Working as a doctor in Australia: culture shocks, pay, work life balance

Welcome to this episode of me making life decisions. It's been quite the year and I can't wait to show you what lies ahead. Enjoy!

About me:
My name is Surina Taneja and I am a junior doctor who trained in the UK. I make videos about being a doctor as well as sharing my insights on the well-being of our mind, body and planet 🧠 💪🏽 🌍

Check out these other videos on my channel:

Social media:

[seannorford]

As an Australian I’m so proud that our healthcare system can attract too talent such as yourself, I hope you are your partner stay :)

[orcafernando]

I really appreciate you being so honest about your experiences in Australia including the positives and the negatives! Very very refreshing and eye opening! Thankyou!

[pardogg]

I remember my wife watching one of your videos before, and I watched this one now. We're Canadians who came over to Australia ( I went to med school at usyd, a GP here now and the wife's in finance) Best of luck in your decision making. When I locumed a few years back it seemed all the UK docs enjoyed being here overall compared to back home. At the very least, you can't beat the weather!

[denisemurphy]

Yes, overtime abuse exists without crazy bureaucracy because professionals are trusted to behave ethically. When they don't, it gets noticed, mostly by the Budget Committees of Departments, and then comes the "over time blow-out", but also by those from whom one might wish to obtain a glowing professional reference. They want to see good character, efficient time management, and not succumbing to overtime abuse "because everybody else does." Consultants also have private practices in 'private hospitals' where every penny is counted.
Hope your next step might include a trainee position in beautiful Canada or NZ, but if it be the US ... good luck.
Thank you for your contribution to the Aust health system in 2022.

[tc]

I'm a consultant now, my first week as an intern I worked 104 hours rostered. It was nuts. For the rest of the year I averaged 80 hours per week. But we weren't getting paid overtime back then, so only 38 hours paid and the rest were working for free. Totally toxic back then.

Glad to hear that at least over time is paid now.

[lucycrook-xtde]

Overtime hasn’t been easy to claim on all hospitals/states - currently running class actions against almost all VIC hospitals for unpaid overtime - I think the other issue with surgery (in particular) is that the training program is so competitive so if you actually work your rostered hours or even claim all overtime, the perception is that it affects job prospects unfortunately - totally agree that the money isn’t worth it!!

[nuddleable]

Your honesty is refreshing. I appreciate that your views are in many ways the same as mine. At 71 I can look back on my life and say that I have lived an exciting and very interesting life without conforming to what was expected of me, but I have been, and remain happy, despite the ups and downs which are to be expected. To be succinct, the "journeys'' the thing'". Enjoy what you have and enjoy this great world while you can. On top of that this Aussie really enjoys your

[lxn]

Have just binged your series on applying for Australia and am really enjoying the content! I just started my F2 year and want to start the application process for next August - there's a LOT of things I have to get ready so I better get started now haha!

In all honesty, wanting to go to Australia and experience working as a doctor there is one of the few things I know for sure that I want to do in this field, so I hope I will get to do it. Maybe see you around in Queensland next year!

[Deniz-kljk]

Aussie doctor here, I can tell you that unfortunately overtime claiming experiences wildly differ state to state, and within states. For example in Victoria, nearly every major healthservice is currently facing class action lawsuits for unpaid unrostered overtime :/

[adwaithsuresh]

love your videos and very informative for someone trying to pursue medicine in Australia. Cant wait for the part 2 of this video and see the decision you've made. cheers!

[arthurng]

Hey Surina, if ED appeals you because of hands on and variety of work and flexibility, you might want to look into Rural GP as well! They basically run the entire hospital in a rural community. They can do ED shift, Anaesthetic list, performing C-session and even surgery! They work-life balance is amazing too!

[TravellingNowhereFast]

I got a partial glossectomy because of cancer at the Brisbane hospital. One of my surgeons was from the UK and he is the best doctor I have ever met. He is human, and humanity is everything when you deal with sick people.
Also, I have to organize my own appointments every 3 months, the hospital should do it, but they manage to do it so bad that I need to spend a few weeks organizing everything myself. So I know exactly what you mean when you talk about the disorganisation lol.

[jen_]

Being a dr, I love how detailed and honest your videos are! Pls keep making such videos! Subbed :)

[WhhhhhhjuuuuuH]

I know it may seem soul crushing to wake up so early but from my experience doing night shifts the longer you are at work after sunrise the Harder it is to get rest.

Getting to sleep at 5am VS 7am is a world of difference because you can actually keep your circadian rhythm more normal with blackout curtains and waking up in the afternoon for some sunlight.

[darrenmurray]

Money isn’t everything, but let’s be honest, no one puts in all that hard graft for poor pay.

As a trainee Biomedical Scientist I was studying, working and helping to cover the on-call service and I know this was still a fraction of what the junior docs were doing! Having done all that I do not regret the money I earn now, though it is my love for the job and the fact I’m doing a god ethical job that matters most.

Keep up the good work you’re already doing and keep yourself fit and well.

[nzubeazubuike]

Have been following your videos for some time now and I love them. You're doing an excellent job. I am thinking of following the same path, you're such an inspiration.

[collectivechloe]

My fiancée & I are moving over to Australia from the Uk this month! Love watching your videos, gets me all excited! Smashing it 🧡

[TimDavis]

I think the big thing in Australia compared to the NHS is the limited availability of specialist training positions in Australia. I believe it’s far more competitive to get onto advance training programs. So yes that sort of hustle and grinding mindset has become very much entrenched in Australian healthcare system

[Tech-]

I got to Australia in 2001 and here we are 21 years later.

[razvan]

Love your video, I practice as a internal medicine specialists in Romania, I’m really interested in Australia mostly because of the weather, hope in 1-2 years I’ll be able to try working there