Cairns QLD - Bethan Milner BDS (Wales) FDS RCS (Edin)

Age

36

Previous job in the UK:

I travelled around the UK a fair bit, working mainly in the Hospital and community services. I was doing general practice dentistry and even some oral and maxillo-facial work.

How did you end up in Australia?

It was very easy to get out here... I found DJS in the back of the BDJ magazine and decided to make contact. I chatted to the team at DJS before I came out and mentioned that I liked scuba diving and being outdoors and they matched me to the perfect job in Cairns (Far North Queensland). Initially I did want to move to one of the big cities, but this is suiting me really well!

Before I knew it - (within a month), my visa was sorted and I had a job waiting for me in Australia.

Where do you work in Australia?

I am based at a Cairns-based hospital, but I travel a lot, as part of the travel team and we provide dental care to remote communities in this area.

Most recently, we have been in a community called Kowanyama for 2 weeks and that was pretty intense, as it is really busy and there is always a queue of patients. It is a 'dry-community' which means that there is no alcohol in the area. This makes a huge difference to the community.

Describe your current dentistry work:

When you get out of the Cape York Peninsula in the dry communities, there is a really high dental need and high dental neglect. We do a lot of very basic pain relief and emergency first aid and extractions to get the indigenous communities out of pain.

Some days (about once or twice a week) I go out with the Royal Flying Doctors. We fly out and do a day of dentistry in some remote community and then fly back in the evening. Some are overnight visit, for example to the township Georgetown, which is a true outback country town...

What are the advantages of working where you do?

It is amazing to be able to see things that many Australians don't even get to see.
Your patients really appreciate the work you are doing and you build up a level of trust with them. They will come and visit you the one day and then the next day their whole family will be waiting outside the clinic for treatment.

There is always someone to greet you whenever you land in a new community/ town. Everyone knows who you are and you are just really appreciated. The children are really amazing.

Work is hard, but leisure time is SO much better. The weather is always warm, the scuba diving is wonderful and not many Australians go to Cairns, so there is a real expat feel. A really nice social network going.

Are you getting good work experience?

My boss is incredibly supportive in terms of career development and has offered me a more administrative or a more clinical route if I choose.
I did a lot of sedation in the UK and am keen to get more involved in the general anaesthetic's at the hospital. There is really so much variety on the job so I feel that it keeps the brain active and there is no such thing as a regular day.

What are the plans?

I think I will stay on for at least another 6 months on this job, and I have a good friend in Sydney, who I would love to be closer to... but I am not in any rush to move on. I will definitely eventually apply for a Permanent Residency visa, as I would love to stick around. I really can't see myself going back to the UK to work as a dentist, because the lifestyle is just so much better here. It is hard work, but the surroundings make it all worthwhile... everyone is so healthy, I live near the sea and diving. It is so much easier to be healthy in Australia!

What visa are you on?

I am on a 457 visa. It is great and so flexible to work with DJS. I get paid for the hours worked and am able to take time off if needed. My mum is coming out soon, so I am going to take some time to travel with her, which will be great.

If you are interested in having an Australian experience like this one, contact Dentist Job Search at www.djs.com.au / info@djs.com.au