Dr Deirdre McGuigan BDS (Belfast) who is living in Nowra, New South Wales

What made you consider coming out to Australia?

While at uni, a group of friends and I decided that we would buy a round-the-world ticket. We ended up visiting Australia and went to Sydney, Cairns (and the Great Barrier Reef) and Alice Springs and Uluru. Little did I know that it would be a life-changing vacation.

After that trip, I knew I had to come back to Australia. So after graduating and then completing a couple of years in the NHS in Ireland, I saw an advertisement for DJS in the BDJ and contacted them. By the end of 2005, I was back in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa.

What was your first working experience in Australia?

DJS organized me a job in Warnambool in Victoria which was really fantastic! I worked there as a locum dentist and got along really well with the team. My boyfriend at the time (now my husband) came from Northern Ireland and joined me for an adventure. We travelled all around Australia, including Tasmania, and took another trip around New Zealand, seeing both the North and South island. After this amazing trip, we returned to Ireland in 2006 and I started working back in the NHS for a local practice.

I worked very hard for 4 years and then got married. The obvious choice of honeymoon destination for us was Australia, and after spending a couple of weeks back here, we decided that we needed to live in Australia for a while. We came back out in October of last year (2010).

Where are you working now?

We decided not stay in the big city, so I am working 2 hours south of Sydney in a large town called Nowra, for the South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation, (SCMSAC).

Why did you choose to work in an Aboriginal clinic?

I wanted to get in touch with the real Australia and help the local community. There is a great need for medical and dental services in the aboriginal communities throughout Australia. I wanted to contribute to improving health outcomes for indigenous Australians. It has been a great way to get to know the culture and join the lively community life here.

What are your patients like?

Generally speaking, they are very, very thankful for their treatment, and are accepting of their treatment plans. We try to serve the whole Aboriginal community here. They all have such different needs, but there are a lot of extractions, restorative work and dentures. The practice is an entire medical service, with lots of different clinics to provide a whole range of services to the Aboriginal community. I work closely with all the health professionals to deliver the best possible care to our clients.

Is there anything unique about practicing in an Indigenous community? Sensibilities? Sensitivities?

I received cultural awareness training which has been useful. We are working among kinship networks. Families are very close here and help each other in difficult circumstances. We need to be open and alert to situations that are unique to the community. We also need to be respectful of their culture and beliefs.

What is it like living in Nowra?

It is excellent! We live beside a beautiful beach (Callala beach) on Jervis Bay, about 20 minutes drive from Nowra, and we literally live opposite the beach, with beautiful views over the Bay. Sydney-siders travel to the beaches around Nowra for weekends, but we get to live here permanently! Hyam's Beach is nearby, which is stunning. You can do some fantastic diving, go out on boats and see the dolphins and whales.

What else is different from living in Northern Ireland?

The weather is so much better, so we can get outside more. We love the outdoor lifestyle here. We recently bought bicycles and like to go cycling at the weekend. I love to eat outdoors and enjoy Aussie barbeques.

Is the work very different to the work you did in Ireland for NHS?

In the NHS there is a lot of pressure to see many patients in a day. Here it is more relaxed and you don't feel as much under pressure with time. Most importantly you have time to give out your preventative advice, which is so important, especially when the little kids come in.

What has been the process to move to Australia?

It was really straightforward to come out. If you get organized and speak to DJS, they guide you through the process. It is much easier than doing it yourself.

What are your plans from here?

I am on a 4-year sponsored working visa. I hope to stay at least for the duration of this. It is a great place to live and work, so hopefully we will stay here. I hope to work for the Remote Area Health Corps and would love to travel to the Northern Territory and help the remote Aboriginal communities there. This would be a challenging and rewarding experience.