The Ultimate Guide to Working in Australia as a UK Junior Doctor in 2023 🇦🇺
If you're a UK doctor considering moving to Australia, you might be daunted by the many decisions and hurdles that you'll face along the way.
Messly's mission is to help doctors like you enjoy a happy and rewarding medical career. We already support doctors with planning their dream F3 years, and finding locum work on their terms. Increasingly, we've been asked for advice and support on applying for jobs in Australia.
There's a common story: information about finding jobs, understanding grades, prepping CVs and interviews, getting registered and sorting visas is hard to find online, often confusing or outdated. So many doctors don't pursue their Australian dream...
Messly are working with a team of 15 ✨ amazing ✨ UK junior doctors who've successfully made the move to Australia, and have the scars to prove it! Together, we're creating a comprehensive set of guides to finding work and working as a doctor in Australia, to help make your move Down Under as easy as possible.
Let's get into it...
Start Here
❓ To Aus or Not to Aus? That is the Question
If you are still weighing up whether a move to Australia is right for you, this article breaks down the pros and cons, looking at both the professional and personal areas you should consider. We hope this will help you make an informed decision for yourself.
🌴 Common Questions on Moving to Australia
Read this alongside our 'To Aus or Not to Aus?' article. We cover common areas of confusion about how it feels to move out to Australia, settling in, making friends, and bust some myths along the way too.
Research
🤝 Am I Eligible to Work in Australia?
One of the first thing to check: are you actually eligible for registration with AHPRA in Australia? For most UK doctors this is straight-forward, but there are pitfalls for some. Here we clearly explain the criteria and give some common scenarios so you can understand where you sit.
🤷 Understanding Junior Doctor Grades in Australia
This article will help you understand the confusing translation of UK grades into Australian grades so you can have a better understanding of which jobs to apply for.
📆 Key Dates for Moving to Australia as a UK Junior Doctor
We explain the key milestones in the Australian medical training year, helping you understand when you can expect to start working in Australia and when you should start looking for jobs.
🩺 Live Jobs Down Under
On this page we share details of the best, currently available jobs in Australia and New Zealand which are suitable for you as a UK-based doctor.
💡 Understanding the States of Australia as a UK Junior Doctor
To help you decide which Australian state you might want to live in, we’ve created this breakdown of all the states and territories of Australia. For each, we will give you an idea of what to expect in terms of lifestyle, climate and the main hospitals to help kick start your research.
🇦🇺 Helping Doctors Move Down Under
On this page we will share details of the best jobs available which are suitable for UK-based doctors. Everything will be reviewed and screened by the Messly team, and will include jobs from the best agencies and directly with hospitals and clinics.
Pay
💰 Salary, Pay, and Pensions and in Australia as a Junior Doctor
Not only does working in Australia give you a great lifestyle... you also get paid significantly more than in the NHS. This article explains how much you will earn at different grades, how your pay is calculated and how pensions and tax work.
Applying for Jobs
📝 Four Paths to Finding Jobs in Australia
Emailing hospitals directly? Using agencies? Annual recruitment processes?! In this detailed guide, we explain the paths to finding a job in Australia, how they each work and their pros and cons so you can kick-start your search for your dream job Down Under.
🤝 Provisional and General Registration with AHPRA in Australia
When applying for jobs in Australia, you will come across the terms Provisional and General Registration. In this article, we explain what each of these are, the main practical differences, and how to turn your provisional registration into a general registration.
✍️ How Do I Get Documents Certified to Move to Australia as a UK Junior Doctor?
As a UK doctor looking to move to Australia, you will need to get a number of documents ‘certified’ or ‘notarised’ as you go through the processes of arranging your registration with AHPRA and sorting your visa. Find out how to do that here.
🏥 How to Apply Directly to Australian Hospitals
This is the most popular path to getting a job in Australia... here we break down step by step how to introduce yourself to hospitals, what to expect through the process and how to prepare for interviews.
💻 How to use State Applications to get a Job in Australia as UK Junior Doctor
Applying through state application rounds is a common way of getting a job in Australia, especially for February starters. Here we explain how they work, who they are suitable for and typical timelines so you’re clued up on how to make them work for you.
🏙 Victoria - Australian State Application Guide for UK Junior Doctors
In this deep-dive guide, we explore the Victoria state application process, helping you through each step in the process with tips and tricks from a doctor who used it to get their job in Melbourne.
📃 How to Write a Great CV for Moving to Australia
If you're planning to submit applications for jobs in Australia, you'll need your CV to stand out from the crowd. This detailed CV-writing guide will help you make an excellent first impression and get you through to the interview stage.
📜 Using a Cover Letter to Get a Job in Australia as a Junior Doctor
A well-written and carefully personalised cover letter is a super power that many doctors overlook. We explain here how to craft the perfect cover letter, with a full worked example for you to crib from.
🤝 How to Nail Your Interview in Australia as a UK Junior Doctor
You’ve landed an interview, but what now? In this article, we will help you kick-start your interview preparation, so you can attend your interviews feeling confident and in control.
🧑 How to Get References for Your Move to Australia
Learn everything about how to choose the best referees and how to manage to help you land that dream job in Australia!
🎉 What Happens After My Interview?
This article goes over everything from what documents you should prepare after an interview to what details you should look out for in your new offer.
Starting Work
🚑 Guide to Working in Emergency Medicine in Australia as a UK Junior Doctor
Have questions about working in Emergency Medicine in Australia? This article will answer them all!
Australia Lifestyle Guides
🌴 Life of an F3 Doctor Living in Bendigo, Australia
Learn all about Bendigo, Australia — the best nightlife, cafes, bars, restaurants, weather, and cost of living!
🍷 Life of an F3 Doctor Living in Griffith, Australia
Discover why you should locum in Griffith in this in-depth guide to the area!
Doctor Interviews
💬 Working as an ED Junior Doctor in Brisbane, Australia
An interview with an ED doctor who has been working in Brisbane for three years. He shares the inside scoop of what it's like working day-to-day in the ED and how this compares to A&E in the NHS.
💬 My Life as an ICU Trainee in Australia
An interview with an ICU doctor who moved from the UK to Australia, providing insights into the interview process, tips for settling into life overseas, and how the training systems and the culture differ down under.
💬 My Life as an ED Consultant in Australia
An interview with a doctor who has moved to Australia, sharing his motivations for leaving the UK, advice for finding a job abroad, how the healthcare system differs from the NHS, and more.
💬 My Story of Transitioning to Locum Work in Australia as a UK Junior Doctor
An interview with a doctor who has moved to Australia from the UK and who shares his reasons for moving, the benefits of locuming, how he finds works, and his top 3 tips for making the best out of your locuming experience down under!
Facebook Groups
🙏 British Doctors in Australia
🙏 F3 in Australia and New Zealand
Find locum work on your terms
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