In view of the overwhelmingly positive reviews of the Australian healthcare system I’ve seen on social media coming from non-Australian doctors (e.g. Malaysia, United Kingdom), I thought that it was important to provide some information regarding the flipside.
The Australian healthcare system is most probably still a utopia compared to your previous centre in Malaysia, but it would be naïve to think that it is not without its issues. I reached out to a Doctors in Training (DiT) representative from the Australian Medical Association (WA) (similar to MMA SCHOMOS and MMA-JDN) to find out more. Here are some possible issues you may face when working as a junior doctor in Australia.
[NOTE: I have no firsthand experiences to share, the below-mentioned issues are secondhand information based on cases received by the AMA(WA) DiT rep.]
Manpower issues – some hospitals have had staffing shortages, resulting in the need for doctors in those hospitals to take up more shifts and work longer hours. Nevertheless, the relevant penalties and overtime pay should still apply. [For incoming doctors from outside the system, this would suggest ample job vacancies and opportunities.]
Inability to access leave – similar to the above, this does not seem to be a systemic issue but rather centre-dependent. Some doctors have been unable to access their accrued annual leave and parental leave. [Again, for incoming IMGs, this suggests ample opportunities here.]
Difficult or tedious claims process for overtime payments – administrative procedures for the claims process differ from hospital to hospital. There are certain hospitals with lengthy and tedious processes, which may also require approval from the claimant’s supervising consultant (and potentially give a perception of inefficiency). DiT mentioned talks are in progress to improve these processes.
Morale, culture, bullying, etc. – DiT runs a Hospital Health Check questionnaire for doctors to rate the hospitals they’ve worked in. It might be worth a read before you start your job applications. The 2022 report for Western Australian hospitals can be found here.
Overall, I found it interesting that these issues are rather similar to those back in Malaysia. The problems here are however very mild, in my opinion, compared to the current Malaysian situation. The above information is not to dissuade anyone from their move, but rather to remind you to take the leap with your eyes wide open.
Congratulations to those who have just passed their AMC MCQ examinations, and all the best in your job applications!