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Dear Fellow Podiatrists,

I am moving to Sydney in October (so excited i cant describe) with my partner who is an Australian citizen. I will therefore have a spouse visa so will not be tied to a sponsor for two years as you would with the skilled workers visa. Im still awaiting a response from the Australian Podiatry Council but am obviously now thinking about employment opportunities.

I am nearly four years post graduation and have amassed a great deal of experience in wound care and biomechanics in an inner London Primary Care Trust. Im currently working in a senior position in a diabetic foot clinic 4 days per week and as part of the musculoskeletal team the other day. I also work occasionally in private practice. I really want to persue a career in biomechanics and sports podiatry because i enjoy sports myself and it really interests me.

I believe there are more opportunities in private practice and have read various threads about pay and conditions ie basic pay plus profit share, 50/50 split or salary. Im curious to hear up to date opinion on this and also to put the feelers out regarding jobs. Im not scared to put the work in and am very eager to develop in sports podiatry.

Any comment or suggestion about working or finding work in Sydney would be very much appreciated. Also if anyone would like to take a look at my CV, please do drop me a line.

Cheers
Nick

Nick there is plenty of work here in private practice for Podiatrists with a solid knowledge and a reasonable personality. I don't think you will have any problems. In which part of Sydney will you be living?

Hey Trent,

Thanks for taking the time to reply. We were planning to move somewhere pretty central but not completely set on somewhere yet. Its actually more expensive than i realised and am not really sure what we will be able to afford. Certainly have a sound knowledge base and seem to get on famously with patients and colleagues. Also have private patient experience in a very affluent area of London so am used to having very demanding clients!

Cheers Nick

Nick, there are plenty of opportunities in the city and Eastern suburbs if you wanted to stay in more affluent areas. The best bet for you is to become a member of the NSW ApodA (our association) and get a hold of the most current edition of Foot Prints which is our News letter/Journal. This has a few pages of jobs available all over the state.

Trent

Trent,

Thank you again for the reply. I have submitted an application to the Australian Pod Association but am still waiting to hear from them before i apply to the NSW APA. Thanks for the tip re jobs by the way.

As for where we live - not so bothered about it being somewhere affluent. Just have friends living centrally. Not worried about commuting if i have too!

Regards

Nick

Dear Nick,

Commuting in Sydney can be a 2 hour each way slog in dire traffic.

Rents in Sydney are also a challenge. eg student type digs $400.00 per wk

a bit more comfy $5-600.oo per week.

up here on the Northshore over $1000.00 for 3 bed, a friend is paying $2750.00 per week for a 5 bed McMansion.

The real challenge is commuting fortunately i only drive 2 days a week otherwise i walk but it can take up to 2.5 hours to get home which is only 40km from liverpool.

Sydney is a great city to live in apart from traffic and housing.

regards David

Dear Nick,, and

I am an expat, live very well in sydney. I rent (modest but lovely flat) in a v. posh suburb for <$400/ week and am sure you will do ok if you shop around, even though the rental market is 'hot' at present.

Not sure about the 2 hour commutes, never met anyone who does that and lets face it as a poddie you'll prob work suburban anyway. just don't be duped into working for people who promise big salaries on commission only...you might find the patient load light on and the remuneration lacking

Thank you so much for the information. Im so looking forward to working and living in Sydney. I know its something we brits never really talk about but just wondered what sort of salary i can expect.
Your response is very much appreciated.
Nick

Dear Nick,

Most soles here, including myself get a proportion of billings.

Usually 40% and then your employer pays your Superannaution on top. So this comes to approx 50%.

Some places will pay less a few a bit more.

If you work in the hospital system then you can be LOCUM,,Contractual or even full time emplyee.

There is a salary structure comparable to UK.

Fee structure here is much lower than UK approx $50-60 per appt. Certainly where i used to live in Suffolk Uk a friend is charging 38 quid for an appointment.

So depending in which susburb you work in Sydney and the generosity of your employer will have an impact on your potential income.

Also the hours worked will also affect your income.

I have found many pods work very hard and long hours here and also commuting can add 2 hours to your working day maybe even 4 hours.

I have found that Dept Veterans Affairs and the Medicare rebate dictate the fee structure as most practices use these Govt agencies fee as the guideline.

Also here most Pensioners not just aged will receive a discount from the practice.

Also Private Health Insurers will dictate your fees as they control the rebate to the pt.

Getting reg with Podiatrist Health registration Board is not too difficult but can be frustrating.

You must have the correct paperwork or you will make a couple of trips to them on Pitt Street. It took me 3 trips in less than 24 hours to achieve registration. They kept giving me another piece of paperwork to complete.

You must also do a First Aid cert to achieve registration.

I hope you enjoy your move south, you will have to get used to being called the Pommie Bastard for a least 5 years apparently. I have been here 2 years so am still referred to as such, I am not even English but a Scot but this cuts no ice and so Pommie Bastard it is.

Still they are descended from Criminals so , we came here by choice their forebears were transported as criminals.

Just ask your patient for what were their forebears transported for. It is now a sign of good breeding here to have a crim past.

regards David

David,

Many thanks for the comprehensive reply. It has been very helpful and i appreciate you taking the time to fill me in.

Kind regards

Nick

Ps Im quite used to being called a pommie bastard by my in-laws!!

Dear Nick,

A typical Stdney Commute.

6.30am left home

7.20am arrived at work.

5.30pm left for home

6.55pm arrived home

It is exactly 40km each way

So if you can work close to home you will be ok.

So 2 days a week i do this trip. 3 days a week i walk to work in 10mins.

Many people in Sydney travel from the Central Coast to Sydney each day and it can take up to 2 hours each way either in a car or by train.

Where in Sydney are you hoping to go to?

I will be applying for permanent residency end of August as i will have been working here 2 years.

regards David

David let's know when you want to move to Melbourne?

Cheers

__________________
Heather J Bassett
137 Wheatsheaf Road
Glenroy 3046
Victoria
Australia

Thanks for that,

I believe that it is cold wet and miserable, nothing like Sydney.

Mind you it will be ZERO centigrade even though it feels like Kelvin.

I never read anywhere that you freeze to death in Sydney.

All brochures show people at the beach having barbies and drinking fine beers and wines.

I have seen some serious chilling with Reynauds , chill blains and even ulceration due to chilling and aussies FREEZING homes.

Did a dom recently where the flat was colder than outside and i had to keep my coat on. Pt was chilled to the marrow but said heating was too expensive.

I hear Melbourne is not as warm AS SYDNEY.

sO AGAIN THANKS.

Mind you if you wre offering cold weather payments and a belly wramer as part of salary package !!!!!!!!!!!!

regards David