dass</a>, <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=856EB6AA7F5B45AC9734F91DBB77C297&amp;_z=z">Athena Yousif</a> and <a href="https://apac.globalmedics.com/about-us/meet-the-team/laura-chen/">Laura Chen</a> will be attending the RANZCP Congress in Canberra this May 2024.&nbsp;<a href="~/link.aspx?_id=754806420C384A989E71CC67856FF8B3&amp;_z=z">David Girdlestone</a>&nbsp;from the Global Medics New Zealand team will also be at the conference.&nbsp;
Global Medics is a global recruitment company, we pride ourselves in providing exceptional service to our clients and doctors with 24/7 support and a full team for you to connect with.
We have a supportive, fun and responsive team and will go above and beyond to look after our locum doctors. We have a wide network of clients across Australia and New Zealand and can offer you a variety of roles, from metro to rural and regional locations with flights/car and accommodation provided.&nbsp; Visit our Global Medics booth (#46) at the exhibition to talk to them about your career goals. To book an appointment,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mentalhealthaus@globalmedics.com.au?subject=RANZCP%202023%20-%20book%20appointment">click here</a>

RANZCP Congress 2024

<h3>Meet with Australia&rsquo;s best performing recruitment company that specialises in placing doctors, nursing and allied health professionals in the UK!</h3>
Are you considering making the move to Australia or New Zealand and looking for a healthcare recruitment specialist to find you the perfect role? Meet with the experts - Global Medics (and Medacs Healthcare) at the Down Under Live conference in London, Birmingham and Glasgow in 2024.
Medacs Healthcare and sister brand Global Medics, recruit for roles throughout the public and private sectors. With more than 30 years&rsquo; experience our clients trust us to deliver locum, temporary and permanent nurses, doctors, allied healthcare professionals and care workers.
<h3>Why work with Global Medics</h3>
&bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Dedicated recruitment consultant ensuring you secure the perfect role&nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Exclusive agreements with hospitals and services, so you get first pick of jobs&nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Opportunities to work in metro, regional and coastal locations&nbsp; &bull;&nbsp; &nbsp; Availability of 482 or 186 visas on offer PLUS relocation assistance and accommodation on arrival 
<h3>Down Under Live conference details:</h3>
Hampden Park Stadium - Glasgow, Scotland Saturday 16th March 2024 10:00 - 15:00 GMT
Toast Event Space - Dublin, Ireland Wednesday 20th March 2024 15:00 - 19:00 GMT
Villa Park - Birmingham, United Kingdom Saturday 23rd March 2024 10:00 - 15:00 GMT
<h3>Meet &amp; Greet details:</h3>
If you can&rsquo;t make the Down Under Live events, Siobhan and Zofia are available to arrange a 1:1 meeting on the following dates:
Dublin City Centre Thursday 21st March 2024
Medacs Healthcare / Global Medics office &ndash; 33 Soho Square, London, W1D 3QU Monday 25th March 2024
Express your interest by clicking below and secure your spot for a personal consultation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us on:
Siobhan O&rsquo;Toole - Business Manager, Permanent Recruitment, APAC&nbsp; <a href="mailto:siobhan.otoole@medacs.com?subject=Down%20Under%20Live%202023%20-%20book%20meeting">siobhan.otoole@medacs.com</a> +61 2 4945 6208

Down Under Live 2024

<h3 class="blog-article-hero-title">Podcast series brought to you by onthewards</h3>
Global Medics have partnered with&nbsp;<a href="https://onthewards.org/?utm_source=Global%20Medics&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Global_Medics_OTW_Logo&amp;utm_id=Global%20Medics2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">onthewards</a> to bring you a series of educational and insightful podcasts from medical leaders and industry experts. <a href="https://onthewards.org/?utm_source=Global%20Medics&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Global_Medics_OTW_Logo&amp;utm_id=Global%20Medics2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">onthewards</a>&nbsp;provide junior doctors &amp; medical students with the practical knowledge, skills &amp; confidence to deliver best patient care.

Topic discussion: Should medical schools test emotional intelligence (EI) as part of the admissions process? Can EI make a difference to doctors&rsquo; wellbeing and patient outcomes? Kirsty Forrest and Jo Bishop think so. They speak with Jules Willcocks about how focus on EI is bringing benefits to their program and hopefully to a future generation of doctors. Publishing date: 24 Feb 2021

Emotional Intelligence in Medicine

PODCAST: Emotional Intelligence in Medicine

<h1 class="blog-article-hero-title">Podcast series brought to you by onthewards</h1>
Global Medics have partnered with&nbsp;<a href="https://onthewards.org/?utm_source=Global%20Medics&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Global_Medics_OTW_Logo&amp;utm_id=Global%20Medics2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">onthewards</a> to bring you a series of educational and insightful podcasts from medical leaders and industry experts. <a href="https://onthewards.org/?utm_source=Global%20Medics&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Global_Medics_OTW_Logo&amp;utm_id=Global%20Medics2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">onthewards</a>&nbsp;provide junior doctors &amp; medical students with the practical knowledge, skills &amp; confidence to deliver best patient care.

Topic discussion: There are many reasons why locum work may appeal to doctors looking for career flexibility or want to fill gaps between jobs or explore different parts of Australia while earning an income. Each year our healthcare system relies on locums to fulfill roles in rural and remote areas and providing emergency relief for all grades and specialties.

Locuming with Global Medics 

PODCAST: The benefits of locuming in Australia and abroad

Topic discussion: Medical leadership is defined by a role assigned at a particular point in time rather than a title. It relies on switching between leader and follower depending on individual skillsets but ultimately with a common goal in mind. Having an academic or administrative background can be useful to cultivate the skills to be a leader but are not necessary for practice. Opportunities to be a leader should be embraced and are diverse, ranging from leading a ward round clinically to mentoring medical students or more junior doctors.

Medical Leadership

PODCAST: Medical Leadership, skillsets and common goals

<h3 class="blog-article-hero-title">Podcast series brought to you by onthewards</h3>
Global Medics have partnered with&nbsp;<a href="https://onthewards.org/?utm_source=Global%20Medics&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Global_Medics_OTW_Logo&amp;utm_id=Global%20Medics2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">onthewards</a> to bring you a series of educational and insightful podcasts from medical leaders and industry experts. <a href="https://onthewards.org/?utm_source=Global%20Medics&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Global_Medics_OTW_Logo&amp;utm_id=Global%20Medics2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">onthewards</a>&nbsp;provide junior doctors &amp; medical students with the practical knowledge, skills &amp; confidence to deliver best patient care.
<article class="rich-text-article">
<h3>Reflections on wellbeing, racism and health equality</h3>
Topic discussion: Jules Willcocks chats to Dr Hinemoa Elder about her reflections on wellbeing, racism and health equality in our healthcare systems.
Publishing date: 13 June, 2023
Part 1
<video controls="controls" width="300" height="150">
<source src="https://onthewards.org/part-1-reflections-on-wellbeing-racism-and-health-equality/%20?utm_campaign=OTW%20&amp;utm_medium=website%20&amp;utm_source=Social%20&amp;utm_content=Podcast"></video>
Part 2
<video controls="controls" width="300" height="150">
<source src="https://onthewards.org/part-2-reflections-on-wellbeing-racism-and-health-equality/"></video>
</article>

PODCAST: Wellbeing Racism and Health Equality

<h3 class="blog-article-hero-title">Podcast series brought to you by Global Medics</h3>
Global Medics brings you a series of educational and insightful podcasts from medical leaders and industry experts. So grab yourself a cup of coffee and settle in to some thought provoking conversations around topics relevant to your career.&nbsp;
<h3>How can international medical professionals move to work in Australia and New Zealand?</h3>
Click to hear the full conversation
&nbsp;
<iframe id="widget2" class="optanon-category-C0004 " title="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PxuomrXWktw?feature=shared" width="560" height="314" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-ot-ignore="" data-gtm-yt-inspected-11="true"></iframe>

PODCAST: Moving to Australia or New Zealand

Topic discussion: There are a lot of differences between Obstetrics &amp; Gynaecology (O&amp;G) and other medical rotations which can be daunting for junior doctors. Skills to achieve in an O&amp;G term will depend on each individual &ndash; for budding GPs, learning about antenatal and postnatal care is important. For future GP-Obstetricians, the rotation is an opportunity to develop skills in perineal suturing and normal vaginal deliveries. According to junior doctors, some of the essential skills to achieve include initial assessment of the sick pregnant woman, cannulation, and the post-natal assessment. This is the first in a three-part series. Listen to the other podcasts for discussions on prescribing common medications in O&amp;G and assisting in a Caesarean section. Publishing date: 22 Sep 2021

Essential skills to achieve during an O&G rotation

PODCAST: Essential skills during an O & G rotation

Topic discussion: A clinical fellowship is usually undertaken in the third year of specialty training after the completion of 2 core clinical training years in Australia. A fellowship can be undertaken either in Australia or overseas depending on the nature of the training program. Overseas fellowships would usually be non-core training but check this with your college as there are exceptions. There are many factors to consider when thinking about a fellowship overseas including, where to go, who to contact and getting the job. This podcast explores these factors and looks at the highlights, challenges, logistics and discusses the wealth of experiences gained by throwing yourself into a new and different healthcare system on an overseas fellowship. Publishing date: 4 Mar 2020

Highlights and challenges of taking on an overseas Fellowship

PODCAST: Highlights of taking on an overseas Fellowship

Topic discussion: Job interviews are an inescapable part of a career in medicine. They are an important process allowing interviewers to assess whether candidates would fit in to the particular work environment and if they will perform well in the position. Although there may be some debate over how well this can be achieved in a one-off meeting, the ability to interview well is very important and there are many ways one can prepare in order to improve their performance. Publishing date: 17 Jul 2021

Job Interview Preparation

PODCAST: Job Interview Essentials and Preparation

Topic discussion: This podcast is part of our series on human factors in medicine and focuses on leadership. Vijay Roach discusses the experiences in his career that have contributed to who he is as a leader and shares stories that have been formative to his journey.

Making people feel valued: Leadership and Compassion in Medicine

PODCAST: Leadership and Compassion in Medicine

<h1 class="blog-article-hero-title">Podcast series brought to you by onthewards</h1>
Global Medics have partnered with&nbsp;<a href="https://onthewards.org/?utm_source=Global%20Medics&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Global_Medics_OTW_Logo&amp;utm_id=Global%20Medics2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">onthewards</a> to bring you a series of educational and insightful podcasts from medical leaders and industry experts. <a href="https://onthewards.org/?utm_source=Global%20Medics&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Global_Medics_OTW_Logo&amp;utm_id=Global%20Medics2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">onthewards</a>&nbsp;provide junior doctors &amp; medical students with the practical knowledge, skills &amp; confidence to deliver best patient care.
&nbsp;

Topic discussion: In this podcast we look to discover why orientation and handover is so important for new Junior Doctors taking to the wards for the first time. We also look at the functionality of current eMR systems and new technologies (such as MedApp) looking to improve the way clinicians access and use information. MedApp, for doctors, by doctors. Publishing date: 16 Jun 2021

Orientation when starting as a Junior Medical Officer

PODCAST: Orientation when starting as a JMO

Topic discussion: This podcast aims to educate junior doctors on clinical scenarios, particularly those faced by O&amp;G SRMOs. There is a focus on clinical scenarios that arise on the birth unit. Publishing date: 13 Oct 2021

How to survive on the wards as a new Obstetrics and Gynaecology Senior Resident

PODCAST: How to survive on the wards as a new O&G Senior Resident

Podcast: Looking after yourself to look after others

Topic discussion: This podcast discusses the importance of wellbeing within the medical profession, how we can identify burnout, and offers methods to assist junior doctors to thrive within their workplace.

Looking after yourself to look after others

PODCAST: Looking after yourself to look after others

&nbsp;
Are you ready to take the next step in your career?
Visit us at the ACAH Conference from 19 October 2023. Lucia Davies from our Women and Children's recruitment team will be there ready to have a chat and answer your questions. Visit us at the exhibition tables&nbsp;and together we'll find the most rewarding jobs to help you achieve your medical career goals.

ACAH 2023

Wanting to discuss your next career move?&nbsp;<a href="~/link.aspx?_id=BA1C805547A345979ADBD316EB2C99AB&amp;_z=z">Chris Willson</a> from our Anaesthetics recruitment team and <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=B5C859A61F114B9AB1FA4493766EFB67&amp;_z=z">Claire Waters</a>&nbsp;from our permanent recruitment team will be attending the ANZCA ASM in Sydney.
Visit our Global Medics booth #12 at the exhibition to talk to them about your career goals and how we can help you achieve these.

ANZCA ASM 2023

Are you ready to take the next step in your career?
Visit us at the GP22 Conference from 25-27 November. Jessica Whitfield from our General Practitioner recruitment team will be in attendance.
She has helped GP's secure a range of interesting roles in regional and metropolitan areas across Australia, including Telehealth. So come and say hi, have a chat and Jessica will answer any career questions you have.
Together we'll find the most rewarding jobs to help you achieve your medical career goals.

GP22 Conference

Global Medics and sister brand Medacs Healthcare have entered into a partnership with industry leader <a href="https://onthewards.org/?utm_source=Global+Medics&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Global_Medics_OTW_Logo&amp;utm_id=Global+Medics2022">onthewards</a>!&nbsp;
This new partnership reflects our dedicated focus to providing ongoing career support to doctors and healthcare professionals across Australia.&nbsp; onthewards in an online community, developed specifically to provide education and peer support to empower junior doctors and the next generation of patient centered healthcare professionals, to provide the best possible care.&nbsp; We look forward to working closely with the OTW team to co-produce informative and helpful podcasts, blogs and more.
<div>&nbsp;</div>

onthewards partnership

In recent news, the federal government will wipe the university debt of doctors and nurse practitioners, under a few conditions.&nbsp;
It is reported by ABC News that this is what's on offer for doctors and nurse practitioners under a new scheme aimed at attracting more health professionals to rural, regional and remote areas.
Read the full ABC News Article by political reporters Stephanie Dalzell and Claudia Long here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-08/government-to-slash-university-debt-for-remote-health-workers/100681094">Government to lure doctors and nurses to rural, regional and remote areas by slashing university debt</a>
For more information on how you can work in rural and remote areas of Australia, contact our recruitment team at <a href="mailto:contactus@globalmedics.com.au?subject=Working%20in%20Rural%20Australia">contactus@globalmedics.com.au&nbsp;</a>

Doctors and Nurses in Rural Australia

Congratulations to Ruth Miller on her recent appointment to the AMRANZ Council. Ruth Miller, Head of Operations for Global Medics Australia, has been elected as member to the AMRANZ Council. Ruth&rsquo;s portfolio includes Pathways to Professionalism and Training &amp; Development.&nbsp; Her appointment will strengthen pathways for Medical Recruitment at an industry level. Ruth has a personal passion in promoting recruitment as a career and&nbsp;developing talent.

AMRANZ Council

Wendy Sexton is a locum GP with a broad portfolio of experience in a variety of settings, including rural and remote communities. We asked her to tell us about her life as a locum GP. What made you decide to become a locum GP?
Six years ago, I decided I would locum for a while to reconsider my next move and try to find that elusive work-life balance. It was only supposed to be for a year, but the lifestyle and work really suited me.
<img style="height: 212px; width: 200px; float: right;" src="-/media/0447d9291047431995cd67f6d0967396.ashx?h=212&amp;w=200" alt="Wendy GP">What do you think are the key benefits of working as a locum GP?
I love the flexibility and freedom that locum work gives me. I can balance my desire to live in the city with the medicine I love doing, which happens to be in rural areas. I can also pursue my other interest in global health and work overseas when it suits me. Being a locum is a great way to discover a new place and style of medicine as well as experience different parts of the country. You also get to see a diverse range of practices and ways of doing things. What were you most worried about when you decided to locum?
Would I be able to do the job? Would I be faced with an emergency I couldn&rsquo;t deal with? Would I miss the relationships and continuity of care that makes general practice the specialty it is? Would I be welcome? What if I went somewhere and really didn&rsquo;t enjoy it? Imposter syndrome is normal for anyone considering a new and unknown role, and I was no exception. What was it like in reality?
Overall, it&rsquo;s been fantastic. Local medical, nursing and allied health staff have been welcoming and happy to have me on board, and the same goes for the patients. Sometimes things don&rsquo;t go according to plan, but the team rallies together to work through it, and you are always supported by someone on the phone to help you with difficult cases. I choose to return to some rural communities on a semi-regular basis to build relationships and make things a little easier on myself. You have a real interest in rural and remote communities; what draws you to these areas?
I grew up in rural Western Australia, so I have always had an affinity with rural communities. I love the medicine in rural and remote settings and the diversity and challenges it brings. I like the close-knit medical communities and relationships you build with the specialists, doctors, nurses and allied health team. Then there&rsquo;s the element of adventure when heading to a remote community or outback town &ndash; this might involve a small plane or getting there by 4x4. What are the major differences between working in rural and regional areas compared to metro areas?
As a generalist, I enjoy working across community settings, emergency departments and inpatient medicine. This may involve on-call work as well (not always my favourite)! And in northern Australia, the medicine has a nice overlap with the work I do overseas. There&rsquo;s a broad range of work available in rural Australia, so don&rsquo;t let the thought of on-call or emergency work put you off &ndash; neither are essential! How has your lifestyle changed?
I actually don&rsquo;t spend a lot of my year at home. It can be a challenge, but I love the freedom. I enjoy volunteering overseas and travelling, which locum work enables me to do. I have become a well-rounded doctor. You get to learn more about yourself, what you do and don&rsquo;t know, and you also get to experience and upskill in other areas of medicine. What would be your advice to anyone considering work in a rural and remote location?
Give it a go! You will be enriched by the experience, both personally and professionally. You will be exposed to health inequality and the logistical challenges of healthcare in our vast continent. You&rsquo;ll also see a side of Australia that few tourists and even urban-Aussies experience &ndash; the &lsquo;real&rsquo; Australia. What would be your advice to anyone considering a locum lifestyle?
Have a think about why you want to locum and what your goals are. Talk to other locums and have a chat with a locum agency to get a bit more information about opportunities and the process in general. It is helpful to think about how you can maximise the downtime and stay connected to friends and family when you are at home. Make life easy for yourself and have a routine around your locum work. What is your next adventure?
I have a month at home locuming at a friend&rsquo;s new private GP clinic in an urban setting (something I haven&rsquo;t done much of for quite some time). Then I am off to Pilbara to work in a regional emergency department in a mining town with a significant Indigenous population. To see what arriving in a rural location in a small plane is like, check out Wendy&rsquo;s video here: <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/916U-bdVLMo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe> You can also follow her blog: <a href="https://thisgplife.wordpress.com">https://thisgplife.wordpress.com</a> Find out more We have a huge range of locum and permanent opportunities for GPs across Australia and New Zealand. So whether you prefer a coastal, country or a city lifestyle, let us help you &lsquo;Say YES&rsquo; to GP life in Australia or New Zealand. Currently overseas? No worries, our team of expert recruiters will guide you through every step of the relocation process to either Australia or New Zealand. Take your first step today and get in touch via email: Australia - <a href="mailto:contactus@globalmedics.com.au?subject=GP%20Life%20in%20Australia">contactus@globalmedics.com.au </a> New Zealand - <a href="mailto:nz@globalmedics.com?subject=GP%20Life%20in%20New%20Zealand">nz@globalmedics.com</a>
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GP Life - An Insight into Locum GP Work in Rural Australia

Global Medics Australia has been supplying locum doctors to leading public and private hospitals and clinics for primary care, acute, specialty services and mental health jobs in Australia for the past nine years. We are one of a very few approved recruitment agencies to be able to offer direct 457 visa sponsorship for up to four years to doctors that have general or specialist AHPRA registration.
The majority of overseas trained doctors start their careers in Australia on 12 month fixed term contracts with employer (hospital or GP clinic) sponsored 457 visas, which restrict them to working for the same hospital or clinic and prevent them from doing locum work elsewhere.
A key benefit for overseas trained doctors working with Global Medics as their employer is the ability to get direct sponsorship for a 457 visa and becoming a full time locum. In addition, after two years on a 457 visa, you are able to apply for the employer nominated permanent residence visa. Working as a full time locum doctor in Australia entitles you to many benefits including:
<ul>
<li>Lucrative hourly or daily locum rates</li>
<li>Working in different city and rural locations</li>
<li>Exposure to different types of medicine and patient presentations</li>
<li>Flights and accommodation are typically included in locum jobs</li>
<li>Opportunity to travel the country and take your family along with you</li>
</ul>
For more information regarding direct 457 visa sponsorship with Global Medics Australia call +61 2 8248 2900.

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