Dr Ronald Leong BDS who is living in Nelson Bay, Port Stephens New South Wales

Graduating university:

University of London, 1977

What made you consider coming out to Australia?

I had always found the idea of coming out to Australia very attractive... why wouldn't you? There was a program on TV about different professionals heading down under to Australia. It was called WANTED DOWN UNDER and showed different professionals travelling to different parts of Australia. But I never thought that there would be Dentist vacancies, until one episode said that there were dental jobs available in Australia.

This reminded me that I had seen DJS ads in the back of BDJ magazines for years and so I contacted DJS to see if they had anything available for me. I contacted the office and was advised that Simon was going to be in Birmingham, UK, a few weeks later and that I should go and speak with him.

I spoke to a number of different recruitment agencies in Australia for Dentists, but DJS seemed to have the most experience and the most available jobs.

That was about 2 years ago and really got the ball rolling. Within 6 months I was packed and ready to go!

Previous job in the UK

I had a private practice in Stoke on Kent. Due to the recession, private practice was hit quite bad and we were suffering quite a bit. A lot of my patients were laid off or made redundant from their jobs so I decided to sell off my practice and follow the sun.

My practice was previously a very busy NHS practice, where I saw about 80 patients a day until 2006 when it became private. After that I saw a much more respectable 15 patients a day, which is not dissimilar to the number of patients I see in Australia.

There doesn't seem to be the same problems in Australia with the recession. With 90% of dentistry in Australia being private practice, patients expect to pay for dentistry.

Where are you working in Australia?

I started out working in Brisbane but now I am working in a sunny part of New South Wales called Nelson Bay. I have really enjoyed living and working in both areas.

I really enjoyed Brisbane. It is a big city but still very close to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast and was a great first exposure to Australian culture.

Nelson Bay has been a lovely change. I have a good view of the beaches, which I can visit in the afternoon when I finish work. This is more in line with the lifestyle changes I had in mind by moving to Australia in the first place.

I currently work a 4.5 day week and have the weekends off to venture around the beautiful beaches. There are 6-7 for me to choose from - one of which is only 5 minutes away. I like to go jogging on the beach, which was one of my ambitions for living in Australia.

I live about 5 minute walk from work, so I often come home for lunch and to sit in the sun before heading back.

What has been the process to move to Australia?

It seemed very very complicated when I looked into it myself, but Helen from DJS is so so good. She is so experienced when it comes to visa applications - she makes it much easier. I don't think I would have done it if I hadn't spoken to her.

DJS found me a job before I came out to Australia. As a matter of fact, as soon as I registered my interest, I had 4 job offers right from the beginning. I left the UK as soon as I could - within a week of selling my practice.

What are your plans?

I am staying until the visa finishes. I still have over 2 years left and then I will see what happens. I really like it here. It almost feels like I am in England really; everybody is from England, but the weather is much nicer and the dentistry is so much easier.