Thread: Postgraduate residency in Australia - Surgery ?

To all OTDs and aussie doctors,


I am trying to find some real answers about the medical residency in Australia. I am romanian (eastern Europe), I have graduated medical university back home in 2003 and now I am in Switzerland doing Surgery residency. The problem is I don't wanna go back to Romania and in Switzerland as in all Europe is very difficult to stay, as a foreigner and imigrant. I thought about Autralia. So, I wrote a copple of letters and I even got an interview (phone) in Perth for a basic trainee position. Because I hadn't the IELTS test the man said he will call me for 2007.
I know that I have to pass the AMC exams, once arived here if I want to obtain full registration, but that will not be a problem (I hope ). But I also understand that is very difficult to find a position later on, in advanced surgical training. How difficult will it be to contain surgey in Australia ? Is it true that in 2 years I could obtain permanent residence, if I'll pass the AMC exams ?
And I would like to know something about the cost of living and the quality of life for a doctor in Australia ? Because, here in Switzerland I have a nice salary (about 4500-5000 CHF/month netto, which is more than 5000-5200 AUD/month versus 3000-4000 AUD, as I heard for the salary in Australia) and young doctors, specialists can gain about 10000 CHF/month. The problems is that you find very difficult a nice job as a specialist and if you are immigrant, like me, is even more difficult. And here, I could obtain permanent residency after 10 years (and is the same in the hole Europe), seems is very long to me.
What I am trying to find is where is Australia as the standard life ? Is more like USA or more like Europe, even lower ? Because, in this moment Australia seems more easy to get (for me) than USA, although I know that in USA the doctors have the biggest salaries. And I was hopping that in Australia too, doctors are doing well.... Because in Europe is starting to suck ; countries like Germany and France are not what they use to be, and even UK and Switzerland are lowering....
So, what are you telling me to do ? What did you do if you were me ? Were you trying to stay here in Switzerland or try to go to Asutralia ? And do not answer me that I should go to USA, because that is not a solution for me, at this moment. And there is another world, for us europeans, America is like another world, cruel and very harsh life.... But Australia is wormer....
Many thanks for answering me,
I.S.
irisnicol03@yahoo.com

Stay in Switzerland. Don't come to Australia, they let people in here because you will be in the middle of nowhere. I am an American, yes compared to Europe the USA might feel very harsh, still the money is the constant under US world domination, so get used to it. Things will be the same when China becomes the big economy in 20 years.

This post reminds me of something else. It has been said that obtaining an internship in Melbourne is very hard for international students who graduate from an Australian med school. However, the int'l grads from my uni have routinely been able to secure internship positions within Victoria, most of them are even in Melbourne; Yes, most of them end up training in one of the uni-affiliated teaching hospitals: St. Vincent's, Royal Melbourne, Austin, you name it.

My point here is, always do your own research instead of solely relying on opinions expressed in this forum or in SDN.

From what I know, doctors are not treated well in Australia(I am returning to the USA even though I have Aussie PR), most Australian physicans are GPs, Specialist training programs are few and far between especially compared to the USA, Surgery depending upon the specialty is ultra competitive, it takes over 10 years to become a surgeon in this country. In all honesty if you are able to work in Switzerland, you have it made. I would readily give up my spot in Queensland to return to Europe, or try the UK, given the current geopolitical situation, getting into the US would be like pulling teeth.

Originally Posted by D30417995

My point here is, always do your own research instead of solely relying on opinions expressed in this forum or in SDN.

I am totally agree with you, but I do not know how and where to make the research, conserning australian medical system. But, as I saw, there are big problems for IMGs in Australia as in Europe too. I thought, that Australia, being a country with lots of immigrants (> 50 - 60 % of population is directly or indirectly comming from an immmigrant), the way is easier than in Europe. But now I do not think that way anymore. The only remaining place for us is USA, but there too is a long, long way, and you have to be a little bit better than a native, in all ways, to succed....

I thank you all for the advices, I will continue my researches and maybe we'll see you in Australia, or in USa, or in Europe....

Dear Irinel,

I am a nigerian(african) medical graduate.I graduated in 2003.
I am very interested in doing a geriatric medicine residency in switzerland.
I have been trying for sometime now to get information about applying for residency programmes in switzerland.
Could you please tell me how to go about it?
I have passed the UK PLAB exam but due to lack of jobs in UK had to go back home.
I look forward to your reply and the replies of any doctor who knows.

Thank you very much.

Rex3050

There are foreign doctors working in Australia. If you want more information , try www.doctorconnect.gov.au. Personally from my experience, compared to the US, I don't think Australian physicians are treated well, average GP in a private practice usually earns 150-200K Australian, about half of the similar range for a primary care physician in the USA.

[quote=D30417995]This post reminds me of something else. It has been said that obtaining an internship in Melbourne is very hard for international students who graduate from an Australian med school. However, the int'l grads from my uni have routinely been able to secure internship positions within Victoria, most of them are even in Melbourne; Yes, most of them end up training in one of the uni-affiliated teaching hospitals: St. Vincent's, Royal Melbourne, Austin, you name it.

newbie here!
what does internship positions mean?
i have researched a lot about getting to australia as a doctor
but since taking the amc exam is not an option right now since the exams are expensive, i have been applying for an rmo position in various hospitals in australia
could somebody enlighten me on how the medical curriculum is in australia?
i mean, after studying medicine, what is next?
internship? then residency?
thanks!

By internship I mean the year of paid work that you do when you graduate from an Australian med school. I can't speak for other uni's, but internationals from my uni have no trouble finding work in hospitals in Melbourne.

@D30417995
would you know what hospitals i can apply to in melbourne as an intern?
or what hospital/s are you referring to?
by internship are you saying its PGY1 or PGY2?
i was planning to apply for that position so that i may be able to earn my way to save up for the amc hopefully, while working.
i already applied to different hospitals for an RMO position and they said that they don't have vacancies.
i guess i applied for the wrong position, and should have applied for an intern position
thanks in advance!