Preparing for Your First Conversation with Transition Medical

For many GPs, the idea of working in Australia or New Zealand doesn’t arrive suddenly. It tends to build gradually over time, shaped by workload, family conversations, changing priorities, and often a growing sense that general practice in the UK and across Europe is becoming harder to sustain in the way it once was.

Transition Medical was established over a decade ago with a clear focus on supporting UK and European GPs exploring opportunities in Australia and New Zealand. Over that time, we’ve helped hundreds of doctors at different stages of their careers, many of whom we remain in contact with years after their initial move. A significant number of our GP clients are now settled long-term, running busy clinics, developing specialist interests, and still very much part of our professional network.

We regularly spend time in Australia and New Zealand visiting practices and local communities, meaning our advice is grounded in real clinics, real locations, and lived GP experiences rather than theory alone. Our first meeting is about understanding you properly and offering informed, practical guidance shaped by what we’ve seen work well over many years.

To help make that initial conversation as useful as possible, we often share the prompts below in advance. They highlight areas we’ve found helpful for GPs to reflect on before a first discussion, to provoke your own thoughts and questions.

What’s really motivating you to explore a move?

This is often the most important starting point. For many GPs, the decision to explore working overseas is closely linked to growing frustrations with the way healthcare systems, particularly the NHS, have evolved and continue to change. Increasing workload, administrative pressure, and concerns around long-term sustainability commonly sit alongside a desire for better work–life balance, greater professional autonomy, clearer income structures, or improved quality of life for family.

Have you thought about timescales?

GPs approach us at very different stages, from early curiosity through to actively planning a move. Some are exploring options over the next year or two, while others are working around notice periods, training completion, or family commitments. You don’t need a fixed date in mind, but having a broad sense of timing can be helpful.

Location: where might work for you and why?

Australia and New Zealand offer an extraordinary range of lifestyles, climates, and practice settings. Some GPs have a specific location in mind, while others are open to multiple regions once they understand the differences. Factors such as proximity to cities, coastal versus regional living, schooling, and lifestyle priorities all play a role.

What would your ideal practice look like?

The variety of practice models available overseas often surprises UK and European GPs. Differences in clinic size, team structure, support levels, billing models, and flexibility can all have a significant impact on day-to-day working life.

What kind of support would you value?

Having helped UK and European GPs relocate for over a decade, we know that the right support can make the process far clearer. Many doctors value guidance through registration, visa advice, honest insight into practices, and continuity through a named contact.

Ready to talk?

If you feel you’d value a discussion, we’d be delighted to speak with you. To arrange an initial conversation, please get in touch and one of our experienced team will be in contact to arrange a time that suits you.

Further Reading

Visual Timeline for moving to Australia as a GP

What are the costs involved in relocating to NZ