Catherine is currently the Unit Director for the Adult Mental Health Program at Monash Dandenong Hospital.
Her story with Global Medics started more than 10 years ago when she came across their recruitment services at a conference in her home country of South Africa.
Her journey to become a psychiatrist was influenced by her family’s history in medicine, as her father is also a doctor.
Catherine has now been in Australia for 13 years as a psychiatrist and has never regretted her decision.
Read below to unveil Catherine’s story of adventure, discovery and humility.
Q: Why did you decide to move to Australia?
A: In 2005-2006, I worked in the UK as a locum but it didn’t captivate me as a long-term place of residence. When I explored other potential countries to live in, a friend of mine already living in Australia explained the study process and exam structure to me. After researching other healthcare systems and the educational requirements involved, I made my decision to study and live in Australia due to the world-class, high-quality care provided to patients.
Q: How has practising as a psychiatrist differed in Australia, compared to South Africa?
A: First of all, the healthcare systems are quite different. Australia has greater access to medical resources than South Africa. In South Africa, a large section of the population live in rural areas, so families play a significant role in looking after patients. During my 7 years working in Mental Health across South Africa, I noticed that patients are disproportionately accompanied and taken care of by their family.
The second major difference is the education and training provided. In South Africa, the training program is more intense than Australia. Individuals are only permitted to fail once, whereas in Australia, trainees receive more support and they have the opportunity to continue the program even if they fail the test.
Q: What aspects of working with Global Medics do you find most beneficial?
A: Global Medics offers a wide range of job opportunities. Whenever I receive job mailers or newsletters from Global Medics, I always find plenty of available positions that would be suitable for me. Many other agencies focus on only one state or one job type, whereas with Global Medics, the variety of job offerings is always sufficient and gets me excited.
Q: Why did you decide to do a locum work?
A: I have worked in the public health sector for more than 10 years. Doing locum work provides me with new experiences and a fresh outlook on the work I do each day. Teaming this with my current qualifications and background, I’m able to stay engaged and hungry to excel in the medical work I’m passionate about. In addition, locuming gives me a chance to make connections with new people and try out different things, which has enriched my career and lifestyle.
Q: What have been some challenges you've faced while working in locum roles, and how did you overcome these?
A: When I first started, the workload was larger than I expected, and things felt a bit disorganised at the hospital due to the overwhelming amount of tasks requiring priority and attention. However, my consultant from Global Medics has been tremendously supportive in liaising with the hospital in my interest. With her help and coordination, the role requirements are clear, and I can manage my workload more effectively.
Q: What advice would you give to other candidates seeking employment in your field or considering a move to Australia?
A: You need to be realistic. International doctors often have high expectations before coming to Australia, anticipating substantial paid employment. However, they lack the courage and humility of starting again. Many senior doctors give up when they realise they need to start in junior positions. However, the truth is that sometimes taking a big leap requires taking a step back.
Secondly, be humble. There are certain paperwork and credentialing processes that are compulsory and necessary in order to get a job here in Australia. You can’t be arrogant and go away just because it seems cumbersome. I was a senior doctor in South Africa but started as a junior doctor in Australia. However, after one year, I progressed to my fellowship, became a senior doctor, and have never looked back.
