From Warwick to the Beaches of New South Wales: Amit’s Move from the UK to Australia
When Amit looks back at 2019, he describes it as the year everything changed.
At the time, he was working as a GP in Warwick and London, in busy, city-based practices within the NHS. On paper, things were stable. But beneath the surface, something wasn’t sitting right.
“I started becoming a little disgruntled,” he reflects. “There was so much red tape. So much paperwork. I felt like I was doing less medicine and more administration.”
Like many UK GPs, Amit found himself questioning the long-term sustainability of NHS general practice, the workload, the pressure, the limitations on flexibility, and the growing gap between effort and remuneration.
So, he began to look elsewhere, and that search led him to Australia.
Taking the First Step
Amit made the move at the end of 2019, just before the pandemic, and during Australia’s devastating bushfire season. It wasn’t exactly textbook timing, but it was the right decision.
He worked with Prospect Health, which helped him identify not just a job, but a lifestyle fit.
“I wanted to be near the beach. I was learning to fly at the time, so I wanted to be close to an aviation school. They really listened to what I wanted from the move.”
That alignment made all the difference.
He secured a role in New South Wales, near the coast and close to a flight school. The transition, he says, felt surprisingly smooth.
Was the Move Difficult?
There’s a common perception among UK GPs that moving to Australia is complicated, with new systems, new patients, and new regulations.
Amit’s experience?
“The medicine is very similar. The training pathways are broadly aligned. The expectations were what I was already used to.”
His biggest anxiety wasn’t clinical; it was practical. The registration process at the time involved in-person identity checks and multiple steps that have since been streamlined. His advice to GPs now?
“Account for time. Don’t rush. Delays can happen. Make sure you’re ready before you stop working in the UK.”
While the AHPRA and RACGP processes have become more straightforward in recent years, Amit emphasises the importance of planning properly and allowing buffer time.
Feeling Like a “Proper Doctor” Again
One of the biggest differences Amit noticed wasn’t the system, it was the autonomy.
“In Australia, you really feel like a doctor.”
In his first practice in New South Wales, Amit had access to in-house CT, X-ray, ultrasound, phlebotomy and allied health professionals. He could assess a patient, request imaging, review scans himself, and begin management the same day.
“In the UK, I sometimes felt like I needed permission just to request certain scans.”
In Australia, he found general practice to be more hands-on. He was managing chronic disease plans himself, performing procedures, organising imaging directly, and even reading films where appropriate.
The result? Higher professional satisfaction.
Workload and Flexibility
Workload pressures in UK general practice are well documented. For many GPs, it’s one of the primary motivations for exploring Australia.
For Amit, the difference has been transformative.
“In Australia, you can tailor your day to suit your life.”
Some GPs work 7am–5pm. Others work afternoons. Some mix clinic work with urgent care or emergency department shifts. Amit often schedules flying lessons in the morning, coffee at a local café, and then starts clinic at 3pm.
“If I can’t start at three, I’ll start at four. There’s flexibility.”
Annual leave is equally adaptable. While there are always practical considerations, he no longer feels the same rigidity around time off.
“It’s not just as good as the press says,” he laughs. “It’s better.”
Understanding the Earnings Model
Unlike the UK’s salaried or sessional structure, most Australian GPs operate under a
fee-for-service model.
Put simply, your income reflects your activity.
Standard consultations attract Medicare rebates. Longer consults, procedural work, care plans, skin procedures, ECGs and reports all add to billings. GPs then pay the practice a service fee (typically 20–35%) before taking home the remainder.
“If I worked the same hours here as I did in the UK, I’d easily double my earning potential,” Amit explains.
He’s quick to add that this includes procedural and additional work, but even accounting for that, the earning potential is significantly higher.
Importantly, he stresses that the move shouldn’t be purely about money.
“If you’re going purely for money, don’t bother. It has to be more than that.”
Metro vs Rural: The Moratorium Question
Australia’s 10-year moratorium applies to most internationally trained doctors. In metropolitan (MMM1) areas, this often means rotating practices every six months.
However, rural and remote locations offer considerable advantages:
- Potential exemptions from rotation requirements
- Accelerated moratorium reduction (in some MMM6–7 areas, a 2:1 reduction)
- Enhanced financial incentives
- Deep community integration
“The more rural you go, the more you get that continuity of care. You really integrate into the community.”
Amit initially wanted metro life and has kept Sydney as his base. But he has travelled extensively for work, across Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and beyond, often with flights, accommodation and transport arranged for him.
“I literally turn up at the airport. Everything’s taken care of.”
How Are UK GPs Received?
For many doctors, there’s a concern about how overseas-trained GPs will be perceived.
Amit’s experience has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Australia is growing. There are workforce shortages. People are grateful you’re there.”
He notes that understanding local cultural nuances, particularly when working with Indigenous communities or in small rural towns, is essential. But professionally and personally, he felt welcomed.
Career Development Opportunities
Five years on, Amit is still expanding his scope.
He’s completed additional emergency training, ultrasound courses, and now works in urgent care centres and emergency departments as a Senior Medical Officer. He’s considering pursuing GP anaesthetics (GPA), a pathway that allows further specialisation within rural settings, something not typically available in UK general practice.
“The scope is endless.”
From GP obstetrics to anaesthetics to urgent care, the diversification options in Australia continue to evolve.
Would He Do It Again?
“I wish I’d done it sooner.”
That’s Amit’s honest reflection.
For him, the move delivered:
- Greater professional autonomy
- Improved remuneration
- Genuine work-life flexibility
- Diverse clinical exposure
- The chance to explore one of the world’s most varied landscapes
“It’s been one of the best decisions of my life.”
His Advice for UK GPs Considering the Move
- Do your research, forums, peer groups, and conversations.
- Understand what you’re moving for.
- Factor in taxation, logistics and timing.
- Work with a recruiter who genuinely listens to your goals.
Most importantly?
“Be clear on what you want from the move. If it’s lifestyle, build it around that. If it’s community, think rural. If it’s metro living, understand the trade-offs. But don’t be afraid to explore it.”
For Amit, Australia wasn’t just a job change.
It was a reset.
And for many UK GPs quietly wondering whether there’s something more sustainable and more rewarding on the other side of the world, his story may feel very familiar.
If you would like to hear Amit’s full story, complete the form here, and we’ll send you a copy of the webinar, and you can watch it in your own time!
Want to learn more about relocating to Australia as a GP?
If you’re ready to explore your options, visit our GP Jobs in Australia page to view live vacancies and learn how Prospect Health can guide you through every stage of your relocation journey — from licensing to lifestyle.
Ready to Explore Your Options as a GP in Australia?
If you’re considering relocating to Australia — or even just curious about what’s possible — our expert consultants at Prospect Health can guide you through every step of the process, from job matching and visas to relocation logistics.
Get in touch with Ese today, call him on 020 8434 2677 or email him at [email protected] to discuss current opportunities and start your journey towards a GP career in Australia.
View all our GP Jobs in Australia
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Talk to a specialist
ESE OSADOLOR
Specialist Recruitment Consultant
Hi there, my name is Ese Osadolor, and I work as an International Specialist Recruitment Consultant here at Prospect Health.
I have the pleasure of helping GPs who are looking to move to Australia for work. I myself have lived in Australia for 10 years. I moved there when I was 11 with my family. We lived in the Gold Coast city located in Queensland, known for sunny months of the year with beautiful beaches and tourist destinations…