So where’s utopia? My Australia-Singapore-Australia journey

Getting a job in Singapore (and not getting a job in Australia)

Moving to Singapore

The low-down of settling in -Accommodation -Orientation -Friends -Renumeration -Rotations

General Surgery at SGH

General Medicine at SGH

Obstetrics and Gynaecology at NUH

Pros of working in SG Lots of experience and independence Colleagues are generally nice Comparable pay that rises exponentially beyond internship year Good IT system Good standard of teaching Excellent bosses (and there are the crazy ones too) Seniors usually buy you meals If you like metropolitan, high-paced life… Responsive MOH who is desperate to retain you (I think) More objective selection process for training Singapore has a culture of excellence Good casemix (debatable)- lots of international patients

Cons of working in SG Insane night calls Less days off, longer hours Can feel unsupported (although this is changing) More mundane jobs (more social work, have to do some jobs that nurses do in Australia) Depending on your department, feedback can sometimes be taken lightly Language barriers (can be a pro)

Tips for applying for residency in Singapore Get in touch with the directors! Overtly express your interest Take initiative- talks/research/presenting patients Is it worth applying for Transition Year?

Getting back to Melbourne

THE PROCESS 1.Graduate with an Australian degree 2.Apply for an internship position again, or the hospitals throughout the year for opportunities. You need a hospital who will sponsor your provisional registration Apply for medical registration with AHPRA 3.Get your visa subclass (Temporary skilled) Complete one year of provisional registration

Apply for an intern vs resident year? Do you want to repeat your internship year again? The timing of when you start your year can complicate the completion of provisional registration

Pros of working in Australia More days off, better hours Thus- more time for education/leisure More support, less mundane jobs Colleagues are expected to behave decently Top notch consultants, you get a feeling that you are working with some of the world’s best Lots of further opportunities for training, research as Melbourne is a research/educational hub Most people speak English, or interpreters are readily at hand Australia :D

Cons of working in Australia Competitiveness (This is a bit dicey) ?not as much exposure IT system is not as advanced (and it’s worse in some hospitals)

What are the things I wish I knew? About who I am as a person That my success is not to be measured in relative terms to others About the nature of other people The road does not end here I would say I had a positive experience both in Singapore and Australia.

Good luck!