just a thought...

Today I met some medical students who are in their final year and they mostly want to stay on and work here and “only return to Malaysia once become a specialist”.  We often here of this statement but I asked them how sure are you that you will be given a place to do the specialist training that you want in Australia as a non-resident.  It came to my understanding that the spot is very competitive and limited, and that is to the Australian or PR of Australia.

I got this from Sydney U website:

Australian universities do not conduct courses which provide training for medical practitioners who wish to become specialists. These are controlled by professional and medical colleges.

To become a specialist, a medical practitioner must complete a training program arranged by one of the recognized professional colleges (for example, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons or Royal Australasian College of Physicians). A major part of this training takes place in teaching hospitals but is NOT the responsibility of any of the Australian universities, although university staffs have significant roles in both colleges and in hospitals.

Medical practitioners who want to become specialists are appointed to hospital training positions by individual hospitals with the approval of the State Health Departments, and sometimes in conjunction with the Colleges who select trainees for some specific training programs (for example, Orthopedic Surgery).

Training positions are competitive and often not easily available, particularly to non-residents.

Under special circumstances, arrangements can be made for selected overseas students to undertake specific training programs in Australia, for example in a specialty such as cardiology. This may be organized by bodies such as the International Development Program (IDP), Australian Aid (AusAID), through the Australian Postgraduate Federation in Medicine (APFM) or by discussion with senior Australian specialists in charge of specialist units. Temporary registration for the purpose of training is granted by the State Medical Board concerned, if it accepts the qualifications of the applicant and the host hospital is prepared to undertake responsibility for the trainee. 

BUT the adik-adik must understand, many doctors (International Medical Graduate) would also want a spot under this clause too – many from India and Pakistan at my hospital.

At the University of Sydney some graduate vocational Masters by coursework programs are conducted (for example, in Public Health and Sexual Health). However, graduates of these courses do not automatically become eligible to work as medical practitioners. Universities also provide research training, e.g. PhD courses, but this training is not a qualification to practice medicine.

So, kalau nak balik as cardiothoracic surgeon or cardiologist (like those I was talking to- susah lah, but if public health mungkin senang sikit.   Australian membership is not like the UK membership exams where one can do it ‘externally’.  And another thing, will your ‘specialist’ qualifications be recognized in Malaysia)

If you are a non-resident medical practitioner, and wish to arrange a period of training in Australia, you should ensure that you are eligible for an appropriate visa.

This could be another problem as Visa 442 or 457 only carry a limit of 5 years.  Unless they become PR, then problems may be resolve; but then migration laws changes as government changes AND kalau dah jadi PR, buat ape balik Malaysia???)

Enquiries for hospital positions should be directed to appropriate hospitals, to the relevant professional College, or to the Australian Postgraduate Federation in Medicine. (Good luck getting a consultant to sign for you)

 So just, a thought for our adik-adiks here… My 2 cents

Hatta