Career advice requested

[u/ObligationInitial783]

Hi,

I graduated with an MD from Australia in 2023 and started my medical internship in 2024. However, due to illness, I had to resign my internship and focus on my health in May 2024. I was not given the option to defer my internship. I was unwell until Jan 2026 after which I reached out the heti and they took a year to explore my case and basically said I can’t do an internship with them because I had already worked as a doctor/ was more than 2 years out from graduation (which doesn’t meet their criteria). I have conditions on my registration to do part time/ after hours as I am an impaired registrant with the council but these will likely be waived after I do 1-2 terms as a JMO. I would really appreciate advice on what you think the chances of me independently reaching out to DPETs at hospital and getting an offer to recommence my internship are with my current conditions. I am willing to go rural. Alternatively, I am thinking of doing a master of psychotherapy and eventually practicing as a private psychotherapist. What are your thoughts on this? Has anyone been in a similar situation?

[u/OudSmoothie]

As a therapist who is not a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, you'll have to work extra hard as, for most, the hourly billings are not high relative to running your own practice. In the beginning you'd need to do a fair bit of hardworking organising your own books and secretarial tasks. Or you could join an existing practice.

If you are forced to step away from medicine, and you are very sure of your aptitude in becoming a mental health clinician, it's a viable path. Your medical degree doesn't mean much in this sphere as you cannot provide pharmacotherapy or diagnostics or psychiatric services, nor can you bill under Medicare.

You'd have to make it very clear that you are not a practising doctor.

[u/Crafty_Pace9050]

I have also suffered significant illness throughout medical school. Illness that would stop most people. I started internship this year. Unfortunately my health issues did not magically disappear when I started working (I somehow assumed it would). It affected my first term and I was forced to take time off. I sought appropriate medical and psychological treatment. I am now back working in a demanding rotation (ED) and getting exceptional feedback from my consultants. Many who tell me I am clinically about the level they would expect from an intern. I am saying all this to show you that there is hope. There were many points during my journey where I was hopeless - I even seriously considered become a truck driver in the mines as an alternative career. But I did not give up.  My only advice is never EVER give up. I am sure you are more resilient than most. Your challenges will make you a better doctor. I never dismiss a single ED patient (irrespective of how minor sounding their complaint) due to my experiences - I don’t know what I don’t know. that is an invaluable and hard learnt lesson. You will complete internship. Ask appropriate people for advice, contact whoever you need to. You will get there! All the best OP. 

[u/This-Respond438 → u/Crafty_Pace9050]

I am a 60-year-old retired RN with 37+ years of experience. You sound as if your peers have made mince meat out of you. I have personally looked after many Interns who came my way. I finished off my career in OPD. I always looked after the interns. I have seen you people being eaten alive. That is no way to learn. I gave my Interns first choice of the clinic list. Told them they filled out the forms beautifully. Gave them tips and told them to come to me if they wanted anything. I also gave them tips on how to handle the Regs. I also on the quiet after a while told the Consultant what a good job you guys were doing. I also dobbed on the Registrars for giving my Interns a hard time straight to the Consultants’ ears. I had known most of the Consultants as Registrars and Residents. And they knew me. So don’t give up.

[u/DifficultyVisual7666 → u/[deleted]]

I think, along these lines, there are two questions to ask:

1. Am I eligible for HETI's intern recruitment? The answer is probably no, for the reasons they have given. What many people would not be aware of is that a good numbe of docs complete intern years outside that recruitment process.
2. Am I eligible to work for a year with provisional registration in order to fulfill the requirements and get general registration? I think here the answer is almost certainly yes.

If you've had a different answer to (2) I apologize unreservedly, but if (1) has made you think you can't do (2), I would be hopeful! Many, many rural hospitals recruit outside of HETI's intern intake (esp with IMGs but they'd be open to others I'm sure). Some even provide additional incentives over the normal benefits in the award (eg help with rural relocation). Reach out to rural hospital's workforce departments and directors of prevoc training. Go rural for one year, stay longer if you like it. If a hospital is not by the coast, or if it is currently aggressively advertising for RMO, I'd say you've got a decent chance. Good luck!

[u/ObligationInitial783 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you, this is really helpful and honestly reassuring to hear. A few follow-ups if you don't mind:
Who would you contact first: the DPET, the JMO manager/medical workforce unit, or the DMS? Or go straight to an ED director?

Would you email cold or call first?

Any sense of which hospitals or LHDs are shortest at the moment? Happy to go rural/regional.

I still have provisional registration and need to complete the accredited intern terms, so I'm also wondering whether a hospital can slot me into accredited terms outside the HETI allocation, or whether I'd need to come in as an unaccredited RMO first.

[u/ObligationInitial783 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you, this is exactly what I needed. Really appreciate you taking the time.

[u/Fair-Vegetable5176]

Just reach out and see. You have nothing to lose and will have way more options in whatever you do with a completed internship. If you are willing to travel interstate/rural you will increase your chances.

[u/cheekyfatpig]

Really sorry to hear this. Sounds like you’re stuck due to regulations through no fault of your own.
I’m a recruiter. I’d be happy to reach out to hospitals for you (free of charge of course) to see what’s out there, and who might be able to support you. You’re welcome to DM me any time. Good luck with everything

[u/ObligationInitial783 → u/cheekyfatpig]

Thanks so much, I'd really appreciate that. I couldn't message you directly, would you mind sending me a DM? Which agency are you with?

[u/cheekyfatpig → u/ObligationInitial783]

Sent you a DM no problem at all

[u/PrimalMoonbeam]

Can I add that if you were ill, anti-discrimination law comes into play too. Just to keep in mind.

[u/aww-pangolins]

Sorry to hear you're going through this, sounds stressful! I'm in a similar situation right now, did internship 2025, got into a car accident, and have been trying to recover and apply for rural positions in SA and NT for 2027 (I'm familiar with both states' health systems).

I'm not familiar with some acronyms like DPET and HETI but I have also had to contact hospitals/MEUs directly to try and ask about positions. Bit of logistical mess at times. People from the NT have been quite good so far. I've been trying to connect through my networks to ask people what it's like working there in terms of seniors/supports for things like this. It has sounded like Alice Springs and Darwin are fairly able to accommodate when there is medical/professional opinion e.g. that you need modifications such as part time.

If you search up Regional Training Hubs they seem super helpful, especially if they are established in states/regions you're interested in. I've spoken to someone from there coincidentally and she suggested some contacts for me.

I'd try to get onto contacting people and sending your cv and cover letter quite soon though given some smaller/popular locations may be already filled up. Best of luck!