Not a paediatrician (I am ED) but my understanding is that the speciality physician designation is for those post CCT. Everyone else applies under gen med practitioner NEC 253999. 

I assume if you are applying for the 189, you already have your full AHPRA registration? So you must be on a 457 at the moment? 

3 minutes ago, Collie said:

An interesting take from a former NI secretary with more knowledge of the peace process and GF agreement than any of us on here.

 

Peter Hain: Deal with DUP means London is no longer an honest broker in the North

A Tory-DUP deal therefore will be both painful for May, and painful for political stability and peace in Northern Ireland

42 minutes ago

Peter Hain

File photo dated of Arlene Foster (left), leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, with Prime Minister Theresa May, who will hold critical talks on a deal to prop up a Tory minority administration after the Government admitted the Queen’s Speech could be delayed. Charles McQuillan/PA Wire

 

In Northern Ireland, the government must always be seen to act in good faith. I learned this personally when trying to bring together bitter old enemies, the Democratic Unionist party leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, who at the time had never exchanged a word, let alone negotiated with each other.

Some months before they so improbably became the “Chuckle Brothers” ruling Northern Ireland’s newly devolved government, Paisley wanted an absolute assurance that Sinn Féin would back something historically impossible for them: policing and the rule of law. He assured me he would govern with them, but only if that was guaranteed: it was his bottom line.

McGuinness, with the president of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams, in turn had the superhuman leadership challenge of persuading their rank and file, including former IRA combatants, to do so. They would only attempt this task if Paisley would do what he had always renounced: sharing power with former “terrorists”, or “ the devil ” in his immortal rhetoric. How could they be sure he would?

After exploring the detail with both, I told them Paisley would and I told Paisley they would. Both had learned to rely on me and Tony Blair because we understood and empathised with both sides. We didn’t have to agree with either, but we had to respect each standpoint. we were neutral, non-partisan, with no vested interested in any of Northern Ireland’s parties.

That’s fundamentally why Theresa May’s proposed deal with the DUP is so damaging for the Good Friday agreement and the peace process.

But managing Northern Ireland’s peace process is like carrying a tray of champagne glasses over a high wire. It needs forensic care and constant attention. That, from No 10 downward, was never demonstrated by David Cameron or May – more concerned about party than progress in Northern Ireland, spurning the British parliament’s bipartisan stance which was so important to the hard-won process of winning the peace. Cameron in 2015 had at least one cosy dinner at No 10 with DUP MPs – some of whom gleefully reported to me that parliamentary arithmetic, not Stormont’s functioning, was on the menu.

With a DUP deal as her only way of staying in power, how could May say no to the unionists – for example in the vital but tortuous negotiations to resurrect the devolved government and assembly, disturbingly suspended now for months?

May’s refusal earlier this year to resolve this latest Stormont crisis by convening a summit with the taoiseach – a move that, under Blair and Gordon Brown, frequently resolved seemingly irretrievable breakdowns – was inexplicable.

What’s more, the DUP could also press its own agenda on conflict-related legacy issues, such as blocking the prosecutions of soldiers and police accused of serious crimes. There is a strong argument for a time limit on investigations into crimes during the era of terror and sectarian violence. But this has to be applied across the divide or not at all, otherwise agreement with republicans and nationalists will be immeasurably more difficult than it already is.

Alongside this, a Tory-DUP deal could cause its own internal difficulties. May’s preferred hard Brexit means the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic would be the external EU customs frontier, requiring both goods and people movement to be checked and cleared, with a tariff levied. That both contravenes the Good Friday agreement and jeopardises the increasing integration of both economies. Despite supporting Brexit, the DUP wants – and to maintain domestic political credibility must have – a soft border. And that means the UK being at least within the European customs union, if not the single market.

Declaring Northern Ireland a “special zone” to try to solve this problem, as the European commission appears to have suggested, is not acceptable to the DUP because it would imply a distinct status within the UK in breach of their unionist imperative.

Besides, DUP members are not Tories. They have a significant working-class base. They don’t buy Tory austerity. They will insist on much more public investment and spending. Nor will they accept policies to reduce state pension benefits or May’s reactionary “dementia tax”.

They are seasoned, tough negotiators – none more so than Nigel Dodds, their able parliamentary leader. And they have a pathological opposition to imposed deadlines, as I also know from personal experience. A Tory-DUP deal therefore will be both painful for May, and painful for political stability and peace in Northern Ireland.

Peter Hain was Labour MP for Neath from 1991 to 2015 and secretary of state for Northern Ireland from 2005 to 2007.

Stop remoaning Hain! Enemy of the people! 

1 hour ago, newjez said:

It's all kicking off!!!

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3784775/scottish-tory-leader-ruth-davidson-demands-theresa-may-join-forces-with-labour-to-deliver-a-softer-brexit/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/12/ruth-davidson-suggests-theresa-may-ready-change-brexit-strategy/

And one from the Torygraph. Oh dear..... Oh deary me......

Schadenfreude with a touch of sugar & a pinch of nuts seems to be the dish of the day. 

12 minutes ago, Gbye grey sky said:

Sounds similar to Boris's comment about Britain having it's cake and eat it.

32 minutes ago, VERYSTORMY said:

I would not say they want a soft Brexit. They have stated what they want is to leave the single market - regarded as a hard Brexit, but to maintain an open border with Ireland. A bit of a conundrum as to how that would work and they haven't offered any idea on how that would work. The manifesto states it wants and end to the supremacy of the EU court and the right for the UK to make its own trade deals. That would require leaving the single market.

This comment is dripping with irony. 

3 minutes ago, kungfustu said:

Yeh lets all vote for something thats "unrealistic" makes perfect sense in the world of champagne socialism

Not been watching politics this year mate? 

Trump promised an actual wall across North America, a Muslim ban and bring back a dead coal industry. 

The Tories promised full access to the single market & complete control on immigration - total nonsense. 

People want change - it does not matter if that is unrealistic. He promised not to crap on them as has been the case with everyone else - you would have done the same in their position. 

2 minutes ago, kungfustu said:

I hope it never happens.....not a comrade Corbyn and comrade Mcdonnell government......it will be one of those deja vu moments......once he has nationalised all of the UK industries you will get ASLEFF demanding pay rises or their workers will strike.....then UNISON will demand a larger pay rise for their work force......if they are getting a pay rise of 10%  UNITE will demand a 12% pay rise because inflation is pushing up the cost of living......you get the picture........then once all those students have graduated and several years down the line "come to their senses" they will all vote conservative and go about rebuilding and paying off the national debt.......

Then I suggest you agitate for the Tories to be more inclusive and spread the economic pie more evenly vis a vis Germany. Young people have been shat on for years with tuition fees, housing and pay freezes while older Brits have been protected because they vote. Now you are whinging because the youngsters are biting back - too bad. 

Maybe what Corbyn is offering is unrealistic but he is offering them hope and change. The Tories offered them another 5 years of sugar coated excrement. 

Damn those students for expressing their democratic rights & voting in their interests. Good for them. 

The tories have been tossing bribes at the grey vote for years.  

How can anyone defend this anything other than the most phyrric of phyrric victories for the Conservatives? It is a total disaster. May has not a hope of governing effectively - it will essentially be on a bill by bill basis. She can forget about a 'hard' Brexit:

- She has 0 - ZERO credibility in Brussels & will have her eurosceptic wing gunning for her

- The DUP will not tolerate a hard Irish border

- Can she even muster enough support with the DUP anyway? Ken Clarke, Anna Soubry et al will be the kingmakers

Jeremy Corbyn has solidified his credibility within his PLP and demonstrated that he is a viable leader of the opposition. They are now united and a far more dangerous opponent for the Conservatives than 6 weeks ago. 

Twas about to say! 2000pcm is actually rather reasonable for a rental property (this is about average for a 2 bed unit in an inner suburb)

The problem you are going to have is that the rental market is pretty competitive & furnished properties are at a premium. You are going to need Australian bank details and proof of income for your applications also. 

The only suggestion I could make is to apply for a flat share for 6 months? Even this might be tricky as most are looking for annual tenancy. 

I have to admit, I struggle with the notion that the 804 non contributory visa should be continued with the introduction of this new temporary visa. I could simply not justify bringing my parents over to a country that has given me so much with the eventual potential use of benefits to which they should never have rights. 

It seems to be fairly frequent that the country is entered on a tourist visa with the intention to immediately lodge a non CPV. This seems somewhat against the spirit of immigration guidelines & a way to both skip the queue & avoid paying (quite legitimate) contributory visa costs. Not to mention the high risk of failing the 2nd medical after 10ish years and inevitably being too unwell to return home. 

Why not simply place the 8503 restriction on all tourist visas above a certain age? 

I cannot speak for the work environment but Box Hill itself is a pretty decent place geographically speaking. It is a pretty ethnically diverse place with a heavy Chinese influence so expect to encounter frequent Mandarin/Cantonese. Hideously expensive (although where in the east is not). 

Pretty good transport links - it is the main hub for trains in Eastern Melbourne. 

$20 is pretty good! My understanding is that goods tend to be more expense in SA but renting is far higher in Melbourne so swings and roundabouts

7-9% is pretty good. I have seen far far worse!

Bring along any copies of previous blood tests and any eye tests he will have had done in the past - As long as he can demonstrate good glycaemic control and the absence of diabetic organ disease then he should be fine.

I work in Ferntree Gully and Box Hill - commute between the 2 and the CBD daily.

The positives are that it is beautiful. You are right in the foothills of the Dandenong hills with the thousand steps and pretty old towns like Olinda. If you want somewhere affordable with land then you could do much much worse.

The negatives are that it does not have a huge amount to do in the evening - you really would have to go to Knox to find anything that is really open in the evening. I think the gully may still have an Irish bar but that is pretty much about it. There is some ok(ish) shopping but to find a decent shopping centre, you would have to drive further in - maybe Burwood or Knox.

If you are driving at 6-7am then you will be looking at around 45mins door to door, the Eastern freeway does not really start to jam up until 7.30-9am in which case you are looking at 1-1.5hrs easily.

What are you looking for size wise? For that budget you will easily find a 2 bedroom unit in the inner suburbs. Generally you would be looking from the NE round to the South. Fitzroy, Carlton, Richmond, South Yarra & South Melbourne are all popular, close to the CBD and have plenty of expats

If you want a larger house then you would have to look a bit further out but Brighton, Hawthorn east, Elsternwick or Malvern are worth a look. All have good train or tram links

Sounds about the same in all honesty. Just to see an out of hours dentist will set you back £120 minimum. Having 2 wisdom teeth removed "on the NHS" 3 years ago cost £130

I thought I would give my 10 cents regarding this issue as (another) British doctor moving to Australia.

The problems with the NHS are legion but I suppose the main issues are deliberate cross party underfunding (ie: below inflation) and chronic political interference.

You cannot divorce social care from the NHS budget and expect it to have no knock on effect (medical beds are now full of frail elderly people who are not actually ill but simply have nowhere to be discharge to safely)

Staffing rota's are run "efficiently" - that is to say at the minimum legal levels and this means that any unforseen issues need to be covered by locums and bank nurses at astronomical cost (simply because the annual budgets now look pretty on paper).

Personally I no longer believe that a completely tax payer funded model is the way to go anyway, other European systems have a degree of co-payment and there are not hordes dying on the street (a la the US)

Being sent for a heart monitor test following a referral from the doctor . It's gonna cost me $240. With Medicare rebate I will probs be paying about $120.

 

Dont want to sound a bludger but what if I didn't have $120, would I just go to the local A and E and be treated ?

I think you will just end up wasting your own time if you do this. I am not quite sure what the heart monitor test refers to but I imagine it would be either a treadmill test or 24hour heart tracing, neither of which will happen in an emergency department.

Good luck with your test and hope things work out.

As Scattley stated, the main issue will whether your friends' medical degree is from a recognised competent authority (UK, US, Canada, NZ or Rep Ireland). If not then they must apply via the standard pathway and this will involve an AMC CAT MCQ and workbased placed assessments in a designated region. See http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Registration/International-Medical-Graduates.aspx

As to the pay, that would depend on where they work now and their seniority. In general if they have completed internship or recognised equivalency then they should be able to work as either an RMO or registrar - they would have to contact a hospital in their desired region for more specifics.

The other caveat is that it is extremely difficult to procure positions in competitive specialities (nigh on impossible in metropolitan regions). If they are a general practitioner or an emergency medic then it is far easier than anaesthesia or a surgical sub speciality.