OB/GYN in Australia

[Ahtak]

Hi everyone!
I'm a German doctor beginning my third year of specializing in obstetrics&gynecology (I think equivalent to a registrar in Australia). I'm thinking of moving (temporarily) to Australia either through the specialist pathway or the short term training in a medical specialty pathway.

I'm trying to gather general information on the day to day work for a registrar in obs&gyne in Australia:
What I'd especially like to find out is how much do you make decisions/surgeries/deliveries yourself vs. when to call the fellow? I guess what I mean is how independent are you working as a registrar? What kind of surgieries are performed by registrars?
Is there a defined knowledge and skills set that is expected by the registrars depending on the year of specialist training or does it vary from clinic to clinic?
Do you work in either obs OR gyne or both or does it change daily?

And last but not least: How is the job market for a registrar in obs&gyne Australia?

Thank you for answering any of my questions!

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[Domperidone]

I've responded here to a related question before:
Residency training in australia

On the side
- Accredited on the program registrars get a lot of independence, wards are generally accredited registrar run (you lead the regular ward rounds, consultant might have one ward round a week where you present)
- There is always a consultant to talk to or defer to.
- generally the registrars perform the surgeries, the consultants supervise (or if the registrar is junior - they teach them to do the surgeries)
- as a registrar you are expected to rotate through both, it changes depending on hospital. could be few weeks to months of ob then changes to gyne or gyne onc etc etc.
- N.B. Australia has midwives, they do much of the 'normal' vaginal deliveries. If it gets high risk or complicated the registrar is called. If it is clearly above your pay grade/confidence or knowledge, you consult with a consultant.
- I've touched on it in the link, but job market is... not fantastic in the public system, most IMGs end up rural. Even up and coming domestic consultants find themselves working at regional sites. Unless you have a PhD, did lots of research etc.

 

[Ahtak]

Thank you so much for your reply! It seems in a lot of ways it's similar to Germany, except for the job market. I was under the impression that there are a lot of job offerings for doctors in Australia as wll, but apparently this is only true for the rural areas. :/

 

[Domperidone]

There's a genuine need for OBGYNs in rural areas, widely. But not in urban areas, you'd have to have a very competitive application.