Depressing?

[mark_alec]

No, you need to be accepted by the appropriate specialist college.

[Russ]

Go do some reading on the college websites, its usually a couple of years of work then several years of specialist training

[Ngage0]

Okay, lets say i want to just become a GP after i get MD at Melbourne University. What is the process. How many years after MD do i need to go into the program and how much do i get paid while in the program? Is the program only clincal or is there theory and examinations?

[Russ]

Work in a hospital for a year to finish qualifying as a doctor.
Eventually apply for (and be accepted into) a college training program when you've made a decision about your career.
Do the training (for a GP, it's 3 years) and pass the exams, assessments etc.
Get presciber number and work in your field

In terms of pay, first year out is 55k (roughly, i forget) and it goes up incrementally each year

[Ngage0]

okay, so when can you be expected to be earning 100k+. Can you begin work as a GP in a hospital after you do your 1yr internship without further apply for the colleges? So what i am basically saying is. Once you graduate from medicine fully can you just begin working as a GP at a private practice run by someone or Hospital without doing the training and extra stuff. I was told once you clear MD or MBBS your a certified doctor and practically can begin work once you finish.

[Russ]

No...why on earth would you be able to work as a specialist without training as one first?

[Ngage0]

Not a specialist as a General Practitioner. You should have more than sufficient training to work because you completed the MD or MBBS. I think those special colleges are for Overseas Trained Doctors or people who want to go into the surgery field after medicine.

[Russ]

Erm, general practice is a specialty. The colleges are for everybody - you can't bill medicare without being a fellow of a college. Graduating from a medical degree does not mean you have sufficient training to work independently (that's the whole point of the intern year)

[Ngage0]

I know, so after internship year, you will sufficient training? I thought the colleges are for overseas trained doctors because thats what they say on their sites? Okay if what you say is the case were i have to take 3 years of training, do i get paid in the college programs? What are the requirements to enter these programs?

[mark_alec]

The colleges are for everyone. You get paid while training. The requirements will be on their websites. It is generally highly competitive. Medicine is not an "easy" degree or career.

[paulsterio]

okay, so when can you be expected to be earning 100k+. Can you begin work as a GP in a hospital after you do your 1yr internship without further apply for the colleges? So what i am basically saying is. Once you graduate from medicine fully can you just begin working as a GP at a private practice run by someone or Hospital without doing the training and extra stuff. I was told once you clear MD or MBBS your a certified doctor and practically can begin work once you finish.

No you need MBBS/MD, Internship + Fellowship to basically work in anything, unless you want to be a resident for the rest of your life

In all honesty, it's not hard to research, just go do some googling, start with the RACGP if you want to find out about them.

Anyway, why are you so interested in the $100k + pay? Money will come, medicine is not an easy career, money will come some time later on, don't worry about it. You're not going to be poor.

[Ngage0]

Okay, so once you have fellowship from RACGP do you get payed in their programs. I don't want to be in more debt after i finish MD. I just want to know when your taking a program with RACGP will they pay you? And how much does a resident earn in australia? The #1 reason i am interested in money is because i want to pay of my HECS debt as soon as possible so later in life i can enjoy and have some freedom. I understand med is no easy feat and all that. I am not doing med for the money, however i cant live without money as well if you know what i am mean.

Cheers!

[paulsterio]

Okay, so once you have fellowship from RACGP do you get payed in their programs. I don't want to be in more debt after i finish MD. I just want to know when your taking a program with RACGP will they pay you? And how much does a resident earn in australia? The #1 reason i am interested in money is because i want to pay of my HECS debt as soon as possible so later in life i can enjoy and have some freedom. I understand med is no easy feat and all that. I am not doing med for the money, however i cant live without money as well if you know what i am mean.

OK, I'll address your points individually

1) The RACGP will not pay you whilst undertaking their program, however, the government subsidises the cost of the program, so you will not have to pay to train as a GP. You will not have more debt.

2) Interns earn $21/hr, residents earn $24/hr, as far as I know

3) Well if you want to pay off your HECS debt as soon as possible, don't incur a debt? Get a part time job and pay your fees upfront, you get 10% off as well.

4) What do you mean by "so i can enjoy and have some freedom"? Do you mean that a HECS debt is restrictive? Do you actually know how HECS works?

5) "med is no easy feat and all that" - very casual, do you actually understand how difficult medicine is to get through and make a lot of money?

6) Why do you want to do medicine then?

[Russ]

Yes you get paid, it's basically just you working in the hospital whilst simultaneously studying for the training program.

Your HECS debt is going to be the least of your worries and the government will be taking money from you from your first year out in order to pay it off, so by the time you reach 100k, it won't be that big a deal anymore.

You won't earn 100k as a resident/registrar (maybe not 100% true, but close enough)

[jasrulz63]

Those wondering about intern pay;
http://www.mscv.org.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ama-dit-intern-hmo-summary-guide.pdf