Dr Payal Hirani BDS (Manchester) who is living in Innaloo, Perth

Age
26

Previous job in the UK

I did my VT year and got a brief glimpse at the NHS. I felt that the NHS system did not allow me to spend enough time on my patients and wasn't looking forward to more dentistry like that.

What made you consider coming out to Australia?

I wanted to try something new and had heard good things about Australia from people who had spent some time here on working holiday visas.

How did you end up in Australia?

Before I came out, I arranged a job offer in Perth, West Australia and I have been there ever since. The practice is in a Perth suburb called Innaloo, which is very central and only 5 minutes drive from the beach!

I have been here a year and a half and am able to practice dentistry in a way that suits me and my patients too. I am able to spend as much time as I need on each person and still have a really good income and lifestyle.

Why did you choose Perth?

I did apply over on the east coast as well, but I got the job offer in Perth and once I got here I realized its quieter pace suited me well.

For me, Melbourne and Sydney (which are on the east coast) are great for a visit. There is so much to see and do, and Melbourne in particular is great for shopping but it seems a little hectic for me.

Winters are a bit rainy in Perth, but you get less than 3 months of it. And the rest of the time it is sunny with blue skies all the time!

The first place I lived was in a shared house in a beach suburb of Perth called Scarborough. I was there for about a year before I decided to move out on my own. That coastal area is known as the Sunset Strip so you can imagine the views!

What was the process for you to move to Australia?

I signed up with DJS first of all and then DJS did most of the work. I had to go through medicals and book the ticket but they organized the visa for me. The whole process was really quick.

What can you do in Perth that you never got to do back home?

Perth has the best weather and so you can do anything you want really! I've been to music festivals where you don't have to wear wellies and huddle for warmth because its a beautiful day and you can enjoy the music! Perth has an annual outdoor film festival, which is a brilliant idea too.

I recently went surfing in Lancelin - a couple of hours up the coast, which is something I have never done before. Near home, it is great to cycle along the coastal bike route. You can cycle all the way to the boat harbour where there are lots of waterfront restaurants with amazing food. Just south of Perth, is Margaret River (surfer's paradise), which has beautiful caves and vineyards in the region. At certain times of the year, you can see whales off the coast. There are so many things that I haven't even tried yet so I'm looking forward to that. Western Australia is a huge state and I've only seen a tiny bit of it so far!

What are your long term plans?

I feel that the lifestyle here is more conducive to a happy life. I look at the activities that a lot of the kids here are doing outdoors and I think I missed out on these things as a kid. I really want my family to have the option to live a more outdoors life. As a result, I am currently applying for permanent residency, so my plan is to stick around.