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

Summary

In this video, Serena reflects on her career journey as a doctor, detailing her decision to take a break from surgical training in the UK and move to Australia. She explores the cultural differences between working in the NHS and Australia, from early start times and long hours to overtime pay. As she navigates her options between staying in Australia for surgical training or returning to the UK, she shares her personal struggles with career progression, burnout, and the pressures of decision-making. Ultimately, Serena’s journey is a contemplation of career choices, lifestyle balance, and what feels like the right path forward.

Takeaways

• 😀 Serena was born and trained in the UK as a doctor before taking a career break (F3 year) to move to Australia and explore options for her future in surgery.
• 😀 She faced cultural shocks, such as early start times (6:30 a.m.) and the unexpected long hours that came with her role in Australia, compared to her experiences in the UK.
• 😀 Overtime is common in Australia and comes with significant financial rewards, unlike the NHS, where overtime is not as well-compensated.
• 😀 In Australia, there is a culture of working extra hours without complaint, as overtime is paid, while in the UK, working extra hours for free is the norm.
• 😀 Serena found the financial compensation in Australia for overtime appealing, but realized that the money did not make up for burnout caused by the long hours.
• 😀 As she adjusted to life in Australia, Serena noticed the benefits of the country’s healthcare system, including better work-life balance and the chance to earn a good salary while enjoying more disposable income.
• 😀 Despite the allure of financial rewards and a better lifestyle, Serena struggled with burnout and realized that it wasn't sustainable in the long term.
• 😀 She missed her roots in the UK and realized that, despite the advantages of working in Australia, her emotional ties to the UK and her friends and family were still strong.
• 😀 On her trip back to the UK, Serena reflected on how much her life had changed since moving to Australia and how she felt disconnected from her peers who were progressing in their careers.
• 😀 Serena's time in the emergency department (ED) in Australia reinforced her interest in surgery but also made her question whether she could be happy pursuing a specialty in emergency medicine due to its lower barriers to entry and high job satisfaction.
• 😀 Serena’s pivotal conversation with her breast surgery registrar made her reconsider her path, highlighting that while she was uncertain about staying in Australia or returning to the UK, she was now feeling more committed to pursuing surgical training, although she was still unsure about the location.

Q & A

Why did Serena take a career break instead of pursuing surgical training right away?

Serena chose to take a career break (an F3 year) to explore new opportunities and avoid making any immediate decisions regarding her career. This break allowed her to come to Australia and gain a broader perspective before diving into surgical training.

What were Serena's initial thoughts about working in Australia compared to the UK?

Initially, Serena was struck by the early start times and the intensity of the work culture in Australia. She was surprised to find that the roster was more of a suggestion rather than a strict schedule, leading to longer working hours. However, the pay was more lucrative compared to the UK, which initially made the situation feel more manageable.

What major cultural difference did Serena notice between working as a doctor in the UK and Australia?

The key cultural difference was the attitude towards overtime. In Australia, overtime is paid generously and easily, leading to an environment where staying late became a regular expectation. In contrast, the NHS in the UK does not reimburse for overtime, which fosters a culture of finishing on time and respecting boundaries.

How did Serena's experience with overtime affect her perspective on her career?

Serena initially felt conflicted, as the lucrative overtime pay made the long hours seem bearable. However, she eventually experienced burnout, realizing that despite the financial rewards, the work-life balance was unsustainable. This led her to question whether the money was worth the toll on her personal well-being.

What happened when Serena realized the surgical training application deadline in the UK had passed?

When Serena and her partner realized that the application deadline for surgical training in the UK had passed, she felt surprisingly at ease, signaling that she was unconsciously ready to stay in Australia for another year. She no longer felt a strong desire to return to the UK and start training there.

What did Serena learn from her experience working in the emergency department in Australia?

Serena found the emergency department work in Australia much more hands-on and practical compared to what she had heard about the UK. The emergency doctors had more autonomy, managed more cases independently, and earned significantly more than their UK counterparts, which further strengthened her inclination to stay in Australia.

What were some of the personal revelations Serena had during her trip back to the UK?

During her trip back to the UK, Serena realized how much more exciting her life in Australia felt. The casual weekend activities, like snorkeling and diving, highlighted the difference in lifestyle. However, she also felt wistful about missing out on family events and the connections she had left behind in the UK.

What caused Serena to reconsider her decision about pursuing a career in surgery?

Serena had a pivotal conversation with her breast surgery registrar, who pushed her to think and act like a senior doctor. This conversation made her realize she was ready to start pursuing surgical training more seriously, but she was still unsure about whether to do it in the UK or Australia.

What are the challenges Serena faces when it comes to pursuing surgical training in Australia?

One of the main challenges Serena faces in Australia is the competitive nature of surgical training, especially as an international graduate. The application process requires multiple strong references from consultants, and it's not uncommon for doctors to apply several times before securing a spot in the training program.

How does Serena feel about the career progression in the UK compared to Australia?

Serena feels that the UK has a more straightforward, conveyor-belt-like system for career progression, where doctors move through steps automatically. In contrast, Australia feels more like a delayed progression, where she would need to work longer without immediate advancement. Despite this, she remains uncertain about whether the conveyor belt approach in the UK is the right fit for her.