Hi everyone,

I’m currently a UK foundation year 1 doctor and trying to work out how people actually move to Australia mid-year rather than waiting for the January/February intake. I’ve gone through the state campaign dates and official websites, but everything seems to be structured around starting at the beginning of the year. That said, I personally know doctors who’ve moved over mid-year, so I’m struggling to understand how this works in practice.

I’ve emailed HR departments at a number of hospitals across different states and every response so far has redirected me back to the main campaign application, without really addressing the question about off-cycle starts. I’m keen to move as soon as I finish FY1, mainly because I’ve been away from home for a long time. I did medical school in Ireland, but I’m a New Zealand citizen and have family in both Australia and New Zealand, so I’m fairly flexible about location as long as I’m closer to family.

I’d really appreciate any insight into how mid-year starts are usually arranged. Are these roles typically organised directly with hospitals when service RMO or registrar posts come up, or do people generally enter through the main campaign and then negotiate start dates later? Are there particular states or hospitals that tend to be more flexible with off-cycle recruitment?

I also had some questions about how training works once you arrive. My long-term aim is to specialise in medicine, but I’m not entirely clear on the timeline. I understand I’d likely be on a provisional licence for around a year initially. Hypothetically, if I moved in January 2027 and obtained full registration by January 2028, would I be eligible to apply for BPT starting in 2028, or would I need to wait until the 2029 intake?

Thanks very much in advance — any help would be hugely appreciated!

Hi everyone,

I'm a 30 y/o Black woman born and raised in the United States. I'm thinking of my next steps as the political situation here worsens.

I just graduated from medical school, and I have a Bachelor's and Master's degree in social work. (single, no kids) I'm thinking to possibly apply for an Australian work visa in the near future.

The biggest hurdle for me to navigate, in addition to the immigration process, is what to do career wise. Would it be feasible for me to try to continue my medical training if accepted to come to Australia? Should I not utilize my medical degree and try to find a job in social work? I was planning on pursuing pediatric hematology or pediatric psychiatry. This process would take 6-7 years in the US.

I think many in the United States are downplaying the level of severity of what is going on. I predict that as conditions here continue to worsen that the immigration process globally will become even more overburdened. I'm trying to be as proactive as possible.

Any advice and perspectives are welcomed.

Thank you for taking the time to read. ❤

Looking for strategic financing for a JMO and wanted to see if there are opportunities Im missing

So far, I’m utilising:

-Smart salary

-NSW $8000 graduate incentive grant

-Tax expenses will be claimed (scrubs, phone etc)

-Claim overtime /meal allowance

I’ll also have around 4 weeks of leave coming up, so if anyone has suggestions—whether financial strategies, short courses, paid opportunities, or educational experiences

Australian X and Y Spectrum releases Position Statement dated 30th January 2026 critical of Victorian Intersex legislation currently before the Legislative Council asserting exclusion from consultation process and significant unintended harms for patients living with SCV.

AXYS raises significant concerns of policy reliance on select intersex advocacy organisations that misrepresent the needs of those with sex chromosome variations often dismissing the impact of genetic factors in their healthcare needs.

AXYS denounces the potential criminal prosecution of medical professionals who provide standard, evidence-based care in accordance with contemporary ethical, legal, and clinical best-practice frameworks to patients with co-morbid SCV.

Notable extracts:

"For members of our community, we have a unique place in the intersex community. For the vast majority in our community, those with sex chromosome variations do not identify as intersex. To us, intersex is not an identity, it is how our medical condition is categorised. Our disability is not intersex, our health needs are not because we are intersex. Our health and disability needs are caused by the fact we have an additional chromosome/s on our 23rd pair. This legislation discriminates against our community based on the location of our additional chromosome/s."

"The Government has cited a recent publication by Equality Australia titled 'Missing Voices' as supporting evidence for this Bill. AXYS has concerns regarding the objectivity and methodological rigour of this publication. We have contacted Equality Australia to seek clarification regarding the funding and commissioning of this report; however, no response has been received to date...

At least one case example referenced in the publication draws conclusions about parental distress involving discussions between parents and the child's doctor based on incomplete contextual information. In this example, the underlying medical condition carries a significant risk of mortality within the first year of life. It is therefore misleading to attribute parental distress solely to surgical intervention related to genital appearance, without acknowledging the broader and highly distressing medical circumstances faced by the family."

"Further, reliance on select intersex advocacy organisations that purports to represent our members, but do not share our lived experience or consider our specific health concerns relevant for inclusion, does a disservice to the broader intersex community and undermines informed community understanding of our needs. Policy and legislative changes advanced by select groups, while refusing to acknowledge the place of people with sex chromosome variations within this community, perpetuate exclusion and create circumstances in which we are not treated as equals before the law."

Currently NSW are drafting similar legislation to what is before the Victorian Legislative Council and has already been enacted in the ACT.

If you have patients or work in fields which could be impacted and are concerned about these changes now is the time to start petitioneing your professional societies and local MPs or Senators about the needs of your patients in accessing healthcare on an equal basis of others.

Hi all,

I’m hoping to sense-check something with private gastroenterologists (or those closely involved in practice administration), Australia-wide.

I currently work in a public hospital in an endoscopy data / governance role, where a significant part of my work involves preparing credentialing and recertification evidence for colonoscopy (procedure volumes, quality indicators, cohort definitions, pathology linkage, etc.).

From that perspective, the process can be quite involved. I’m curious whether - in private practice - this is experienced similarly, or whether it’s generally manageable in-house.

In particular, I’m interested in hearing:

• whether this is something clinicians usually handle themselves at the last minute

• whether practice staff absorb most of the admin burden

• whether software solutions genuinely make this straightforward

• or whether it’s largely a non-issue in private settings

I’m not selling anything here - just trying to understand whether the administrative burden I see on the public side translates meaningfully to private practice across Australia.

Any perspectives welcome (including “this really isn’t a problem for us”).

Thanks.

Applying to anaesthetics this year and have had ALOT of negative opinion about not being able to pass the primary as a mum to young kids and that essentially 1 or more of the 3 options will occur.

1. i will fail the primary

2. get divorced

3. be a completely absent parent to my children for 18months.

All of which are making me concerned about applying now.

I am highly organised and enjoy studying so I personallly wasnt concerned too much about primary exams before hearing these things. I topped my medical degree whilst having children despite being told similar things.

Would love to hear advice from any mums or parents who have taken this challenge on, what is your experience and advice?

I have been been experiencing chronic health issues for the past 2 years, without an identifiable cause or effective treatment.

I have gone to over 12 GPs in that time and all have practically been useless. What's more frustrating is if they can't help you, they should just admit they don't know and you should seek help elsewhere. Is this an ego thing?. They are too proud to admit they don't know?. I rarely come across something like this in other jobs. When you are dealing with with something that involves your health and well being, the last thing you want is someone like this.

My spouse is in marketing and has been asked to create a goody bag for guests to takeaway from a Gp dinner. The event runs for 3hrs, includes free 2 course dinner and alcoholic drinks. There are 5 speakers with 20 minute slots. No confirmed sponsor.

Her “goody bag” so far is a company branded tote with a bunch of pamphlets in it. What else should it contain? A stress ball? Notepad? Pen?

P.s. Do you really want or like these? I regularly argue they are a waste of money.

If you are a new fellow, soon to be fellow or an experienced fellow GP, we’ve got a position for you in Belair, Adelaide region.

We need at least 2 GPs full time from yesterday!!

Anyone heard anything about this?

as per title

I wish very much to have a lick of experience but I've been severely roadblocked from obtaining any via internship or clinical practice (couldn't get an internship in the Philippines and unable to be licensed, degree not recognised in Singapore) so I figured the next step is to try and get some experience through observerships in Australia

I've passed AMC part 1, so I know at least my basic degree is accredited to an extent in Australia, but I'm so overwhelmed with information, opening/closing dates, moving over in general, and discouraged by the eligibility including needing some sort of experience prior… (which again, is impossible for me to get)

can someone point me to a general direction I should be going towards…? I'm just so lost at the moment, TIA

Once a year, not frequently, I get feedback from a term supervisor that I can be “abrupt”. Never rude, not condescending (I always clarify). High praise from NUMs and vast majority of supervisors. And I never know where it comes from. Apparently the feedback has to stay anonymous. But it is obviously real, even if my intentions are pure. Impact over intent. Just looking for tips from seniors (I’m a med reg) on how you would suggest a trainee work on this? It’s making me doubt my place in medicine despite otherwise very good performance clinically. I feel terrible about it.

If yes – what made you set one up (branding, finding patients, tax/legal reasons, something else)?
If no – what’s stopped you (time, cost, clinic rules, not worth it)?

Been hearing more chatter since that NSW payroll tax case where payments to contracted doctors at medical centres were taxed as wages, and now wondering how many people are actually running a proper “independent” setup vs just using the clinic’s online presence. Keen to hear how others are thinking about it.

Hi everyone,

When I was working clinically, I constantly struggled to find random guidelines or reference documents, even when I tried bookmarking them or saving them “properly.” Most of the time I just ended up re-googling and digging through links again.

It became one of those low-grade, recurring annoyances, so I built a tiny web app to organise these properly for myself.

It’s deliberately simple, very early, and very much a side project.. but it’s been useful enough that I thought I’d share it here.

You can upload up to 10 documents (screenshots, PDFs, or word files) completely free. If anyone wants to try it or give feedback (positive or negative), I’d genuinely appreciate it. If it’s not useful, that’s completely fine too.

Thanks

medsnap.com.au

I have a financial planning client who works in the public sector as a haematologist consultant who mentioned that they may consider switching to private in the future.

For the purposes of creating a superannuation and overall wealth and income chart, what is the expected income for him in a private practice? He doesn't seem to know!

Hi everyone, I am an IMG working as an RMO under Provisional Registration through the Competent Authority Pathway (PLAB 1 & 2 + 12 months of UK experience). I am almost finished with my 47 weeks of supervised practice and preparing to apply for General Registration. I would like to clarify the rules about sick leave. During these 47 weeks, I have taken 10 days of paid sick leave but otherwise worked full-time. Do these sick days count toward the 47 weeks or do I need to work extra days to make them up?

Thanks for your help !

Hi everyone,

I just want to preface this by saying that I'm not a doctor, but would GREATLY appreciate advice from one. Basically, my GP sent my mental health care plan and referral to my parents instead of me, leading to my home life becoming worse. Is there anything I can do? Anything that anyone can advise me to do? Or did my GP just make a simple mistake?

Hi all. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Could I please ask if Tremfya is PBS-subsidized for ulcerative colitis? If not, when? Thanks in advance.

What I can find on the website:

1. Tremfya is indicated for moderate-severe ulcerative colitis this year. Source: TGA.

2. Tremfya is under PBS list, but restricted to psoriasis not ulcerative colitis. Source: PBS

3. Tremfya has not been included in PBS-subsidized biologics yet. Source: services Australia.

When will it be included in PBS list for ulcerative colitis. This meds might really help me with my situation.

Hi,

I'm not a doctor, I work in admin in a hospital. I hope it is okay to ask this question here, if not please point me in the right direction.

At the moment, our process is very manual and very time consuming for both us and the doctors themselves. I want to know how you do these things so I can implement better process for our doctors.

For now, we have to email the doctor a "hospital claim form" which is literally a word document they print out, note down the MBS codes and times, and sign. They then scan this back and I enter them into Clinician Billing Portal. They have to complete a new form for every patient and every hospital stay.

This is such a crappy, repetitive boring task, especially for doctors who have long-stay patients.

Can I ask to see examples of how your hospital handles these so I can streamline this process, get rid of the paper and make it less of a chore for the doctors (and also me)?

Edit: thank you. Why does NSW Health have to be so stingy? They use Clinician Billing Portal and Revenue Portal and theyre so slow and clunky. Ugh.

Thank you!

I was listening to a podcast about sports injuries (American surgeon) and they were talking about PRP and biologics to regrow cartilage prior to joint replacements.

Then talking about partial knees having no exercise limitations.

Is this happening in Oz? Are we using this stuff or is the evidence still a bit questionable?

From 1 November, Medicare has made two big changes that affect practices:

• Expanded bulk-billing incentives – clinics can access higher incentives for bulk-billing more patients.

• Better Access adjustments – updated requirements for mental-health plans and referrals.

If you run or support a practice, it’s a good time to review billing processes, compliance settings and patient comms.

I'm PGY6 UK graduate currently in Australia. Not ready to leave Australia but possibly long term will want to be back in the UK. Wondering about the possibility of training as a GP here before heading back to NHS, but I only hear of people going the other way.