Murmurs & Magic

Tag: Australia

  • Top 4 Essential Resources for International Medical Graduates in Australia

    Top 4 Essential Resources for International Medical Graduates in Australia

    When planning a big change in our careers, it is always best to collect information from multiple sources that is comprehensive and accurate. Years ago, when I started my journey to work in Australia as a doctor, I was overwhelmed by different opinions and ambiguous processes. Luckily, I navigated the situation by finding credible sources that steered me in the right direction. In this post, you will find my top 4 recommendations with links I still consult whenever I need more detailed information regarding my career trajectory as an IMG in Australia.

    1. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency:

    AHPRA is the main licensing/skill assessment body for doctors in Australia. Check out their website to gain up-to-date information regarding registration requirements & standards.

    2. Australian Medical Council:

    The AMC assesses international medical graduates seeking registration to practise medicine in Australia. Their website is a useful resource to check which IMG pathway applies to you, which exams you need to sit & how to proceed with them

    3. Emergency Focus:

    Sometimes the information on the official websites can be overwhelming & confusing to understand for absolute beginners & people with non-medical backgrounds. Dr Rizwan Qureshi’s videos on YouTube provide all you need to know in easy-to-understand language in bite-sized videos.

    4. Pakistani Doctors In Australia:

    Despite our best research, sometimes we still require answers to a specific question. The input & advice of people who have been through the same pathways are much appreciated at these times. Pakistani Doctors in Australia is a Facebook group consisting of IMGs from different countries, on various pathways and at different stages of careers in Australia. The group contains a plethora of advice ranging from passing AMC exams to insights on doing well & navigating conflicts at the workplace. If you use the search function icon, there is a 99% chance your question would already be answered by someone else in the past.

    So here you have it, a list of the most important websites you should know about and check before making the big career move. If you want more information regarding transitioning to the Australian healthcare system as a medical practitioner, let me know in the comments below. Alternatively, you can reach me at drzia.asma@gmail.com.

  • 200 weeks later

    The year is 2019. I’ve landed in this city exactly 4 months ago. It’s summer outside but all I see is grey. A cold, dreary gloom that hovers over me like a rain cloud and shrouds all the warmth, hope and happiness I’ve ever known. I ask for sunshine but see a barely perceptible silver lining. Is it there or is it an optical illusion? An infinitesimal play of my senses having a laugh. Maybe both. Maybe neither.

    Maybe a few years later, I’ll write again. I told myself that I would write all about the knots in my throat and the gnawing pain in my heart but for now, I’ll listen. So I did that. I sat with my deafening silence and told my beating heart to hold on. Hold on to faith a little longer, a little stronger. And wait with a beautiful patience. That is all anyone ever needs, truly.

    Life’s seasons change. All eclipses pass. It did for me and it will for you. As of today the year 2023 is half gone. I’ve been in this country for almost 4 years. We’re two weeks into winter. A sleet spell heralds the change of season but I don’t mind. Now, I know how to keep my toes warm and heart hopeful. I hope you do too.