Kangaroos, stethoscopes and love - CareerAlley

Kangaroos, stethoscopes and love - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Changing jobs, let alone careers, can be a challenging and destabilizing undertaking, but in life its important to always be open to new opportunities and possibilities. Such an opportunity came my way a couple of years ago and I am living proof that no matter how remote some careers may seem, if you keep an open mind and find the courage, almost anything is possible. I fell in love with Australia the moment I saw a photo of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge surrounded by dazzling cobalt blue water. If my father had made it to Australia on business, then one day when I grew up, so would I, only I wouldnt just visit. I would live there. Of course the land Down Under was a long way away for a 12 year old Colombian girl growing up in Bogot, but I had my heart set on it so I knew that I would make it there. I just didnt know then quite how long it would take and the mountain of obstacles I would have to overcome to turn my dream into reality. In fact it was some 20 years later before I was to set foot on Australia. As a medical doctor, the first opportunity I had for extended travel was 12 years after finishing school, at the end of 12 years of medical study. By accident or design, I was accustomed to living abroad, having emigrated to Spain after finishing school; and spending a year in France and another year in Germany on Erasmus during university. By the time I left for Australia I could speak 5 languages (Spanish, Catalan, French, German and English) and had specialist medical qualifications in emergency medicine and general practice, so I was confident of my prospects of travelling and possibly working there. What I had not accounted for was meeting my future fianc five hours after arriving in Sydney. Two weeks later, we were in love and my trip to Oz took on a wholly new dimension. That was two years ago. Today I am living in Sydney, working in the emergency department of a major hospital. But to make that happen is a testament to love because obtaining the appropriate visa and medical qualifications was no trivial task. Not only are considerable expenses involved, but you need to undergo a rigorous assessment process that, depending upon your country of origin and source medical qualifications, can include an examination process lasting several years before you gain full unrestricted registration. If you are a medic and want to work in Australia, here are some of the processes you need to fulfill. The Australian Medical Council (AMC) issues medical registration in Australia: 1. You must apply to the AMC seeking assessment via one of three pathways: -The Specialist Pathway (successful completion leads to registration in the relevant speciality). -The Competent Authority (successful completion leads to general registration). -The Standard Pathway (successful completion leads to general registration). Depending on the pathway thats applicable to you, before you can even apply for a position you need to successfully complete a multiple choice written exam (locally known as the MCQ). 2. You must be demonstrably proficient in English (for example have successfully complete the IELTS with a mean score of 7.0 or greater). 3. Visa: You need to obtain a Temporary Business (Long Stay) 457 Visa. 4. Employment: You need to obtain employment by a certified employer who can sponsor you, which generally means they are qualified to supervise you until you obtain unlimited registration. If fulfilling those requirements was not enough, the competition for medical positions in Australia for international medical graduates (IMGs) has increased exponentially over the past few years- the position I eventually obtained had over 200 applicants. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners informed me recently that in 2011 IMGs comprised 40% of the staff of Westmead Hospital (a major hospital in western Sydney); in 2012 that figure dropped to 4%; and it was anticipated that next year there would be no IMGs on staff. This is apparently due to an increasing number of Australian graduates filling the positions. Emergency medicine remains one of the only fields likely to require IMGs for the next two or three years. Additionally, if you come from a non-English speaking background, overseas doctors face the challenge of practicing medicine in Australian English, which presents novel difficulties if you are not accustomed to it. Perhaps most challenging is the nature of the medicine practiced in Australia, which I have found markedly different in its approach compared to that in Spain, Germany and France. I was surprised to find the British doctors confirmed there were many differences compared to the UK. Possibly there are greater similarities to medicine in the United States however I dont know as I havent worked there. Having said that, after 3 months of working in Australia, and nearly two years of living here, it is an incredible country full of opportunities and experiences that simply cannot be found anywhere else in the world. If you have the chance or desire to work here I highly recommend it. If you can bring, or find, the love of your life to support you, its an experience you will treasure forever! The Australian Governments DoctorConnect webiste (http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/) and the Australian Medical Council website (http://www.amc.org.au/) contain detailed information for international medical gradutes wishing to practice medicine in Australia. Author biography: Dr Veronica Borrego is a resident in the emergency department of a major Sydney hospital. Her dream of living and working abroad in Australia came true in part by what she describes as the ability to understand the real meaning of love. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ Visit Joeys profile on Pinterest. Job Search job title, keywords, company, location jobs by What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. 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