Can UK GPs Work in Australia Without Exams?

For many UK-based GPs, the idea of relocating to Australia is appealing, better work-life balance, higher earning potential, and a more flexible healthcare system. But one of the most common questions we hear is: Do you need to sit exams to work as a GP in Australia?

The short answer is: in many cases, no, but it depends on your qualifications and experience.

Understanding the Australian Registration Process

To work as a GP in Australia, all doctors must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. This is the body responsible for regulating medical professionals across the country.

UK GPs are typically well-regarded in Australia due to similarities in training and clinical standards. As a result, many are eligible for registration pathways that do not require additional written exams.

When Exams Are Not Required

If you’re a UK-trained GP with MRCGP or MICGP, have completed CCT, and hold full registration with the General Medical Council or Irish Medical Council, you’re typically eligible for the Competent Authority or Specialist Pathway—meaning you won’t usually need to sit Australian Medical Council exams.

When Exams May Be Required

There are some situations where additional assessments could be needed:

• If you do not hold MRCGP/MICGP
• If your experience is limited or not considered equivalent
• If there are gaps in your clinical history

In these cases, you may be asked to complete assessments set by the RACGP or Australian Medical Council, although this is less common for fully qualified UK GPs.

What About Supervision?

Even if exams aren’t required, many UK GPs will initially work under a period of supervision. This is a standard part of the process and helps ensure a smooth transition into the Australian healthcare system.

Conclusion

Most UK GPs can move to Australia without sitting additional exams, provided they meet the right criteria. The key factor is having recognised qualifications and sufficient experience.

That said, every case is slightly different. Registration pathways can vary depending on your background, and navigating the process alone can be time-consuming.

At Transition Medical, we specialise in helping UK GPs relocate to Australia with clarity and confidence. From assessing your eligibility to guiding you through registration and securing the right role, we support you at every stage.

If you’re considering making the move, get in touch with our team for tailored advice based on your individual situation.

Further Reading

Australia’s GP Shortage

Corporate Vs Independent GP Clinics in Australia

A growing coastal city offering strong GP demand, family living and easy access to Melbourne.

For many UK and European GPs considering Australia, the usual shortlist includes Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth.

But increasingly, smart movers are looking just outside the major capitals, to places that offer lifestyle, affordability, career opportunity, and access to world-class cities without the daily stress.

That’s exactly where Geelong comes in.

Located just over an hour from Melbourne, Geelong is Victoria’s second-largest city and one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions. It offers a rare combination of coastal lifestyle, family-friendly living, excellent schooling, and strong demand for doctors.

For UK and European GPs relocating to Australia, Geelong is becoming one of the most attractive options on the map.

A Real City Without the Pressure of a Major Capital

One of Geelong’s biggest attractions is that it feels like a proper city in its own right. It has a thriving CBD, excellent cafés and restaurants, major retail centres, sporting facilities, universities and a growing healthcare network.

Yet unlike larger capitals, daily life is significantly easier. Traffic is lighter, commuting times are shorter, parking is simpler, and the overall atmosphere is more relaxed. For many doctors arriving from the UK, where long commutes and high living costs are common frustrations, this can feel like an immediate lifestyle upgrade.

You still have access to everything you need, but without the stress that often comes with living in a major metropolitan centre.

Melbourne Is Close Whenever You Need It

Another major advantage of Geelong is proximity to Melbourne. The city is close enough that residents can easily travel in for work meetings, major sporting events, concerts, shopping or international travel, then return home the same day.

This creates an ideal balance. You can enjoy the energy and opportunities of one of the world’s great cities, while building your day-to-day life somewhere calmer, more spacious and more affordable.

For many relocating GPs, it offers the best of both worlds.

The Coastal Lifestyle People Move to Australia For

Lifestyle is often one of the biggest motivations for doctors moving abroad, and Geelong delivers in abundance.

Situated on Corio Bay and acting as the gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula and Great Ocean Road, Geelong offers easy access to beaches, ocean walks, wineries and some of Victoria’s most scenic landscapes.

Weekends can mean breakfast by the waterfront, trips to the beach with the family, surfing, cycling, hiking or exploring nearby coastal towns. It is the kind of outdoor lifestyle many UK and European doctors picture when they first think about moving to Australia.

In Geelong, it becomes part of normal life.

An Excellent Choice for Families

Geelong is also particularly attractive for GPs relocating with children.

The region is known for its strong mix of public and private schools, family-friendly suburbs, sporting culture and community atmosphere. Housing tends to offer more space than equivalent homes in Melbourne, often with larger gardens and access to parks, playgrounds and outdoor facilities.

For families moving from crowded urban areas in the UK or Europe, Geelong can provide the breathing room they have been looking for.

It is a place where children can enjoy an active outdoor upbringing while parents benefit from a more balanced pace of life.

Strong Career Opportunities for GPs

Alongside lifestyle benefits, Geelong also offers excellent professional opportunities.

The city’s rapid population growth continues to drive demand for healthcare services, particularly within general practice. Established clinics across Geelong and surrounding suburbs are often seeking doctors to meet patient demand, creating attractive openings for incoming GPs.

Depending on the clinic, opportunities may include mixed billing or private billing models, flexible schedules, women’s health, chronic disease management, mental health, skin medicine and family medicine.

For many overseas-trained doctors, Geelong can offer busy patient books, strong earning potential and long-term career stability.

Well Connected for Travel Home

For UK and European doctors, staying connected to family matters.

Geelong benefits from access to both Avalon Airport and Melbourne Airport, making domestic and international travel straightforward. Whether visiting family back home or welcoming visitors to Australia, transport links are convenient and practical.

That reassurance can make a major difference when planning a move abroad.

Why More GPs Are Looking at Geelong

Geelong offers something many doctors struggle to find in one destination. It combines career opportunity with lifestyle, affordability with convenience, and family living with access to a world-class city.

You can enjoy coastal Australia, build a rewarding GP career, give your family more space, and still have Melbourne on your doorstep.

For many UK and European GPs, that combination is hard to ignore.

Thinking About Australia?

If you are considering relocating, Geelong deserves serious attention.

At Transition Medical, we help UK and European GPs secure high-quality roles across Geelong, Victoria and wider Australia, with support on registration, visas, contracts and relocation.

Get in touch today to explore current Geelong opportunities.

GP Jobs Available now!

GP Job Geelong- 70% Billings

Canberra, Australia’s capital city is quickly becoming one of the most attractive destinations for General Practitioners.

Located in the Australian Capital Territory and home to just over 450,000 people, Canberra offers a unique combination of career growth, family-friendly living, and cultural richness that is hard to match anywhere else in Australia.

A Young, Growing Population Creating High Demand for GPs

Canberra has one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations in Australia, with many professionals and young families choosing the city for its lifestyle and career opportunities.

This growing population means consistent demand for high-quality primary care, making Canberra an excellent place for GPs who want to:

• Build a loyal patient base quickly
• Work in modern, well-supported clinics
• Develop long-term patient relationships
• Explore opportunities for partnership or practice ownership
• For doctors who enjoy being part of a community and making a real impact in patients’ lives, Canberra provides the perfect environment.

Excellent Schools and Family-Friendly Living

For doctors relocating with families, Canberra is widely considered one of the best cities in Australia for education and raising children.

The city offers a range of highly regarded public and private schools, as well as access to top universities including Australian National University and University of Canberra.

Families benefit from safe neighbourhoods, excellent public schooling options, extensive parks and green spaces, and short commute times, often under 25 minutes, leading many doctors relocating from the UK to find that life in Canberra offers a higher quality of life for children than many larger cities

As Australia’s capital city, Canberra is home to some of the country’s most important cultural institutions, with an abundance of museums and national institutions.  These venues regularly host exhibitions, cultural events, and festivals, creating a vibrant arts scene that many new arrivals are pleasantly surprised by.

Outdoor Lifestyle Without the Big-City Stress

Canberra is surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes, offering endless opportunities for outdoor activities and an active lifestyle. Doctors living in the city can enjoy hiking in nearby national parks, cycling around Lake Burley Griffin, taking weekend trips to the snowfields, or visiting the beaches along the South Coast of New South Wales.

This unique setting allows residents to enjoy the space and tranquillity of regional living while still benefiting from the infrastructure, amenities, and career opportunities of a capital city.

Strong GP Earnings and Partnership Opportunities

In Canberra, many practices offer:

• High percentage billings
• Flexible working hours
• Excellent nursing and administrative support
• Clear pathways to partnership or practice ownership
• Because demand is strong, GPs often have the opportunity to shape their work schedule and develop areas of special interest.

Easy Access to Sydney and the Rest of Australia

Although Canberra offers a relaxed lifestyle, it is still well connected.

The city is just three hours by road from Sydney, making weekend visits easy. Canberra also has a growing international airport with connections across Australia. This makes it simple to enjoy the benefits of capital city living while still accessing Australia’s larger metropolitan centres.

Conclusion

For GPs relocating from the UK or Europe, Canberra represents something special, a city where professional opportunity and lifestyle truly meet. If you’re considering a move to Australia, Canberra may just be the perfect place to build both your medical career and your life.

Thinking about GP jobs in Australia? Learn the differences between GP Models

• Corporate medical centres
• GP super clinics
• GP-owned independent practices

Corporate GP Clinics

• Visa sponsorship and migration support
• Relocation allowances
• Temporary accommodation
• Initial income guarantees
• Established patient lists

Things to Consider

• Less control over billing structures
• Standard consultation times
• Limited influence over clinic operations

GP Super Clinics

• Multiple GPs
• Nursing teams
• Allied health professionals
• Diagnostic services
• Training opportunities for GP registrars and medical students

GP-Owned Independent Clinics

Greater Flexibility for Doctors

• Flexible working hours
• Greater freedom when booking annual leave
• Longer consultation times if preferred
• Input into billing policies and practice decisions

Potential Limitations

Which Clinic Model Is Best for International GPs?

Conclusion

Further Reading

Real Life Story: Helping UK GP relocate to Australia

GP Salary Australia: Find out what you can earn

A Practical Guide to What You Can and Can’t Claim

Tax time can feel confusing, particularly if you’re new to working in Australia or adjusting to a different healthcare system. The rules around what you can and can’t claim aren’t always straightforward, and it’s easy to second guess yourself when lodging a return.

The good news is that many doctors are entitled to claim legitimate work-related expenses, as long as they meet the Australian Tax Office’s criteria and are properly recorded.

Below is a practical overview to help you understand what is generally claimable, what isn’t, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

The Basic Rule: What Makes an Expense Claimable?

In general, a work-related expense must meet all three of the following conditions:

• It is directly related to your work

• It has not been reimbursed by your employer

• You have records (such as receipts or bank statements)

If an expense doesn’t meet all three, it usually can’t be claimed.

Common Expenses Doctors Can Often Claim

Working From Home

If you work from home, for example, completing clinical notes, administrative tasks, or telehealth, you may be able to claim a portion of your home running costs. The ATO allows two main methods for this. One is the fixed rate method, currently set at 70 cents per hour, which requires records of the hours you’ve worked from home. The other is the actual cost method, where you claim the work-related portion of expenses you’ve incurred.

Depending on the method used, claimable expenses may include things like the depreciation of home office furniture or electronic devices, electricity and gas used for lighting, heating or cooling, work-related phone and internet costs, stationery and computer consumables, and cleaning costs for a dedicated home office.

Education and Professional Development

Education and training costs are generally claimable if they relate directly to your current role and help you maintain or improve the skills you already use at work. This can include courses, seminars, conferences, and workshops that are relevant to your day-to-day practice.

However, you can’t usually claim study that helps you move into a new role, change careers, or gain a promotion. The key test is whether the education supports your current duties, rather than helping you transition into something new.

Motor Vehicle and Work-Related Travel

Travel that forms part of your work, such as visiting other clinics, hospitals, or attending meetings away from your usual workplace, may be deductible. If you use your own vehicle, you can either claim a set rate per kilometre (currently 88 cents per kilometre, up to 5,000km per year) or use the logbook method to claim actual running costs.

In addition, parking fees, tolls, and public transport used for work-related travel may also be deductible.

If your role requires you to stay away from home overnight, you may be able to claim accommodation, meals, and incidental expenses, provided your employer hasn’t already reimbursed you. In some cases, the ATO’s reasonable travel allowance limits apply, which can reduce the need for detailed receipts.

Work Related Clothing

Certain types of clothing can be claimed if they are directly related to your role. This typically includes uniforms with a business logo, as well as protective items such as safety equipment, sunglasses, or sunscreen. Laundry costs associated with maintaining these items may also be deductible.

Professional Fees and Memberships

Doctors can usually claim professional expenses that are directly tied to their current role. This may include medical registration and licence renewals, professional memberships or subscriptions, and union fees where applicable. As with all deductions, these costs must not have been reimbursed by your employer.

What You Can’t Claim

Some expenses often cause confusion but aren’t deductible under ATO rules.

Commuting

Travel between your home and your usual place of work is considered a private expense, even if the commute is long, you work part-time, or you only attend the workplace occasionally. The main exception is if you’re required to carry bulky equipment that can’t be stored securely at work.

Everyday Clothing

Everyday clothing isn’t claimable, even if you only wear it at work. This includes business suits, plain scrubs, and standard clothing worn by healthcare or retail staff. Unless the clothing is a uniform or protective item, it’s considered a private expense.

Personal Expenses

Personal costs such as hair and grooming, childcare, and private medical expenses aren’t deductible, even if they feel indirectly related to your ability to work.

Record Keeping: Make Life Easier Later

Keeping good records throughout the year can make tax time far less stressful. This includes holding onto receipts or invoices, maintaining a logbook for work-related vehicle use, and keeping diaries, rosters, or timesheets to support work-from-home claims. Digital tools such as the ATO’s MyDeductions app or receipt-tracking apps can help keep everything organised.

For official and up-to-date guidance, it’s always best to check the Australian Taxation Office website.

Common Tax-Time Mistakes to Avoid

One common mistake is not claiming what you’re entitled to. If an expense is genuinely work-related and you have the evidence, it’s reasonable to include it. A registered tax agent can help if you’re unsure.

Another issue is over-claiming or exaggerating deductions. The ATO compares claims across similar professions, and unusual claims may be flagged. Incorrect claims can result in repayments, interest, or penalties.

Finally, don’t rely entirely on pre-filled ATO data. Information isn’t always complete, particularly if you lodge early. Always review income and details carefully before submitting your return.

Further Reading

Australian GP Salary Calculator

Where City Access Meets Coastal Living: The NSW Central Coast

How Much Do GPs Earn in Australia?

If you’re considering a move to Australia, understanding GP earnings is often one of the first questions you’ll ask. Below, we outline how GP income works in Australia and what you can realistically expect.

GP Income in Australia – The Big Picture

GPs in Australia generally earn a high income and enjoy a very comfortable lifestyle. In many cases, GPs relocating from overseas earn as much or more than they did previously, while working fewer hours and with greater flexibility.

One GP we supported described their experience like this:

“I’ve found the working conditions, flexibility, earning potential and, above all, the lifestyle for my family and me to be far superior to my experience back home.”

How Are GPs Paid in Australia?

Unlike salaried roles, most GPs in Australia work as independent contractors and are paid a percentage of the billings they generate, rather than a fixed salary.

Your income will depend on:

• How many patients you see

• The complexity and type of consultations

• Your working hours and weeks of leave

• The percentage of billings offered by the practice

General practices operate as private businesses, which may be owned by an individual GP, GP partners, or larger healthcare groups.

Factors That Influence Your GP Income

Your annual earnings are affected by several key factors:

• Percentage of billings (typically 60–70%)

• Hours worked per week

• Patients seen per hour

• Annual leave taken

• Type of consultations and Medicare item numbers used

GPs who offer additional services such as skin procedures, minor surgery, chronic disease management, or health assessments can significantly increase their billings.

Bulk Billing vs Mixed Billing Practices

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 $42.85AUD 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 $360K AUD per year. The potential income is really high with some of our GPs easily earning between $400 – $500K 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.

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.

How Much Can You Earn?

As a guide:

• A full-time GP seeing 4–6 patients per hour can expect to earn $360,000+ AUD per year

• Many experienced GPs earn $400,000–$500,000 AUD or more, depending on workload and services offered

It usually takes 3–6 months to build a full patient base. To support this, most practices offer a minimum income guarantee for the first 2–3 months.

GPs we place consistently report higher earnings and greater control over their income compared to previous roles overseas.

GP Tax Rates in Australia

Most doctors working in Australia are classed as residents for tax purposes.

Income tax rates (2025–2026):

Further Reading

GP Tax System in Australia

Is there an Age Limit for GPs?

Useful websites
Medicare
Medicare Benefits Schedule
Australian Tax Office

Read More About Working as a GP in Australia

Australia is an extremely popular destination for GPs looking to relocate, and it’s easy to see why. With a high quality of life, excellent healthcare and education systems, a stable economy, and a strong demand for doctors, Australia offers both professional opportunity and lifestyle appeal.

Add to this a warm climate, clean and safe cities, and an outdoor-focused way of life, and Australia continues to attract GPs from around the world.

About Australia

Australia is both a country and a continent, and one of the world’s oldest land masses. It is the largest inhabited islandand the sixth-largest country in the world by total area.

Distances are vast and often surprise newcomers. Australia stretches approximately:

• 4,000 km east to west

• 3,700 km north to south

A flight from Sydney to Perth alone takes around five hours. In total land area, Australia is similar in size to the United States (excluding Alaska), more than double the size of India, and around 32 times larger than the UK.

Australian People & Culture

Australia is a country of contrasts. While much of the interior is remote and sparsely populated (often referred to as the Outback), the majority of Australians live in coastal cities and regional centres.

Indigenous Australians have lived on the continent for over 50,000 years, with more than 500 distinct nations, languages and cultures prior to European settlement. British colonisation began in 1788, and today Australia has a highly multicultural population, with around one in four residents born overseas.

This diversity is reflected in Australian cities, workplaces, and communities, making it an easy place for overseas GPs to settle.

Climate in Australia

Due to its size, Australia has multiple climate zones:

• Northern regions: tropical climate with hot, humid summers and warm, dry winters

• Southern regions: temperate climate with hot summers and cooler, sometimes wet winters

Australia is one of the driest continents on earth, with an average annual rainfall of less than 600 mm.

As Australia is in the southern hemisphere, seasons are opposite to Europe and the UK:

• Summer: December – February

• Autumn: March – May

• Winter: June – August

• Spring: September – November

GP Salary and Working Hours in Australia

GPs in Australia can work full-time or part-time, with many choosing a 4-day working week. GPs can work a flexible number of sessions per week but most work around 4-5 days, averaging around 30-40 hours per week.

Rather than a fixed salary, GPs are typically paid a percentage of billings, usually 60–70%. Your income depends on:

• Number of patients seen

• Complexity of consultations

• Hours worked

• Additional services provided

Once established, a full-time GP can reasonably expect to earn $350,000–$400,000+ AUD per year, with higher earnings possible depending on workload and services offered.

Tax Rates in Australia

For the 2025–2026 tax year, Australian resident tax rates are:

There is also a Medicare Levy of 2% of taxable income. For more information including a tax calculator see the Australian Taxation Office

Read our Tax blog for more detailed information on GP Tax

DPA Areas for GPs Moving to Australia

All overseas-trained GPs are required to work in a Distribution Priority Area (DPA) in order to access Medicare billing.

DPA locations are areas identified as having below-average access to GPs, based on population and Medicare data. Overseas-trained GPs are required to work in DPA locations for up to 10 years from their first registration date.

In practice, this usually means:

• Suburbs of major cities

• Regional towns and smaller cities

• Coastal and lifestyle locations

It does not mean you must work in a remote or isolated area.

GP Registration and Paperwork

You should allow approximately 6-9 months to complete registration and immigration. Ideally, we recommend contacting us 12 months before your intended start date.

GP specialist registration in Australia is typically via the Expedited Specialist Pathway through AHPRA.

We guide you through:

• Registration

• College requirements

• Practice matching

• Relocation support

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.

The Australian Healthcare System

Australia operates a mixed public–private healthcare system. The public system is funded through Medicare, which provides:

• Free public hospital treatment

• Subsidised GP and specialist consultations

• Reduced-cost medicines via the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

Healthcare policy is set federally, with services delivered by state and territory governments. Closing the health gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remains a national priority.

Medicare Eligibility

Citizens of countries with reciprocal healthcare agreements — including the UK, Ireland and New Zealand — are eligible for a Medicare card while on a temporary visa.

To practise, GPs must obtain a Medicare Provider and Prescriber Number after arrival. This process can take up to 12 weeks, and patient consultations cannot begin until approval is granted.

Cost of Living in Australia

Living costs vary by location and lifestyle. Some expenses may be higher than at home, while others are lower. On a GP income, most doctors enjoy a very comfortable standard of living. Find out here what your costs of living is like as a GP in Australia.

 For an indication of up to date cost please see the cost of living calculations here

Schools and Education

Education is compulsory from ages 6 to 16 and follows a 13-year structure:

• 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 (Years 11–12) – Runs for two years, Years 11 and 12.

Australia offers a wide choice of public, private, and independent schools.

Please see – Australia School Directory and Private School Directory

Housing in Australia

Housing options range from city apartments to large suburban homes with outdoor space. We recommend starting with temporary accommodation (such as Airbnb) while you view properties in person.

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
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
Medicare
Immigration Australia

Helping a UK GP Move to Australia Through the ESP Pathway

Every GP relocation journey has its own story, but some stand out because of the sheer determination, chaos, progress, and humour along the way. One of my recent placements — a UK-trained GP who made the move to Australia with her pets in tow — is one I’ll never forget.

I knew this wasn’t going to be a simple AHPRA application between the newly launched AHPRA Expedited Specialist Pathway (ESP), new primary verification portals and a very important set of furry family members to relocate, this was always going to be a journey.

But that’s exactly where we come in, to make sure no one has to navigate it alone.

AHPRA ESP: The Pathway

When my GP first started her application, AHPRA had only recently rolled out the ESP pathway. On paper, it was designed to streamline the registration process and in many ways, it does. But those early months? We had to sit tight and trust the process.

But we guided her through each step, checking requirements, contacting departments, escalating delays, and keeping the process moving while she balanced work, life, and preparing for an international move.
And in her words:

“There were so many technical bits and pieces throughout the process… I couldn’t have done it on my own. Thank you to Emma and Kirsty who are a WhatsApp message or phone call away, pushing through the process as smoothly as possible.”

Keeping Communication

One of the things I value most in this job is the relationship we build with the doctors we support. Relocating across the world is never just a paperwork exercise,  it’s emotional, stressful, exciting, and overwhelming all at once.

There were moments during her registration where we’d exchange  messages late at night, trying to solve the latest “platform malfunction” before it could cause delays. Somehow we always ended up laughing, even through the panic.

As she put it:

“Emma and Kirsty are a Godsend! I would have pulled all my hair out with how confusing and frustrating finding and arranging a job in Australia is… and thanks to them I have not developed any bald spots.”

We’ll take that as a win.

And Then There Were the Pets

Many doctors relocate with partners and children — but moving with pets adds an entirely new layer.

Quarantine timelines, vaccination schedules, transport logistics, crate specifications, customs requirements — it’s a lot. And because pets are family, the emotional stakes feel much higher.
Landing the Job and Making the Move

Once AHPRA registration was approved, everything became real very quickly. Flights booked. Accommodation organised. Pets cleared. Bags packed.

There’s always a surreal moment when a doctor messages to say they’ve landed — months of planning, stress, and paperwork suddenly turning into an actual life on the other side of the world. And for her, that life began in a supportive practice, sunny weather, and the kind of lifestyle that makes the entire journey worthwhile.

She summed it up perfectly:

“Oddly, I will miss the panicked (trying not to melt down on my part) emergency messages and calls to the team whenever another hiccup comes up. I dare say they won’t 🤣.”

Why We Do What We Do

Helping UK GPs transition to Australia or New Zealand through pathways like the ESP isn’t just about forms, certifications, and immigration rules. It’s about guiding real people — with families, careers, pets, hopes, and fears through one of the biggest decisions of their lives.

If you’re a UK GP thinking about making the move, or a clinic looking to bring in overseas-trained doctors, the process doesn’t have to be overwhelming,  not when you have the right support.

And if this GP’s story proves anything, it’s that even with website crashes, shifting processes, unexpected hurdles and pets with very expensive travel plans… the move is absolutely possible.

And worth it.