Careers

C1MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

Career overview

Junior doctors who are interested in the biology and psychology of mental illness may be suited to a career as a psychiatrist.

Professor Philip Mitchell says

his decision to specialise in

psychiatry, when he was a junior

doctor with a prestigious professorial

internship, surprised some of his

colleagues.

“It was assumed that most professorial

interns would go on to physician

or surgical training, so I think some

consultants were concerned about my

mental state when I made that decision.”

But the controversial choice paid off for

Professor Mitchell, who is now head of

the school of psychiatry at the University

of New South Wales.

“It’s a decision I’ve never regretted, I’ve

enjoyed the career enormously”, he says.

Professor Mitchell encourages

junior doctors with an interest in the

psychology and biology of mental illness

to consider following suit.

He says it is “a very exciting time”

for young doctors to enter psychiatry

because of the enormous and growing

public interest in mental health, and the

advances in neurosciences and imaging

and genetic technology.

“We’re just on the threshold

of an enormous explosion in our

understanding of mental health

conditions.”

Professor Mitchell says young doctors

who are “broad in their thinking” could

be well suited to a career in psychiatry.

“You can’t be a good psychiatrist if you

just focus on the biology or just focus on

the psychology; you’ve got to be across

both. To me, that’s part of the enjoyment

and intrigue and challenge of being a

psychiatrist.”

Dr Kym Jenkins, deputy chair of

the board of education at the Royal

Australian and New Zealand College of

Psychiatrists, says that psychiatry’s broad

approach allows psychiatrists to consider

the “whole” patient.

“It’s very holistic. Psychiatrists can

bring the overview and understanding

of medical, biological, psychological and

social aspects of disease to the patient”,

she says.

Psychiatry is not only about making a

diagnosis, it’s also about understanding

how a particular patient became unwell

with their particular illness at this time,

Dr Jenkins says.

She says psychiatry is less black

and white than some other medical

specialties, so doctors who wish to train

in psychiatry need “an ability to tolerate

uncertainty”.

“With orthopaedics, you can do an

x-ray and it’s either broken or it’s not.

But with psychiatry, you have vast

amounts of information from many

sources which you have to process and

formulate in a concise, understandable

way. That’s a key skill of psychiatry. It

can be intellectually challenging, but

that’s partly why it’s so interesting and

stimulating.”

Professor Mitchell agrees psychiatry

can be intellectually demanding, so

he encourages the best graduates to

consider the specialty.

CareersMJA In this

section

C1MIND MATTERSWhy specialise in psychiatry? Experts give their views.

C2REGISTRAR Q+ADr Brad Hayhow, Senior psychiatry registrar

C5MEDICAL MENTORProfessor Louise Newman on her career as a psychiatrist

C7ROAD LESS TRAVELLEDHelping homeless people access medical care

C8MONEY AND PRACTICERiding the super rollercoaster

Mind matters

continued on page C2

Editor: Sophie McNamara • smcnamara@mja.com.au • (02) 9562 6666

Prof Philip Mitchell

‘‘We’re just on the threshold of an enormous

explosion in our understanding of mental

health conditions. ”

Careers

C2 MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

Career overview

“If you look at the psychiatry

profession, we have some of the

brightest academics of all the medical

professions. So I think that some of

the best graduates should really think

seriously about psychiatry as a career”,

he says.

Psychiatrists regularly work with

other health professionals, such as

general practitioners, psychologists

and occupational therapists, so an

appreciation of teamwork is essential.

“If you’re the sort of person who

wants to be, ‘look at me I’m the

doctor, why don’t you all follow my

instructions’, then don’t do psychiatry”,

advises Dr Jenkins, who is also medical

director at the Victorian Doctors’ Health

Program.

For doctors who do choose to

specialise in psychiatry, the rewards

can be immense. Professor Mitchell

says there is a misperception that

many people with mental illness

don’t respond to treatment, when in

reality many people are able to make

enormous differences in their lives

following psychiatric treatment.

“When I see people who’ve had to

drop out of their career, or struggle to

maintain their family or marriage, to be

able to help them get back into it all is

incredibly rewarding”, says Professor

Mitchell.

There are substantial

subspecialisation opportunities for

doctors who complete their advanced

training in psychiatry, including

psychotherapy, forensic psychiatry,

child and adolescent psychiatry, and

consultation and liaison psychiatry.

Most Australian psychiatrists work

in the private sector, but many do a

combination of both private and public

sector work which provides them with

exposure to a broad range of psychiatric

conditions.

“I think that’s one of the beauties of

psychiatry, that you can generally fi nd

the mix of public and private that suits

your circumstances”, says Dr Jenkins.

Professor Mitchell says the on-call

demands of psychiatry are also more

“family friendly” than many other

specialties, and enable doctors to strike

a good work–life balance.

Sophie McNamara

Training

After completing a medical degree and intern year, junior doctors can apply for the Psychiatric Training Program off ered by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Entry into the training program is not as competitive as some other specialties such as surgery or dermatology; however, every applicant is carefully selected by a panel of psychiatrists for suitability to the profession.

The training program consists of 3 years of basic training, which

includes core clinical skills training, a mandatory rural term, and training in psychotherapy as well as other skills and experiences. Advanced training involves 2 years of training in general psychiatry or a subspecialty such as adult psychiatry, addiction psychiatry or psychiatry of old age.

The training program allows for some fl exibility, such as part-time training or training breaks in certain circumstances.

More information is available at: http://www.ranzcp.org/student-portal/becoming-a-psychiatrist.html

Registrar Q+A

Dr Brad Hayhow, senior psychiatry registrar, Fremantle Hospital and Health Service, Western Australia.

Why psychiatry?

I studied philosophy and literature as an undergraduate, so I guess the interests I developed then were always going to sway me in the direction of psychiatry. Even so, I tended to enjoy most areas of medicine, and I spent 3 years as a resident in a range of diff erent jobs. The thing that ultimately appealed to me most about psychiatry was how comprehensive it was. I always thought the work was interesting and I always liked the patients and their stories, but it was the opportunity to integrate the wide range of skills I’d developed that persuaded me to join the psychiatry training program.

What do you enjoy about psychiatry?

There are lots of things to like about psychiatry — great patients, meaningful work, new research programs, reasonable hours — but probably the best thing is the variety. No two days are ever the same, and there are so many areas of practice. I fi nd it immensely engaging and rewarding.

What do you dislike?

Like many junior doctors I fi nd it diffi cult to balance my training needs with service demands, and I’m frustrated by the growing “bureaucratisation” of medicine. Asking doctors to describe their clinical activity using crudely deployed accounting tools is like asking orchestras to describe symphonies using tambourines and tin whistles. The information is mostly meaningless and it distracts us all from more useful pursuits.

What do you want to do once you’ve completed

your training?

My core interest is in neuropsychiatry, which deals with mental disorders attributable to diseases of the nervous system. Although that may sound narrow, it is actually rather broad because it considers both the psychiatric aspects of neurological conditions and the neurological aspects of psychiatric conditions. It’s basically medicine of the brain and behaviour, which are often two sides of the same coin.

Do you have any mentors?

I’m fortunate to have had several excellent mentors over the years and I’m a big advocate of the apprenticeship model of clinical training. Because doctors invest so much of their lives in their work, they should feel that work is worth living. I think that developing strong professional relationships is a surprisingly eff ective way to achieve that.

continued from page C1

Careers

C3MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

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Careers

C4 MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

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Careers

C5MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

Medical mentor

Professor Louise Newman

refl ects on her career in psychiatry

“When I left school in 1976, I was

interested in philosophy, politics

and gender studies, so I did an

honours degree in psychology. During

the early 80s, I became interested in

psychological theories of development

and psychoanalysis, which were big at

universities in those days. Psychology,

at the time, was very much dominated

by behaviourism, a theory that I didn’t

particularly like. I wanted to do clinical

work and was interested in abnormal

psychology, so I decided to try to get

into medicine when I was in my 20s and

study psychoanalysis along the way.

I was among the fi rst 10 graduate

entries into medicine. Studying

medicine was a big decision and it’s

been quite a long path. But I was lucky

to get that broad education.

My interest in early development

led me into child psychiatry. I’m an

infant psychiatrist, so I see parents with

babies up to 3 years of age. I work with

so-called ‘high-risk’ parents, who are

often people with psychiatric diffi culties

or their own history of abuse or neglect.

Some of them have clinical diagnoses

related to their own early trauma. I’ve

always been interested in the impact of

trauma on development.

I’m working at the cutting edge

of transgenerational issues, but

there hasn’t been much research into

interventions that prevent psychiatric

conditions impacting from one

generation to the next. Looking at

babies and young children who might

be at risk of developing problems is

very encouraging work. We don’t catch

mental disorders, like the common

cold, in adolescence. There are lots

of risk factors, much earlier, and it’s

those I’m trying to work with. It’s hard

because it’s an under-researched area

and it’s hard to get research dollars. But

I’ve got some PhD and research staff

at Monash looking at the impact of

interventions for high-risk parents.

I am interested in interventions

that might help parents who end

up in a child protection system.

We’re doing things like taking video

footage of parent–infant interactions

and playing this back to parents,

teaching them about communication

and play. We’re also using training

DVDs to teach parents about how

babies communicate. We’re using

functional MRI to help us understand

parents’ responses to different

emotions in the faces of children.

We also do refugee research.

We’re looking at the school-based

identifi cation of young people who

might be still suffering symptoms of

trauma-related conditions, due to what

they experienced both before coming

here and as refugees. About 12 years

ago, my interest in children’s rights

to care and protection led me into the

issues of asylum-seeking children. I

was involved in some of the earliest

work at the Woomera and Baxter

detention centres in South Australia.

There were very high rates of distress

and mental disorder.

The government, sadly, has gone

back to the detention of children.

My personal view is that the profession

has an absolute moral and ethical duty

to speak out about bad policy. Many

of us are fi nding the current situation

quite distressing, but a pleasing thing

is the number of medical students and

young people who are interested.

The psychiatrists involved in this

work were maybe naïve at the

beginning of this, 10 years ago.

We thought surely if we spoke out and

pointed out the damage that was being

done to people, then the system would

change. It took a lot of fi ghting to get

any change, which was confronting. As

doctors, we expect that our advice is

listened to.

I chair an independent advisory

group — the Detention Expert Health

Advisory Group for the Department of

Immigration and Citizenship — and

we are deeply concerned about what is

happening. This is not just psychiatrists.

This is physicians, paediatricians and

a whole range of health professionals

who are all deeply concerned. We’ve

found over the years that we need to

meet regularly to discuss these issues,

to give each other support. We have

formed close relationships, which

is essential. It’s not the sort of work

you can do alone. I think it absolutely

inadvisable to do so.”

Interviewed by Heather Wiseman

‘‘the profession has an absolute moral and

ethical duty to speak out about bad policy

”

Melbourne infant psychiatrist Professor Louise Newman specialises in disorders that make parenting diffi cult. At Monash University, she is Professor of Developmental Psychiatry and Director of the Centre for Developmental Psychology and Psychiatry. Professor Newman is Chair of the Detention Expert Health Advisory Group for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. She is also Chair of the Borderline Personality Disorder Expert Reference Group for the Department of Health and Ageing. In January, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her services to medicine in perinatal, child and adolescent mental health, to education and as an advocate for refugee and asylum seekers.

Careers

C6 MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

D E P A R T M E N T O F H E A L T H

Health Careers & Opportunitiesin the Northern Territory

If you want your career to go places then join Department of Health in the Northern Territory. The challenges and opportunities in health and community care in the Territory are like no other in Australia, from remote Aboriginal health to tropical health and Australia’s National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre. Continued investments in Aboriginal health, remote health, acute care and community services offer many opportunities for health professionals who want to be part of making a difference.

HEALTH SERVICES

COMMUNITY GENERAL PRACTITIONER, YIRRKALASenior Rural Medical Practitioner (SRMP) RL 4.1 – 4.4Remuneration Package Range $185 860 – $207 238(Comprising salary $163 143 – $182 031, superannuation, leave loading and the value of 2 weeks extra recreation leave)Potential total Remuneration Package in the vicinity of $465 260 which includes the above Package Range and in addition; SRMP allowance, attraction allowance, retention allowance, professional development allowance, potential medicare revenue activity incentive payment, Fares Out of Isolated Localities, fully subsidised accommodation. A relocation allowance may apply.Top End Remote Health – Yirrkala Health CentreTemporary contract for 2 to 5 years is available

A vacancy is available based in Yirrkala in the Top End of the Northern Territory (NT) for an experienced General Practitioner (GP) with rural medical experience or qualifi cations, to live and work in the community as part of a multidisciplinary primary health care team of Remote Area Nurses, Aboriginal Health Workers, administration team, drivers and visiting professionals. Servicing a population of approximately 1000, Yirrkala is located 18 km south east of Nhulunbuy on Cape Arnhem and is accessible via the Central Arnhem Road, with travel time approximately 15 minutes.

You will be responsible for clinical and public health services to remote Aboriginal communities and their outstations. You will work in a team with resident Aboriginal Health Workers and Remote Area Nurses, and in the larger communities, other resident GPs. Support is provided by visiting GP and specialist medical services, as well as a range of allied health professionals. Telephone consultations are available to both the GP and the rest of the primary health care team, and ensure that the workload for solo GPs is sustainable. Emergency medical retrievals are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Gove District Hospital provides secondary care and Royal Darwin Hospital is the destination for tertiary care. Your professional and management support base will be in Darwin, which you will visit regularly.

Successful applicant will have a medical degree eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA), a current driver’s licence and experience or interest in Aboriginal health. International medical graduates must meet the qualifi cations and experience criteria specifi ed by the AHPRA. Those seeking vocational training with either Royal Australian College of General Practitioners or AustralianCollege of Rural and Remote Medicine are advised that this location has been eligible for support from the Remote Vocation Training Scheme.

Quote Vacancy Number: 30347

For further information please contact Dr Hugh Heggie on (08) 8922 8245 or email hugh.heggie@nt.gov.au or Christine Seth on (08) 8985 8132 or email christine.seth@nt.gov.au

Closing date: 30 September 2011

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applicants should address the selection criteria and provide a current CV and contact details for 2 referees (preferably an email address) as well as complete the Credentialing and Scope of Clinical Practice Application Form for Remote Health. A full job description and Credentialing Application Form can be obtained by visiting www.nt.gov.au/jobs Further information about these positions can be obtained by FREECALL 1300 659 247 or email recruitmentjobvacancies@nt.gov.au

Information on the Territory and its great lifestyle is available at www.theterritory.com.au

Note: The preferred or recommended applicant will be required to hold a current Working with Children Clearance notice / Ochre Card (application forms available from SAFE NT @ www.workingwithchildren.nt.gov.au) and undergo a criminal history check. A criminal history will not exclude an applicant from this position unless it is a relevant criminal history.

Department of Health is a Smoke Free Workplace

NT1

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Careers

C7MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

Road less travelled

Helping homeless people access medical care

While most doctors practise in

hospitals or private consulting

rooms, Dr Andrew Davies

works in homeless shelters and drop-in

centres. His Mobile GP service provides

medical care for the homeless and

marginalised in Perth, in environments

that are familiar to them. This means Dr

Davies has to lug his medical kit to each

clinic.

“In the boot of my car, I put a backpack

and a plastic toolkit that basically has the

entirety of a GP practice, including an

ECG machine and defi brillator.”

He decided to set up Mobile GP after

being inspired by a placement during his

GP training in which he had substantial

contact with homeless people.

“I found it absolutely fascinating,

particularly the challenge of the complex

conditions that presented”, he says.

When he established Mobile GP in

2008, it employed just Dr Davies and a

social worker, and he was planning to do

two sessions of 4 hours each week.

Within a year, demand for the service

was so high that he was doing 42 hours’

patient care each week, plus managing

the charity.

Mobile GP now employs three part-

time GPs, two nurses, a community

mental health nurse and administrators.

This year, the service expects to hold

about 6000 consultations with 1500

patients. “The numbers are quite huge,

especially when you consider what we do

in each visit”, says Dr Davies.

The most common presentations are

mental health and dependency issues,

followed by chronic disease. Many

patients have comorbid conditions and

have not seen mainstream doctors for

many years.

“Our biggest problem is there’s just

not enough time to see everybody.

Overnight I think we could double the

service, given the number of people that

we’re turning away.”

The service has plans for expansion,

and is seeking more GPs and specialists,

particularly psychiatrists.

He says that by taking medical care to

homeless people, rather than waiting for

them to seek care, Mobile GP has helped

break down some of the barriers that

exist between homeless people and the

medical system. “The patients love it. It’s

somewhere they feel secure. Homeless

people aren’t always the cleanest, politest

people, so when they rock up to a normal

general practice they often get treated

quite poorly. They have a lot of mistrust

of the system.”

He says Mobile GP also fi lls a gap

for patients who might otherwise “fall

through the cracks” because of the

separation of drug and alcohol services

from mental health services.

Dr Davies says the biggest reward is

seeing patients turn their lives around.

“The long-term reward is huge. If you

expect changes immediately, you’re not

going to get them, but over the longer

term, it’s very rewarding.”

He cites the example of a middle-

aged man who 3 years ago was severely

depressed, alcoholic and struggling with

his sexuality, but has now quit alcohol, is

treating his depression and has enrolled

in a TAFE course.

“He came on a weekly basis for about

3 years, so it’s quite intensive work. But

he makes me think, that’s what we’re

here for — to get people reconnected to

society and participating.”

In addition to the drop-in centre

services, Mobile GP also provides

clinics in drug and alcohol residential

rehabilitation centres, and will soon

operate from transitional housing

services. “We were approached by drug

and alcohol therapeutic communities

because they were struggling to get their

residents into GPs. Because of the history

of drug abuse, some GPs felt threatened

that they’d be asked for drugs.”

Mobile GP is mainly funded through

Medicare bulk-billing rebates, plus some

funding from WA Health. Dr Davies’

initial fear that many homeless people

would not have Medicare numbers has

been unfounded.

“Many have lost their cards because

of the tumultuous lives they’ve lived. But

we’re fi nding that most of them do have

numbers, if you ring Medicare and ask.”

Dr Davies has established agreements

with some pathology and radiology

centres to provide bulk-billed services.

When specialist care is required, patients

are referred to public hospitals.

However, he says Mobile GP ends up

managing some conditions that might be

referred in other situations, because many

patients are still reluctant to enter the

mainstream health system.

“I was looking at an emergency

department recently, with the hard plastic

chairs and the glass so that you can’t talk

directly to the person. It’s such a contrast

to our clinics. That’s why the homeless

people like seeing us; we don’t have a

piece of glass between us and them.”

Sophie McNamara

For more information, see http://www.mobilegp.org.au

Taking it to the streets

‘‘Homeless

people aren’t

always the

cleanest,

politest

people, so

when they

rock up to a

normal general

practice they

often get

treated quite

poorly.

”

Dr Davies looks on as a nurse takes a patient’s blood pressure

Dr Davies says Mobile GP helps breaks down the barriers to care

Careers

C8 MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

Money and practice

Riding the super rollercoaster Ensure your self-managed super fund can cope with the highs and lows of the share market

I t is not market volatility that has

the biggest impact on self-managed

superannuation funds — it’s whether

the fund is being properly managed.

Superannuation management advisers

say that medical practitioners need to

regularly review their self-managed

superannuation funds (SMSFs) to get the

most out of them rather than concentrate

on the day-to-day ups and downs of the

share market.

“The problem is most managed funds

are not managed”, says Dr Bill Glasson,

a former AMA president and Brisbane

ophthalmologist who is on the board of

directors of MAP, a “profi t for members”

superannuation and investment fund

established by doctors more than 50 years

ago.

“Unfortunately, not a lot of thought goes

into [SMSFs], which is understandable

with doctors”, Dr Glasson says, referring to

the fact that most doctors don’t have time

to closely monitor their super.

Alex MacLachlan of Dixon Advisory &

Superannuation Services says doctors with

an SMSF need regular advice about their

portfolios, tax strategies, compliance and

other areas rather than trying to deal with

it all themselves, and suggests doctors fi nd

a full service provider to assist them.

“While many doctors enjoy being

involved with an SMSF as it can be

quite stimulating and challenging, the

very nature of their profession demands

a large amount of their time”, says Mr

MacLachlan, the managing director of

funds management with Dixon Advisory.

Michael Lorimer, a director at MGD

Wealth, a fi nancial advisory service

specialising in SMSFs, says it is not

market volatility that dictates the success

or otherwise of an SMSF but how the

fund has been crafted and its long-term

investment strategy.

Mr Lorimer says for most SMSF owners,

market volatility should usually be a case of

“grit your teeth and bear it”.

“It comes down to your overall

investment strategy. If that is properly

understood then market volatility is not

really relevant”, Mr Lorimer says.

Although the “sit and wait strategy” is

‘‘SMSFs were

well positioned

to ride out

the global

fi nancial

crisis

”THE recent volatility on the share

market prompted a dermatologist and

a geriatrician who share a self-managed

superannuation fund to seek advice from

Dixon Advisory about how to lower their

risk and how to take advantage of tax

strategies.

Alex MacLachlan, managing director

of funds management at Dixon

Advisory, says the two doctors held a

signifi cant amount of listed Australian

direct equities without considering

other asset classes, and they were not

comfortable with this high-growth/

high-risk strategy.

It was recommended that they

diversify their direct stock portfolio into

exchange-traded funds (listed managed funds

traded on the Australian Securities Exchange)

and listed investment companies, and reduce

their overall exposure to shares by adding

more bonds, preference shares and gold to

their portfolio. With these changes, not only

has stock-specifi c risk reduced within their

SMSF but the income generated from

bonds and preference shares provides

more consistent cash fl ow and reduced

capital volatility.

“Given these two doctors already owned

their medical property in their personal

names, we advised them to consider

purchasing the property outright through

their SMSF, as they had accumulated

suffi cient capital through salary-sacrifi cing

strategies and contributions to do so”,

Mr MacLachlan says.

“By purchasing their medical property

inside the SMSF, this provided a more

capital-stable investment with regular

rental income and enhanced their portfolio

diversifi cation, plus freed up capital in their

personal names.

“All rent payable by the two doctors to

the medical property would eff ectively be

retained by them through the SMSF in a

tax-eff ective environment and allow them

to continue to build up their cash balance”,

Mr MacLachlan says.

Doing it for themselves

Alex MacLachlan

011

Careers

C9MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

Michael Lorimer

REDUCING fees is often the primary goal

for doctors who want to set up their own

self-managed superannuation fund — but

a successful SMSF needs much more.

Dr Bill Glasson, a member of the MAP

board of directors, says many doctors

enthusiastically start an SMSF but tend to

lose enthusiasm, leaving the fund without

proper management.

Dr Glasson says he knows of medical

colleagues who carefully and successfully

manage their SMSFs. However, for most

doctors, the time, eff ort and risk involved

means that an SMSF is not always the best

option.

MAP advises doctors to consider six

essential issues when establishing and

running an SMSF:

1. Strategy: Without an appropriate

strategy, it is easy to slip into a reactive

rather than proactive approach to

investments. For example, when

market conditions change many

trustees make impulsive changes to

their portfolio to chase better returns or

reduce negative fi nancial impacts in a

downturn.

2. Benchmarking: SMSFs can’t compare

against other self-managed funds, or

against retail and industry funds. This lack

of comparison makes it diffi cult for trustees

to judge if they have added to the fund’s

value or hindered potential.

3. Research: Doctors who are trustees of

SMSFs must fi nd time in their busy careers

to undertake appropriate research and

analysis to make strategic decisions.

4. Estate planning: Without appropriate

planning, the death of an SMSF trustee can

mean that intended benefi ciaries may not

receive funds and this may cause liquidity

issues.

5. Legislation: The superannuation industry

is heavily regulated, and regulations and

legislation are regularly subject to change.

Trustees must remain up-to-date with

the legislation to ensure their SMSF is fully

compliant.

6. Administration: Accountants provide

important services for SMSFs, but their

focus will be on past events (particularly

taxation) rather than future planning.

This task is therefore usually left to the

trustee.

Taking control

generally viewed as a good one during

volatile times, it can also provide an

opportunity to review an SMSF.

However, as SMSFs are so diverse,

advisers are reluctant to offer general

advice about how funds should ride out

market volatility.

But SMSFs were well positioned to

ride out the global fi nancial crisis (GFC)

because they generally have a higher

allocation to cash and a lower weighting to

international investments and assets not

easily converted to cash compared with

most retail and industry funds, says Mr

MacLachlan.

“Times change and personal

circumstances change, so it is important to

regularly review your investment portfolio,

and this applies particularly in [a volatile]

environment”, he says.

“For example, in the lead up to and

throughout the GFC, our investment

committee recommended clients make

signifi cant adjustments to their

portfolios, such as exiting

listed property and

infrastructure securities,

entering the market

for physical gold and

purchasing high-grade,

medium duration,

Australian-dollar-

denominated

corporate

bonds.

‘‘Trying to

determine

when to

enter and exit

markets is

very diffi cult,

so the best

strategy is to

have a long-

term view

”

“We remained invested in some

asset classes such as Australian

equities, which suffered from falling

asset prices, but our asset-allocation-

focused approach assisted clients to

minimise losses caused by the GFC”, Mr

MacLachlan says.

During the latest market volatility, the

place of gold in an investment strategy

was affected by its record high prices.

However, Mr MacLachlan says the

merits of gold as a hedge against both

equity market volatility and infl ation

warrant its inclusion in most SMSF

portfolios.

Mr Lorimer says in his company most

clients with an SMSF had on average

about 25%–30% in Australian equities,

20% in international equities and the

rest in a mix of cash, fi xed interest and

property.

“In SMSFs, it does all come back to

how robust the investment strategy

is, not about the timing of particular

markets”, Mr Lorimer says.

“Trying to determine when to enter

and exit markets is very diffi cult, so the

best strategy is to have a long-term view. “

Mr Lorimer says it is equally critical to

ensure that short-term liquidity needs

are properly managed for those assets

that are less prone to market volatility.”

However, he notes that the recent

market lows suggest, on most measures,

that shares represent good value,

particularly if the focus is on good

quality equities.

Mr Lorimer says doctors should

remember that not every SMSF can

perform better than a retail or industry

fund and nor should that be a valid

comparison. However, those who do

choose the SMSF path usually do so

because they want to be in a position

where they can control decisions about

their future.

Kath Ryan

Careeers

C10 MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

Locums

www.amawa.com.au

To work with AMA Recruit contact us on:

Telephone (08) 9273 3033Fax (08) 9273 3034Email recruit@amawa.com.au

AMA Recruit, 14 Stirling Hwy, Nedlands WA 6009

RECRUIT

General PracticeOpportunities

AMA (WA) is the premier organisation

representing the medical profession and is a

leader in medical recruitment services.

We currently have contract and permanent

positions available throughout Australia.

Careers

C11MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

Locums

Careeers

C12 MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

Overseas Appointments

Foundation Dean of the TwinnedMedical Degree Programme

Expressions of Interest are invited for the aboveposition

The partners AUCMS, NUIG and UCC as listed above haveentered a shared venture to deliver the Irish Medical degreein partnership through a joint programme delivered in Irelandfor the initial pre-clinical phase of the degree, followed by theprovision of the clinical phase in Malaysia. The partners wishto appoint in Malaysia a Foundation Dean to develop theteaching programme within the clinical setting of TaipingHospital principally, and within other hospital facilities, and inGeneral Practice/Primary Care settings.

The Dean will be responsible for negotiations with hospitalmanagement and senior clinicians to have in place the properteaching resources and facilities through which the Medicalcurriculum of the Irish partners will be delivered to thehighest standards, once the students arrive in the spring of2014 and thereafter.

In managing the project and delivering the key developmentsthe Dean will

progress is made and that problems are identified, reportedand addressed in a timely manner

that sufficient clinical placements are available in eachdiscipline and that appropriate teaching capacity is in place

module leaders in specialist disciplines, and support tutors asnecessary

and other key stakeholders

Eligibility: Expressions of interest are invited from highlyqualified individuals with a proven record in clinical practice,research, medical education and administration. A workingknowledge of Irish Medical Education and of the MalaysianHealthcare system are desirable.

A generous remuneration package commensurate with theduties of the post will be provided. The appointee will bedirectly employed by AUCMS but an honorary academicappointment commensurate with the successful applicant’srecord may be made at the Irish universities. Expressions ofinterest received in the form of a personal letter (pdf format)by e-mail attachment before October 14th 2011 will beconsidered (A full CV is not required but candidates shouldinclude a profile of experience and skills which they feel arerelated to the role). Expressions of interest should be sent to:k.neville@ucc.ie. Appointment will be made after apresentation, and interview by a panel of representativesfrom all three partners. Interviews will be held in Ireland inNovember 2011, and the successful candidate will be expectedto take up post early in 2012.

Allianze University CollegeMedical School (AUCMS),Penang, Malaysia

University College Cork (UCC),Ireland

National University of IrelandGalway (NUIG), Ireland

NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL PLACEMENTSRMOs, Consultants and GPs Auckland Medical Bureauis New Zealand’s oldest agency for doctors. We specialise inlocum /permanent placements nationwide and offer friendly,personal assistance with registration, visas, relocation etc.Contact Fran or Alison: PH (0064) 9 377 5903 FAX (0064) 9 377 5902Email: doctors-amb.nz@xtra.co.nz www.doctorjobs.co.nz

Specialist Appointments

TARGETING AUSTRALIANHEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS?

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Contact our Sales teamat MJA Marketplace

Ph: 02 9562 6666E: advertising@mja.com.au

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Careers

C13MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

Principal Research Fellow3 Year flexible contract with salary and hours negotiated based on experience and skills. There will also be opportunities for the successful candidate to combine this position with either clinical or public healthattachments.

Menzies offers attractive salary packaging benefits and up to 14% Superannuation.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a joint senior research position located at Menzies School of Health Research andThe National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre.

The National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre is based at Royal Darwin Hospital and is funded by the AustralianGovernment to maintain a state of readiness for major national health incidents and the implementation of strategicpriorities. It has an increasing leadership role in national disaster preparedness.

The NCCTRC is located on the 8th Floor of the Royal Darwin Hospital. Along with the research component, there are opportunities for the successful candidate to extend the research role with a clinical and or public healthcomponent.

Menzies School of Health Research has an internationally respected reputation for delivering high qualityresearch in indigenous health and in the Asian/Pacific region.

This joint appointment between Menzies School of Health Research and the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre will contribute to Menzies research agenda in infectious diseases, with a particularemphasis on infectious diseases threats in a disaster setting. The research program will also relate to border security, pandemic preparedness and global emerging infectious diseases issues. Other duties will include assisting the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre in developing Australia’spreparedness for disaster and in developing and delivering education programs to improve the skills of clinicians to meet disaster needs particularly in the field of emerging infectious diseases.

Contact: Dr Ian Norton on 08 8944 8084 or email Ian.Norton@nt.gov.au orProfessor Bart Currie on 08 8922 8196 or email Bart.Currie@menzies.edu.au

Closing Date: 28th October 2011

Menzies is a Health Promotion Charity (HPC). HPC salary packaging arrangements can significantly increase your take home salary. Menzies also provides generous superannuation benefits, 6 weeks annual leave, andflexible working arrangements.

For information on how to apply for this position and to obtain the Position Description and Selection Criteria please visit www.menzies.edu.au or phone 08 8943 5052 / 5081

Research, Grants & Funding

Careeers

C14 MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

GP WANTED IVANHOE VICWe are not a large impersonal practice but a thrivingfriendly, medium-sized clinic (4 Doctors) who would lovea 5th person to join us. Excellent support with full time nurses, on site radiology/ pathology and allied health.Choose your own hours (PT/FT). No AH. Generous remuneration.

Please call John or Ken 03 94971188 or email: admin@livstclinic.aushealth.biz

GP required ParramattaExciting new practice looking for a vocationally registered GP with no restrictions. State of the art facility in busycommercial district staffed with practice manager, practice nurses and dental staff also. Flexibility with working hours.

For more information phone Sarah on 0439 352 723.

Forensic Medical Officer The Clinical Forensic Medicine Unit of NSW Police Force is looking for experienced medical practitioners to assist with the provision of a 24-hour forensic medical service inthe Sydney Metropolitan area including (but not necessarilylimited to) the:

a. Examination of victims and suspects of physicalassault

b. Assessment of police detainees for fitness to be detained and interviewed

c. Collection of forensic specimens

d. Preparation of medico-legal reports and attendanceat court where required

e. Provision of advice to police and others regardingclinical forensic medical matters

Doctors, preferably with a postgraduate qualification in arelated specialty or field, should have excellent clinical andcommunication skills with unconditional Australian medicalregistration, a current drivers licence and independent means of transport.

Training will be provided.

Information Package contact: Veronika Dechnik, Executive Officer,T:(02)9688 9335 M: 0417 971 885,E: dech1ver@police.nsw.gov.auEnquiries: Dr Margaret Stark, Director, CFMU, T: 02 9265 4401 E: star1mar@police.nsw.gov.au

GP Opportunities Specialist Appointments

Executive Appointments

Medical Advisor - Respiratory

K) is a global leader insGlaxoSmithKline (GSKK)rch and development with a long hpharmaceutical researrAustralia. The Medical Directorateuand proud history in AA

tive and dynamic destination toveat GSK is an innovatati destination torcial career for medically qualifi ed ciadevelop a commercerc er for m

professionals.

odern new offi ces in Abbotsford, Melbourne, we are dernBased in our modmodern looking for a medically qualifi ed and commercially astute ookingcurrently looky lookking

Medical Advisor to act as the key medical representative across thedi l Ad dviRespiratory portfolio – which includes some of our most successful tobrands. ds

You will drive medical governance through your work with commercial oustakeholders. You will work collaboratively and strategically with a variety staof stakeholders, actively manage project teams to address product issues, oand lead the review and approval of materials for promotional campaignsamongst other duties.

Medically qualifi ed, you will be commercially savvy and aware. Any commercial experience is an advantage, with external expert engagement a key focus.

Please apply online at www.gsk.com.au/careers Req ID 69850. Enquiriescan be directed to Gabrielle Bassett at GSK Careers on +613 9721 8743.

GS

KN

S14

544

LOOKING FOR SPECIALISTS?

Ph: E:

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BROWSE 100S OF MEDICAL BOOKS IN THE MJA BOOKSHOP!Visit our safe, secure medical book shop at: http://shop.mja.com.au * AMA Members and Students receive a 10% discount!

Careers

C15MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

University AppointmentsContinuing Medical Education

Chair in Rural General PracticeFaculty HealthSchool Medicine and South West HealthcareReference number 110371Applications close Sunday 2 October 2011Salary An attractive salary package will be negotiated

including 17% superannuationPosition status Full-time and continuingLocation Warrnambool CampusContact Professor Brendan Crotty on 03 5227 2948 Apply Online at www.deakin.edu.au/jobs

Equal Opportunity is University Policy

MELBOURNE GEELONG WARRNAMBOOL

MJA

DHR1

1091

9MA

Human Resources 03 9246 8139 Deakin University is proud to be recognised as an organisation that offers a friendly and supportive working environment in which our staff are committed to making a difference by contributing to excellence in education. Our professionally diverse staff are afforded a great deal of varietyin their work, and enjoy the physical location and natural surrounds of our working environments.

Advertise with theMedical Journal of Australia

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Careeersers

C16 MJA 195 (6) · 19 September 2011

HOLIDAY LETTINGLooking for a tenant for your vacant holiday house?Advertise your property within the new MJA!The MJA publishes Australia’s highest circulating classified section, reaching 27,000 doctors and healthcare professionals nationally.

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Practice For Sale

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LEASE - MEDICAL ROOMS – UMINA NSWExcellent location with high exposure & easy access. 130m2 approx with 3 consult rooms, reception / waiting & amenities. $25,800 P/A net

Call 02 4322 5566 Reply Brendan@coastalpropertyagents.com.au

For SaleLong Established Family Practice Coastal Resort TownAccredited A.G.P.A.L. to 2013 Mid North Coast N.S.W.Gross fees in excess of $500,000Mixed Billings; Private/Bulk Bill as Two Thirds/One ThirdLeasehold Premises Stand alone Clinic buildingQuality Equipment Level

Phone 041 341 9787 After 5.00 p.m.or Before 8.00 a.m. Please

Advertise your property within the new MJA! The MJA publishes Australia’s highest circulating classified section for Specialists and GPs, reaching 27,000 doctors and healthcare professionals nationally.

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