Dr Annie Walker BDS (Newcastle) who is living in Caloundra, Queensland

What made you consider coming out to Australia?

I had always wanted to come out to Australia, but after graduating, time rolled on and before I knew it 5 years had passed and I hadn't left the UK.

The NHS wasn't giving me the job satisfaction I wanted so I decided to come to Australia for a year on a working holiday visa to achieve a better work-life balance and begin working in private practice.

In 2008, I took a seven month career break on my way to Australia. I travelled around Europe, the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Fiji. In Australia I spent a few weeks in the Northern Territory camping, then travelled the entire length of the east coast of Australia from Cape Tribulation down to Melbourne. This trip and moving to Australia were the best things I have ever done!

Why did you choose Queensland?

I decided I didn't want to live in another big city. I wanted to live in a quieter region, but not in the middle of nowhere. So before I came I applied for a Queensland health job in the Sunshine Coast - a great name for a great place.

On my travels, we briefly passed through the Sunshine Coast and I realized how happy I was with my decision to work there.

What was your first job like?

The job with Queensland Health was a fantastic first step into working in Australia. It involved lots of extractions and emergency dentistry and was a good experience in that I got lots of training in this type of work.

Ultimately though, I decided this kind of work wasn't ideal for me long term but that I really liked being in Sunshine Coast and didn't want to leave. I contacted Dentist Job Search and they assisted me to change my visa into a Long Stay Visa in 2009. It was a pretty simple process actually. I then sought a high end restorative private practice to work in.

How is your work different to the UK?

I have so much time to do things WELL in a relaxed environment. And there is not as much stress.

In Australia, the patients know they have to pay, and the majority have insurance. The fees are therefore a lot higher and patients expect to pay. People are generally more proactive about their dental health. So, rather than just fixing what has happened to their teeth, or where they have pain, they are interested in keeping their teeth in a good condition. I also get to do a lot more cosmetic work as well.

Describe your average week in Australia:

Here I work 7:45- 5:30, 4 days a week, with every weekend feeling like a holiday.

During my lunch, I can go and sit on the beach, because my work is right near by. On a weekend, we can just travel to the Great Barrier Reef (only 5 hours drive away) or go whale watching.

There is so much outdoor living to do - it is just a part of life. You just don't have the weather in the UK to do that. The fact that the sun is always shining just makes you feel better.