Author: emma

How to prepare for moving to Australia or New Zealand as a GP

Posted on by emma

GP Moving to Australia or New Zealand – how to prepare

Whether you are completing your training soon or are thinking about moving in the next year or two, you might be thinking about what you can do to prepare yourself for the move. The process for relocating can take anything from 3 – 12 months so it’s good to make sure you have everything you need to save any future delays in paperwork.

There are of course, lots of considerations for moving to Australia or New Zealand as a GP. You will need to think about where you want to live; in central Melbourne or Auckland or the hills of Adelaide. Are you seeking adventure on the south island of New Zealand or a remote GP job in the outback or would you like to learn to fly? What type of practice would you like to join and where will be best for your family?

I’ve lived and worked in Australia and travelled to New Zealand so can help you with any questions you may have. Once you have decided we’ll find you your dream job! Very quickly after this, we’ll move on to your GP medical registration paperwork and visas for GP and family.

I’ve put together a short list of practical paperwork that you can make a start with to make your life easier once we’re helping you with the paperwork.

Have all your GP certificates ready

As a general guide you will your GP training certificate(s), evidence of registration including certificate of good standing, your primary medical degree and passport. If you have worked and held medical registration in another country from where you’re currently working, you may need a certificate of good standing from there.

Continuing Professional Development for RACGP (CPD)

For Australia specifically, you must prove you have completed 50 hours of CPD in the last 12 months at the time of application. If you don’t have this then get in touch so we can explain the best way to make sure your CPD is suitable.

Relationship evidence for Immigration Australia or New Zealand

Do you want to take a Partner or family with you? If you’re not married then you will need to provide evidence of living together for 12 months minimum. We can provide a full list of what is acceptable evidence or the Australian and New Zealand Immigration process.

CVs for GP Jobs in New Zealand or Australia

It doesn’t need to be complicated; potential employers will know you are a GP however it’s a nice touch to add some information about you and your reasons for relocating and any additional skills or personality traits you can bring to the team. We can provide a template for you.

GP Training or Additional courses

We’re often asked if it’s necessary to complete any additional specialist courses. This isn’t required; medical practices are looking for good all round GPs who will complement their practice. If you have areas of interest such as women’s health, minor surgery, teaching or dermatology, these are all great. But only do further study if this is an area of interest.

If you can think of anything else you’d like me to add or any other questions then please do get in touch!

Further Reading

What to ship to New Zealand 

Moving to Australia and New Zealand FAQs

How to move pets to New Zealand or Australia

Education system in New Zealand

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why you should move to Adelaide

Posted on by emma

Are you a GP wanting to move to Adelaide?

Are you a GP looking for a GP job in Adelaide and want to find out more about moving to and living in Adelaide? Adelaide is the capital of South Australia and the fifth largest city in Australia.  The city was a planned city, so the design and layout were carefully selected before it was established.  This makes it very well laid out with lots of parks and green areas.

Whether it’s a great drop of wine from the Barossa, McLaren Vale or Coonawarra wineries or fresh, local food from the Adelaide Central Market, beautiful sandy white beaches and space to walk, there’s something for everyone. Adelaide is home to just over 1.3 million residents and offers a bustling city centre set to the backdrop of the low-lying Mount Lofty Ranges. It also has a pleasant climate with warm to hot dry summers and relatively short winters.

The area is also known for its outstanding beaches with family-friendly areas popular for water sports. The coastline has dramatic clifftop scenery, surfing and fishing spots with popular beaches where you can see dolphins and whales. The Adelaide Fringe is a month-long festival in February-March that has everything from pop-up restaurants to performances of all kinds.  There is also the Adelaide Show and Garden of Unearthly Delights festival.

It’s an amazing place to bring up children with a fabulous climate and plenty of activities to keep little ones amused.

Here’s a look at what it is like to live in the city and what you need to know as a GP considering relocating here.

Adelaide Cost of living

Adelaide, and South Australia in general, offers good value for the cost of living . The general living costs are lower than some of the larger cities such as Melbourne and Sydney. The cost of buying and renting accommodation is much more reasonable with the average house price in Sydney is $1,300,000 while the same in Adelaide is just $70,000.  This compares well with London where the average house price is just over £720,000 (AUS$1,300,000).

Adelaide Transport

Adelaide has an international airport with direct flights from the UK and easy access to the rest of Australia. A flight to the closest city, Melbourne will take less than an hour.  The transport network is run by Adelaide Metro and includes a bus system, six metropolitan rail lines and a tram.

GPs in Australia

To work as a GP in Adelaide, you would need to hold your MRCGP qualification (or comparable). We have many practices offering great positions with the potential to earn up to and over $300K AUD.

One of the great benefits of Adelaide is you can live and work within 20 minutes of the city in a DPA location.

Our current vacancies in Adelaide.

Australian School Fees

For more information or to discuss your your plans for relocating to Adelaide, please get in touch with our team!

Want to work as a GP in Australia? Our services are free!

Posted on by emma

After we have found you an amazing GP job in Australia or New Zealand on a permanent or short term basis, we offer free regulatory and migration advice and assistance.

Transition Medical’s specialist team will case manage your medical registration and visa applications. From filling in the forms, formatting your CV, following up with the relevant boards and ensuring a successful outcome – We’re here for you!

The process can take some time – anywhere from 3 months to 12 months so you need to ensure you have a competent team behind you who can navigate the complex paperwork.

‘Since being here, I know other doctors new to New Zealand had to do this themselves.  It has given me peace of mind to know that there is a team who know the complete process, so I could concentrate on other things instead. (Dr Caroline)’

 Services we provide are:

  • Management of your Medical Council of NZ application (MCNZ) – Vocational, Locum Tenens, Provisional general and Competent Authority applications
  • Management of your RACGP application for Australia
  • AHPRA medical board registration for Australia
  • Advice and guidance on where you can work – DPA GP Jobs
  • Processing of medicare provider number applications including 19ab exemptions where possible.

‘They were so thorough at every step and handled ALL the paperwork for me taking that burden off my shoulders. I honestly don’t think I could have done it without them, there were so many hoops to jump through but Transition made it seamless. (Dr Jamie)’

Visas for GPs in Australia and New Zealand

Our Licenced and Regulated Immigration Advisors will provide specialist advice and support from advising on the most appropriate visa initially and for longer term permanent (PR) visas

  • Advice and submission of 482 Employer Sponsored visas
  • Advice and submission of Permanent residency applications such as 189,186 visas
  • Advice and submission of Fast Track NZ Residency applications

Our Immigration Advisors have many years of experience and can help you turn your dream into reality. For a chat to find out more please do get in touch!

Further Reading

Why you should move to Adelaide

Your Australia GP Visa questions answered

GP Salary Australia – Find out what your GP income will be

Posted on by emma

How much do GPs earn in Australia?

You may be thinking about relocating to Australia and want to know more about your GP salary in Australia. We discuss General Practitioner salaries and give you some guidance on what you can expect.

GPs in Australia generally earn a good income and can afford a comfortable lifestyle. In the majority of cases, GPs relocating from the UK earn at least the same for doing less hours per week. One of our doctors has described working in Australia

‘I have found the working conditions, flexibility, capacity for earning and, above all, lifestyle for my family and I to be far superior to my experience in the UK’

Australia GP Income

Rather than being paid a fixed salary, as a GP you will earn a percentage of billings.  The income you receive will very much depend on the number of patients you see but also upon the complexity of the consultations.

Factors which will affect your annual salary

  • The percentage of billings you receive
  • The number of hours you work
  • The number of patients you see
  • How many weeks annual leave you take
  • The type of patient you are treating ie which Medicare Billing item number you use

General practices in Australia operate as private businesses, either owned by a single GP, GP Partners or larger companies.

Australia Bulk Billing

A bulk billing clinic is one where the practice bills Medicare for the full payment of the patient consultation. The patient presents a Medicare card and is not required to pay towards the consultation.

Medicare is a public health insurance scheme funded by the Australian Government, which provides all Australians, and those with eligible Medicare cards, with access to free or subsidised healthcare.

 

Mixed Billing

This is where the practice accepts bulk billing consultations as above but will also charge patients for consultations. Usually, patients who are under 16, over 65 and hold health cards are bulk billed and everyone else is private billed. The standard consultation fee for the practice will remain the same. Even in a mixed billing practice, most patients will be bulk billed.

Operating as a private business, GPs are free to determine reasonable fees that are reflective of the services they provide. Most GP practices in Australia now offer mixed billing as standard.

GP Percentage of Billings

As a GP you will be offered somewhere in the region of 60 – 70% of the total billings you generate for the practice. The private consultation fee for the practice will remain the same however the bulk billing fee will vary dependent on the type of consultation.  A standard bulk billing consultation is currently $39.75AUD however any additional treatment you provide above this is charged as an add on. Minor surgery, dermatology and skin, and health assessments will substantially increase the billings you achieve.

If you are working full time and seeing 4-6 patients per hour you can expect to earn a GP salary upwards of $250K AUD per year. The potential income is really high with some of our GPs easily earning between $300 – $400K AUD and upwards.

It can take 3-6 months to build up your patient base and become fully booked. It may be much quicker but practices offer you a minimum guarantee for the first 2-3 months whilst you build your patient base. This guarantee is usually $120 – $150 per hour.

GPs we’ve placed in Australia find that their income is far higher than what they earn in the UK and have much more control over what they earn.

GP Tax Rate Australia

Working in Australia, you are classed as a resident for tax purposes.

The following rates for 2023 – 2024

Taxable income                      Tax on this income
0 – $18,200                                   Nil
$18,201 – $45,000                      19%
$45,001 – $120,000                    32.5%
$120,001 – $180,000                  37%
$180,001 and over                        45%

Further Reading

GP Tax System in Australia

Is there an Age Limit for GPs?

Useful websites
Medicare
Medicare Benefits Schedule
Australian Tax Office

Want to know more about working as a GP in Australia?

Posted on by emma

Read more about working as a GP in Australia

Australia offers so much for anyone thinking of moving as a GP to Australia. Residents enjoy a high quality of life, a superb education and health system, a stable economic and political environment, clean and safe surroundings along with a fantastic climate allowing for that enviable outdoor lifestyle.

Australia is one of the world’s oldest land masses and is both a country and a continent.  It is the largest inhabited island and the sixth largest country in the world. Distances are vast and visitors are often surprised at the size of the country and how long it takes to travel from city to city. Australia stretches about 4000 kilometres from east to west and 3700 kilometres from north to south and it is a 5 hours flight from Sydney to Perth. In total area, Australia is about the same size as the United States (not including Alaska), more than double the size of India and 32 times the size of the United Kingdom.

Australian People

Australia is unique and vastly contrasting.  Much of the country is made up of remote inland, known as the outback, however the majority of the nation’s population live in and around the cities close to the coast. Indigenous Australians have lived on the continent for more than 50,000 years. There were over 500 different groups around the continent with distinctive cultures, beliefs and languages. The first British colonisers arrived in 1788 and currently 37% of the population claim English descent. Australia has an ethnically diverse population with 1 in 4 born outside of Australia.

Australia Climate

Due to the size of the continent, Australia has several different climate zones. The country experiences temperate weather for most of the year but the weather can vary greatly dependant on the location. The northern states have a more tropical influenced climate, hot and humid in the summer, and quite warm and dry in the winter, while the southern parts are cooler with hot summers and cooler, sometimes rainy winters.

Australia is also one of the driest continents on earth with an average annual rainfall of less than 600 millimetres. Like all countries in the southern hemisphere, Australia’s seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere. December to February is summer; March to May is autumn; June to August is winter; and September to November is spring.

GP Australia Salary and Hours

Working as a GP in Australia, you can work full or part time. GPs have an exemption to the full time work rule on the temporary work visa and can work part time. Most GP practices prefer 3+ days of work and most GPs work 4 or 5 days.

GPs in Australia, rather than receiving a fixed income get paid a percentage of billings.  Most practices offer a range between 60 – 70% of the billings you generate for the practice.  Your income will therefore depend on not only the number of patients you will see but also by the complexity of the consultations.  Once you are established and have built up a patient base working full time you can expect to earn $250 – $300k+ AUD per annum. Find out here what GPs earn in Australia.

Tax Rate Australia

The following rates are for 2022 – 2023

Taxable Income
0 – $18,200 Nil
$18,201 – $45,000 – 19c for each $1 over $18,200
$45,001 – $120,000 – $5,092 plus 32.5c for each $1 over $45,000
$120,001 – $180,000 – $29,467 plus 37c for each $1 over $120,000
$180,001 and over – $51,667 plus 45c for each $1 over $180,000

Read our Tax blog for more detailed information on GP Tax

There is also a medicare levy which is 2% of your taxable income.  For more information including a tax calculator see the Australian Taxation Office

DPA areas for GPs moving to Australia

All overseas trained GPs coming to work in Australia are required to work in a Distribution Priority Area area known as DPA.  This is an area which has been identified as having below average access to doctors.  This is determined using population data and medicare billing information to get a reflection of GP to population ratio.  In order to be eligible for a medicare provider number, overseas trained GPs are required to work in these areas for 10 years from the date of first registration.

What this means in practice is an overseas trained doctor isn’t able to work in the larger city centres but usually still able to work in the suburbs of the state capitals or smaller towns and cities.  It doesn’t mean you have to work in a ‘remote’ location.

GP Registration Paperwork

You should allow approximately 9 months to complete the registration and immigration process.  It is ideal to get in touch 12 months prior to you wishing to start work in Australia to allow us time to find you the right role and to complete the appropriate paperwork.

We will assist you through the registration pathway in order to gain eligibility as a GP.  The route for Specialist registration for GPs in Australia is through the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) PEP Program.

Please get in touch for more information on your specific qualifications and experience. We are on hand throughout the process to guide you through the various steps.

Australian Healthcare System

The Australian Government provides help with medical expenses and hospital care through a scheme called Medicare. The government also subsidises the cost of most medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Medicare provides universal access to free public hospital care and assistance with doctors’ fees. Medicare ensures that all Australians have access to free or low-cost medical, optometrical and hospital care while being free to choose private health services. Medicare provides access to free treatment as a patient in a public hospital and free or subsided treatment in a GP practice

The Australian Federal Government set the national health policies and subsidise the services which are provided by State and Territory governments. Improving the health of Australia’s indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is a priority, committed to closing the gap between the health and life expectancy of indigenous and non indigenous people in Australia.

Medicare Australia

As a patient, on a temporary visa you are entitled to a medicare card to allow you to access these services if you have a passport from one of the following countries; United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta and Italy.

As a GP you are required to apply for a Medicare Provider and Prescriber number to be able to practice. Please be aware that this application is completed once you have arrived in Australia and can take the RACGP up to 12 weeks to process this paperwork.  You are not able to start seeing patients until this process has been completed.

Cost of Living for a GP in Australia

Find out here what your costs of living is like as a GP in Australia. Your living costs in Australia will vary dependent on the location you choose to live in and the lifestyle you have.   You may find Australia is more expensive for some things and cheaper for others.  On a GP salary you should be able to lead a very comfortable lifestyle.  For an indication of up to date cost please see the cost of living calculations here

Australian Schools and Education

School education (primary and secondary) is compulsory between the ages of six and sixteen (Year 1 to Year 9 or 10). School education is 13 years and divided into:

Primary school – Runs for seven or eight years, starting at Kindergarten/Prep through to Year 6 or 7.
Secondary school – Runs for three or four years, from Years 7 to 10 or 8 to 10.
Senior secondary school – Runs for two years, Years 11 and 12.

Please see – Australia School Directory and Private School Directory

Housing

There is a huge range of housing available in Australia from city centre apartments to sprawling houses with pools in the suburbs. For more information see Realestate.com and Domain.com

We recommend that when you first arrive in Australia you take up temporary accommodation (Airbnb for example) until you find longer term accommodation. Most Real Estate agents will not allow you to rent properties until you have arrive in Australia and can view homes directly. Two of the most popular websites are Realestate.com and Domain.com

Further Reading:

FAQs Australia

Australia Tax System

GP Salary Australia

Useful Links

Registration and Immigration
AMC
Royal Australian College of GPs
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
Medicare
Immigration Australia
Language Requirements

What is life like in New Zealand for GPs?

Posted on by emma

What is it like to work as a GP in New Zealand

Before you start your GP job search in New Zealand, you may want to find out more about day to day life in New Zealand.

There are just 4.8 million New Zealanders, scattered across 270,534 sq km: bigger than the UK with one-fourteenth the population. New Zealand is the land of extremes with sublime forests, mountains, lakes, beaches and glaziers. It is relatively easy to travel around with distances between different towns and cities not being too great. Transport networks are well developed with airports throughout the country and well maintained highways.

It is made up of two main islands and numerous smaller ones: the North Island (known as Te Ika-a-Maui in Maori) is the more populous of the two, and is separated by the Cook Strait from the somewhat larger but much less populated South Island (or Te Waipounamu).

New Zealand is consistently rated as a country with one of the highest qualities of life in the world. It offers a safe environment for the whole family offering a great outdoor lifestyle.  New Zealand is an increasing multicultural society that appeals due to its diversity, laid back way of life and temperate climate.

New Zealand People

This former British colony has a population mainly of European descent but with an important indigenous Māori minority of mixed blood, a rapidly growing Asian minority, and smaller minorities of Polynesians, people from the Americas, South Africans and African.

The people of New Zealand are famed for their relaxed and friendly approach. More than one million New Zealanders were born overseas.

New Zealand Climate

New Zealand has mild temperatures, moderate rainfall and many hours of sunshine.
While the far north has subtropical weather during summer, and inland alpine areas of the South Island can get as cold as -10°C in winter, most of the country lies close to the coast with milder temperatures.

The average New Zealand temperature decreases as you travel south.  With their summer over January and February, these are the warmest months, and July is the coldest month of the year. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30ºC (70-90°F) and in winter between 10-15ºC (50-60°F).
Most places in New Zealand receive over 2,000 hours of sunshine a year, with the sunniest areas – Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and Nelson/Marlborough – receiving over 2,350 hours. As New Zealand observes daylight saving, during summer months daylight can last up until 9.30pm.

Cost of Living as a GP in New Zealand

Cost of living in New Zealand will very much depend on which part of the country you relocate.
One independent international survey ranked Auckland 58th in the world in terms of its cost of living, and Wellington 75th, far better than other major cities. Such cities included Hong Kong (3), Singapore (4), New York (16), London (25), Sydney (26), Melbourne (33) and Guangzhou (31) – showing that comparatively, New Zealand’s major metropolitan areas are more affordable. See our recent blog piece on cost of living for a GP in New Zealand

For an up to date costs of different items please see here 

New Zealand GP Registration Process

The registration process for New Zealand is relatively straightforward and usually takes a month to complete the application with the Medical Council of New Zealand.  To complete the full immigration and registration process you should allow 3 months after we have secured you a position. You will be eligible for registration if you have completed your medical degree and foundation year training from the UK or Ireland.

If you hold your GP qualification from another country then you may be eligible for ‘comparable healthcare.’ registration.  You will be required to hold 3 years of comparable healthcare experience. Please see the MCNZ website for a full list of comparable countries.

All new registrants, regardless of seniority, must work under supervision for the first 6-12 months in New Zealand to become familiar with the culture.  During this time you will be registered within a provisional general scope of practice and performance will be assessed by senior colleagues.

They will be required to complete certain requirements to be registered within a general scope. This will cause minimal impact on your day to day job and you will still be able to see patients independently.

NZ Visa for GPs 

To assist you through the complex immigration process we work with a Licensed Immigration Advisor who is registered with the Immigration Advisers Authority New Zealand. Our Immigration Advisor, Nicola, will expertly assist you and manage your visa process for you and your family.

What does a GP earn in New Zealand?

Unlike Australia, there are no restrictions on where you can practice as a GP in New Zealand allowing you the option to choose where to live and work; be it in the city centre, by the beach or somewhere more rural.

As a GP moving to New Zealand you will be offered an employed, salary position ($180 – $220k NZD for a full time position). You may perhaps have the option to buy into the practice or take over the practice at a later date. Practices often offer relocation assistance and other benefits such as paid indemnity insurance, MCNZ fees or paid study leave.

Work / life balance is excellent in New Zealand, most GPs only see 4 patients per hour allowing more time with patients and less bureaucracy and paperwork.

NZ Tax Rate 

2023 – 2024 Tax Rates

10.5%              $0 to $14,000

17.5%              $14,001 to $48,000

30%                 $48,001 to $70,000

33%                 $70,001 to $180,000

39%                 $180,000 and above

For more detailed up to date tax information please see the tax office website
Income tax calculator

New Zealand Schools and Education

There’s a choice of three types of school in New Zealand – state schools (funded by the government), ‘state integrated’ schools and private schools.

State schools are the choice for the vast majority of New Zealand children (85%). Schooling is free at these schools, although parents are asked for a contribution to help cover costs of activities that are outside of the core curriculum. Typically this will be around NZ$250- $500. There will also be other charges for sports, school trips, special tuition, exam fees, and other course related costs.

‘State integrated’ schools are schools with a special character – they may be run by a particular religious faith e.g. Catholic or use specialist education methods like Steiner or Montessori. Just over 10% of students are enrolled at these schools. Education in state integrated schools is also funded by the government but the schools may charge fees for various facilities which are usually around NZ$1,500 a year.

Just under 5% of children go to private schools which charge around NZ$20,000 in fees a year.
School usually starts at 9am and runs to 3pm or 3:30pm. There are four school terms running from late January to mid-December with two-week breaks between them and a six-week summer break at the end of the year.

New Zealand Accommodation

Most GPs choose to rent a property in New Zealand first and buy later when settled. Housing varies greatly across the country.  Prices tend to be higher in the cities with Auckland being the most expensive and slightly lower on the south island.  For more information on property please see Realestate.co.nz and TradeMe

New Zealand Healthcare System

Primary healthcare, including general practice, out-patient services, and prescriptions, is funded by a combination of public subsidy and private contributions. General Practitioners provide primary, community based, comprehensive and continuing patient-centred care to individuals, families and the community. Many general practices run as private businesses and set their own fees which are paid by the patient.

The cost of a visit will be lower if you’re enrolled with the GP, because the government subsidises the fee. Some general practices join a ‘low cost access’ programme run by their primary health organisation (PHO) which is overseen by the local District Health Board. This means they get extra government funding to keep their fees at low levels.  GPs, Practice Nurses, Māori health providers and other primary healthcare providers work together to meet the health requirements of the local people, with PHOs funded according to the demographics and needs of their population.

Secondary healthcare services, including acute hospital treatment, are free to those who meet the eligibility criteria. New Zealand has a reciprocal agreement with the UK to provide free treatment. There is strong uptake of private health insurance (as in Australia), partially triggered by long waits for state hospital treatment.

Speak to Our GP Recruitment Team

Thinking about relocating to New Zealand? Our experienced GP team are here to help. We can advise on everything from visa queries to questions about the cost of living in New Zealand. Speak to us today to get started on your move down under or browse some of our excellent GP jobs New Zealand.

Further Reading
8 Benefits of Moving to New Zealand
Is there an age limit for GPs
The Cost of Living as a Doctor in New Zealand

Useful Links
Medical Council of New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand 

Education

Discover what life is like for a GP working in Australia

Posted on by emma

We chat to Dr Jamie, a GP who recently moved to Queensland, Australia

What made you decide to move to Australia?

I was feeling burnt out working as a GP in the NHS and looking for a change in direction. I had planned to Locum as a GP in Glasgow then travel for a few months but with the pandemic this wasn’t possible. I then decided to look for jobs abroad and Australia was top of the list.

I came across Transition Medical and the rest is history!!

Tell us about a typical day in your GP role?

So my day starts with a 20 minute ferry ride over to a tropical island where my GP practice is based. I live on the mainland in a fairly busy city, so getting to start the day with a relaxing ferry over to a tropical island is pretty awesome! Beats the long commute on the M8!

My surgery starts at 0830 and I finish at 1630. I see a wide variety of presentations but mainly elderly and chronic disease given the demographic of Magnetic Island. There are also plenty of acute emergency presentations and this can be challenging to manage given we are on an island. It keeps things very interesting however. There are also the odd tropical disease presentations like dengue fever and meliondosis, all very new to me but again an interesting learning experience.  I am also able to do more minor surgery and see a high rate of skin cancer presentations.

Best bit about your day?

The commute……heading off to the island in the sunshine each morning is just great. It helps set me up for the day and makes the day that bit less stressful. Although the GP presentations and issues are very similar to back home, the environment in which I work and live here makes the job that bit more enjoyable. Also getting to go out at lunch time for a stroll by the beach is a highlight!

Working as a remote and rural GP here I also get to go to remote community in my boss’ private plane to help with clinics in the outback and remote areas. One of my best adventures so far was flying out to a remote area in the Gulf of Carpentaria to scale a tanker in the middle of the ocean and swab the crew for covid. I luckily avoided swimming with the bull sharks!!

Most challenging part of your day?

If someone is seriously unwell, it can be stressful and difficult to co-ordinate transfer off the island for emergency care. However there is an emergency clinic which is great support.

How do you find the culture and lifestyle compared to the UK?

I find the culture very similar which is great as it makes me less homesick. The lifestyle is much more laid back however and being a very outdoorsy person I love the fact that almost every day is sunny in North Queensland (I say this as its currently torrential rain due to wet season!) The life work balance is also much better than the UK.

How have you settled in and would you have any tips for other GPs relocating?

I feel like I’m still definitely going through an adjustment period and have been a little homesick especially over Christmas. But I am extremely happy with my decision to move and know that after a few months of hard work and getting used to the Australian healthcare system I’ll be settled. The opportunities over here far exceed the UK, not to mention the sunshine and beautiful tropical surroundings. Ive also met lots of amazing friendly people since moving which has helped.

Relocating is a big decision, involves a lot of stress and cost so be sure you want to make the move before diving in. I would definitely recommend using Transition Medical rather than try to do it solo as they took so much stress and anxiety out of the process.

How have you found the transition as a GP in the UK to Australia?

The medicine is the same no matter where you are but the processes and healthcare system are different here. It has been a steep learning curve getting used to how the Aussie healthcare system works but I’m well supported by my supervisor and practice team. The main difference is billing, privately charging patients for healthcare is a challenging addition to my consulting as I’m used to the luxury of everything being free with the NHS.

Finally, how have you found Transition Medical in helping you make the move to Australia?

I honestly cannot thank Emma and Kirsty at Transition enough for all their hard work and support. From the initial conversation to discuss my options and potential jobs, to facilitating zoom meetings with my potential employer and supporting me in making the right decision for me. They were so thorough at every step and handled ALL the paperwork for me taking that burden off my shoulders. I honestly don’t think I could have done it without them, there were so many hoops to jump through but Transition made it seamless. With the pandemic we had a very tough time getting over here, it was emotionally draining, Emma and Kirsty were there at every step to support us through it all and finally get us over here, I would highly recommend Transition medical to anyone looking to relocate to Australia, they are just wonderful.

My partner and I are so happy to finally be living our Australian dream on tropical Maggie and we are so grateful to Transition for making it happen.

Further Reading

GP Income for GPs in Australia

Working with Transition Medical – Free advice and support

 

UK Healthcare System compared to the Australia / NZ

Posted on by emma

For GPs relocating from the UK to Australia or New Zealand, you will have questions on the differences between the two health care systems. We have outlined how the health care system works in Australia and New Zealand.

Australia GP Healthcare System

Medicare is Australia’s universal health care and insurance programme. It guarantees Australian citizens access to a wide range of GP and hospital services at no or low cost.

Australia’s Medicare system is funded by the local taxpayers. Medicare is open to Australia citizens and permanent residents and those from a Reciprocal country. Once you enrol in Medicare you are issued with a Medicare card which allows you to access medical services, hospital treatment and prescription medicines.

The Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) lists the medical services covered by Medicare either in full or partially covered. The Pharmaceutical Benefits System (PBS) reduces the cost of medication to patients. As Medicare doesn’t cover all Medicare services, many patients choose to take out private healthcare insurance.

Private vs Bulk GP Billing

Patients in a GP practice are either bulk or privately billed. Bulk billing is where the total fee is charged to Medicare with no cost to the patient. A bulk billing GP consultation will be billed with an item number which will correspond to the scheduled fee. This is what you as a GP can claim for the consultation. Private billing is where the patient is charged but the partial fee can be claimed from Medicare with a ‘gap fee’ paid by the patient. Private billing consultations are set by the practice or the individual doctor.

This will affect how you are paid working as. GP in Australia.  You will receive a percentage of billings (between 60 – 70%) Your income will be very good however dependant on the number of patients you see and the complexity of those patients.

New Zealand Health System

The Public Health system in New Zealand is funded by taxpayers. Essential health care is free for all NZ residents and those with a visa for 2 years and longer. As a UK GP there is a reciprocal agreement between the two countries to access some healthcare services.

There are 3 key sectors in New Zealand; District Health Boards, Primary Health care and Health organisations. DHBs are government funded and are responsible generally for secondary health, PHOs assist with primary health services including general practice and community health services. There is also Accident and Compensation Corporation (ACC) which is a government run personal injury scheme which helps to pay for medical and treatment fees which are caused by an accident.

General Practice in New Zealand

General practice in New Zealand are privately run and set their own fees for consultations. The fees must remain within a threshold agreed by the DHBs and PHOs and the level of co-payment is determined by the practice. The cost of the visit will be lower if you’re enrolled as the NZ government subsidises the fee for enrolled patients. Some practices join a Very Low Cost Access (VLCA) programme run by the local PHO. This means they can keep their fees low due to extra funding.

Working as a GP in New Zealand

As a GP working in New Zealand you will initially be on an employment contract paid a salaried rate. This will come with additional benefits such as paid leave, sick leave and sometimes relocation assistance and paid medical practising fees and insurance. We find that our GPs settle in well into life in New Zealand, and enjoy that enviable work / life balance in an enjoyable patient setting.

For more information on living and working as a GP in Australia or New Zealand please do get in touch. 

Further Reading

Residence Visas New Zealand

Australian GP Salary Calculator

How to prepare for moving as a GP

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What is life like working as a GP in NZ today? We catch up with a UK GP couple who moved to Wellington

Posted on by emma

We’re really delighted to hear how a GP couple we helped relocate to New Zealand are getting on. Dan and Hannah first got in touch with us in August 2020. Emma spent time getting to know them before securing them a post just outside Wellington which they started in June this year.

They’ve kindly taken the time to outline what life is like for them as GPs in New Zealand which we hope you find helpful in your decision making. If you want to find out more about moving to New Zealand as a GP please do get in touch with Emma here

What made you decide to move to New Zealand?

We had always considered working abroad as we love travelling and had wanted to explore on a more permanent basis. We both chose general practice as a career as we felt it would allow us to travel and work abroad more quickly than some other specialist training programs, as well as the fact that it is a varied and flexible job. We had visited New Zealand and absolutely loved the people, the lifestyle and the landscape.

Tell us about a typical day in your GP role?

COVID taking off in New Zealand has slightly changed the structure of our workday (from when we started) but it is still mostly face to face appointments of minimum 15mins. Patients are encouraged to book double appointments if they have complex problems. For the most part there is allocated time for paperwork and we always have a lunch break – this even includes leaving the building for a brief walk.

We do have a reasonable input to the inner workings of the practice and have regular clinician meetings to discuss cases or whether we feel anything could be done differently.

Best Bit about your day?

Dan – Having a lunch break and finishing on time most days

Hannah – finishing on time is an absolute luxury. Also having recognised time to fill out paperwork and do scripts.

Most challenging part of your day?

Dan – Still coming to terms with certain ways the health system in New Zealand works.

Hannah – there are some differences compared to the UK in that we manage more maternity care and GUM here. It has definitely pushed me into doing some new things which we didn’t have much exposure to back home.

How do you find the culture and lifestyle compared to the UK?

Dan – We loved our lives in the UK but work was heavy in terms of volume and it was sometimes difficult to switch off. Here I find I can spend my time off not worrying about work (as it’s more manageable) which means it’s much more quality time. We moved to an area where there is plenty to do outside, we are next to forest and hills, 25mins drive to the beach and Wellington. Everyone when we moved was willing to help out and people are friendly to each other.

Hannah – New Zealand has a very relaxed lifestyle and attitude to life. Places are generally much quieter with less queues and traffic which is a welcomed change. The Wellington surroundings are beautiful and the area is so accessible to the rest of New Zealand, allowing us to reach forest, beach, mountains and city in a short drive. There is so much to do here which does make down time so much more interesting.

 

How have you and your family settled in and would you have any tips for other GPs relocating?

It helps that we are both doing the same job so the transition has been straightforward for both work and general life. There are a few things that are different in New Zealand – renting is mostly all through private landlords and there is a lot of competition for property. Housing is variable based on this and it can feel like it takes a while to find the right place. We stayed in an Air BnB for 1 month whilst we decided what areas were right for us.

Our shipping still hasn’t arrived and it’s nearly 6 months on from when it was picked up from our house in the UK. If you are bringing furniture/household items definitely arrange this early and think hard about what you would really like to have in those first few months.

How have you found the transition from general practice in the UK to New Zealand?

Dan – So much easier than expected. The medicine is similar to a few more things being managed in primary care than in the UK and others we are used to but now have very little involvement in. This will change depending on where you end up working as well and the local secondary services available.

Hannah – I am surprised by the ease at which we have both managed to transition. Having only been a GP for 1 year prior to coming to NZ, I did have some worries about this, however we have been lucky enough to find a very supportive practice with a diverse group of colleagues with varying skills. On the occasions where I have picked up the phone to the hospital, I have been greeted with friendly clinicians who have always offered helpful advice.

It is more common for referrals to get rejected in New Zealand as the public system does have a very stringent budget with strict criteria. This can impact a little on the way you practice at times.

Finally, how have you found Transition Medical in helping you make the move to NZ?

From our first contact with Emma we wouldn’t have explored any other companies helping with emigration. Even when it was just an idea she took the time to listen and address any concerns. There was never any pressure. If anything I think it was harder because we had so much choice and didn’t feel an affiliation to any particular part of New Zealand. Once we had narrowed this down the job interviews and applications were easily facilitated by Emma and Kirsty and our immigration advisor. There is a lot of information to get through but it was made as easy as possible by the team. We couldn’t recommend them highly enough.

Further Reading- click on the headings below in blue to read the full blog. 

Is there an age limit for GPs?

Top Tips for GP’s relocating to NZ

How are you supported into practice?

What next?

If you are interested in relocating to New Zealand and would like to find out more please get in touch with one of our specialist GP recruitment team.

Top Tips for GPs Relocating to New Zealand

Posted on by emma

Here at Transition Medical we get asked many questions from GPs new to their New Zealand GP job search. As one of the leading UK GP recruitment agencies we have compiled a brief checklist of things you’ll need to have (and think about)!

1. Primary Medical Degree from a recognised university – MBBS, MB ChB, MD, MB BCh, BM etc

3. Language Skills – All overseas trained GPs are required to demonstrate their English competency. This is fairly straightforward for overseas GPs. It can be proven if English is your primary language, you completed your primary medical degree from a recognised English-speaking country (UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa or USA).

Another way of meeting this requirement is to have worked continuously as a registered medical practitioner where English was the first and primary language for a minimum of 2 years and can provide the names of two referees who can attest to your English language ability.

Otherwise you would need to sit an appropriate English language test eg IELTS or OET.

4. Medical Registration – Full, current and unconditional registration from your current authority (i.e. GMC) and unconditional registration from any previous registering authority. You will need a Certificate of Good Standing from each authority you have been registered over the last 5 years.

5. You must either hold a Primary Medical degree and have completed your internship from a Competent Authority such as the UK or Ireland or hold recent experience from a Comparable health system.

6. A Job Offer – To work as a GP in New Zealand and be able to secure medical registration and a suitable employment visa you must secure a job offer. The first step of this process is to speak to one of our medical recruitment specialists to find you a great GP job in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or a fantastic coastal town or somewhere more rural. Whether you want city, beach or country life, we can find you what you’re looking for!

7. Timescales – The medical recruitment and visa process for New Zealand is relatively straightforward and will take approximately 3 months. We would recommend getting in touch around 6 months prior to you wishing to relocate.

8. Age doesn’t matter – GP practices are looking for good all-round GPs, so whether you are newly qualified, mid-way through your career or reaching retirement there will be a GP vacancy available for you.

9. COVID – We have to mention it. Although the New Zealand border is currently closed to most, GPs are still able to apply for an exemption to cross the border. We have had many doctors successfully relocate during this time. Managed isolation (MIQ) is required however we will help you navigate this process.

10. Finally – When considering working as a GP in New Zealand, it may seem a daunting process and you’ll be weighing up the pros and cons of relocating. Many GPs have already made the move and find the working conditions and lifestyle to be far superior than the UK. Discover what our GPs have to say and why we’re one of the Best Doctor Recruitment Agencies

If you are considering a move or just want to chat through options we have a dedicated team who will guide you through every step of the whole process. Visit our latest vacancies or contact us directly here.

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