The Mayans were right, 2012 was a big year, but not in the way that we all thought. After having survived yet another doomsday, I want to take the time to reflect on what was an important year for DiTs in Queensland.

This time last year, the unions were in the midst of negotiating the Medical Officer’s Certified Agreement (MOCA) with Queensland Health. During the negotiation a new state government eager to get the state budget back on track were elected.

The change in government saw a change in the negotiations and we faced the threat of pay freezes and real pay cuts. Fortunately, the unions were able to negotiate a modest pay rise, no change in our working conditions, but were unable to stop the removal of the job security clause.

The removal of the clause was cause for concern as we saw the first wave of job cuts across the public sector. We were told that frontline staff would not be at risk, but we all know of friends and colleagues who have been affected by these fiscal measures.

During this time, Queensland Health devolved into 17 Hospital and Health Services. This resulted in the redistribution of the health budget and the decentralization of health services. This has translated into loss of community and outpatient health services, bed closures and further job losses, including some DiT positions.

2012 also marked the unprecedented event of widespread DiT unemployment at the end of the RMO campaign. This event was a culmination of increasing graduate numbers, a decrease in numbers that hospital were employing, continued recruitment of International Medical Graduates and a parallel campaign system where those applying for higher level positions missed out on RMO positions. The solution for many colleagues has been to seek employment interstate.

AMA Queensland has been working hard to raise awareness on this issue and I can assure that the lack of media attention is not for a lack of trying. RMO unemployment is on the agenda whenever the President Dr Alex Markwell meets with the Health Minister and Queensland Health Director General.

I have stepped into this role as Chair in a time of uncertainty and AMAQCDT will be working very hard this year. There are three key areas I’d like CDT to focus on this year:

1. Liaising with Queensland Health to improve the RMO campaign

2. Tailoring our events to giving members the ‘Competitive Edge’. Our first event will be a Resume and Interview Skills Workshop held in March

3. Improving our communication to members to keep you informed of the latest updates and activities.

I hope you all settle into your new rotations and hospitals soon and look forward to what will be an exciting year!

theroundsRESIDENTS & REGISTRARS M A R 2 0 1 3 • V O L U M E 7

Happy New Year DiTs! BY VANESSA GRAYSON

This has translated into loss of community and outpatient health services, bed closures and further job losses,including some DiT positions.

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The AMA Careers Advisory Service, Careers Consultant, Kathryn Cassidy, reports receiving numerous enquiries regarding general and more specific career pathways in medicine as well as non-medical career alternatives, since going live in September 2012.

The Careers website provides a significant amount of information on these topics, designed to provide advice and support. In addition to direct links to external websites and their specific pages – which address the particulars of these enquiries – it also creates a list of steps to follow along your medical careers pathway.

The Careers Service addresses the needs of all facets of medical professionals, from medical students requiring assistance with their internship applications, particularly resume and cover letter reviews, through to Doctors’ in Training requiring interview skills and techniques to enhance their competitive edge for medical college interviews.

Beyond these enquiries, the Service also reports responding to qualified medical professionals who are interested in exploring employment opportunities beyond medical practice, whilst still utilising their skills and expertise. These have included, for example, non-clinical roles in Commonwealth and State public services but which recognise the skills brought.

Throughout 2013 the Service will continue to update the content on the website including career related events in local areas. Further changes and enhancements will be considered in the light of user feedback.

You are encouraged to visit the website if you haven’t already and we welcome and look forward to your feedback; which can be submitted via the online feedback form on the website.

Stay tuned for more information on how this service can assist you along your medical career path.

If you, and your colleagues, would like to convene a skills workshop facilitated by Kathryn, please contact her directly.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Kathryn Cassidy, Careers Consultant

Phone: (02) 6270 5410 or 1300 884 196 (hotline)

Web: http://careers.ama.com.au

Email: careers@ama.com.au

GROWING YOURPRIVATE PRACTICECONFERENCE 2013 | 19 - 20 JULY | VICTORIA PARK, HERSTON

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL REGISTER BY 20 JUNE 2013

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POINTS20*Subject to approval

KEEPING YOU INFORMEDJob Security

ASMOFQ is coming to your hospital with FREE lunch!

Redland HospitalMonday, 8 April

Townsville HospitalTuesday, 16 April

Mount Isa HospitalMonday, 15 April

Cairns Base HospitalWednesday, 17 April

For more information visit www.amaq.com.au

AMA Careers Advisory Service BY AMA FEDERAL

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As medical students about to commence our second year of book bashing and ‘clinical scenarios’ two close friends and myself were eager to get some clinical exposure, if nothing but to brighten up that clinical light at the end of the academic tunnel. The trip was motivated by a thirst to get out into the clinical world as we consider our future clinical placements with some big choices to make when it comes to 3rd and 4th year placement. After much discussion and consideration it was an end of semester lecture from a director of Queensland Rural Medical Education (QRME), Dr. Scott Kitchener that confirmed our thoughts. We were going rural.

None of us had visited Kingaroy before, but two weeks after a brief conversation with Dr. Kitchener we were down for a week’s placement at Kingaroy hospital. We arrived on the 6th of January to a fully air-conditioned, brand new, self-contained living quarters conveniently situated directly behind the hospital, Xbox 360 and 3D flat screen included.

As we were soon to find out on our first morning in the Hospital the only thing better than the accommodation were the people. Never had I imagined such down to earth and friendly, yet highly skilled and humble staff as those stationed in this rural community. To our amazement the three senior medical officers on staff were professionally skilled in gynecology, obstetrics, surgery, anesthetics and emergency medicine. This was daunting at first but with their expertise and wide ranging skills came great understanding and passion for education. If you didn’t know something one day you were sure to be proficient in it the next.

Within one week we covered, obstetric examination, cyst excision, cannulation, phlebotomy, resetting of broken limbs, psychiatry, treatment of anaphylaxis, enough ECGs to get you through to graduation and the list continues.

By the week’s end we were exhausted but content that our expectations had been fulfilled. The next stop was the local pub where we became proverbial locals in just one night! This led to an overnight trip out bush to one of the local boys properties. We spent our last night in Kingaroy rolling out swags beneath the sunset by a billabong overlooking the mountains, drink in hand.

Among the lessons learnt, many of which you wont find in any textbook, was how much rural professionals have to offer those eager to learn. We were treated to expert teaching, diverse cases, greater responsibility and a comfortable, enthusiastic learning environment. Suddenly the light was much brighter and the tunnel shorter.

Hopefully, many more students will head west seeking similar experience, those who do will have a great time as well as gain valuable skills and training. In the meantime, we’re working on getting the universities, rural health organizations and Student Medical Societies on board to help make the summer holiday week of clinical work experience happen for students statewide - who knows, we may even bring rural medicine back into fashion!

Going RuralBY NICK NOYE

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FACEBOOKLike AMA Queensland on Facebook! Search for us and ‘like’ our page, drop us a line on our wall and check out latest photos.

CONTACT AMA QUEENSLANDFor further information about AMA Queensland or any of the issues covered in this edition of The Rounds, please contact us us on the below details:

TWITTERFollow AMA Queensland President Dr Alex Markwell on Twitter.

Your CDT

Andrew Turner Manager, Workplace Relations AMA Queensland

EMAIL: a.turner@ amaq.com.au

Vanessa Grayson Chair Council of Doctors in Training

EMAIL: vanessa.grayson@uqconnect.edu.au

www.facebook.com/amaqueensland

@amaq-president

Resumé Writing & Interview Skills FREE EVENT!

PRESENTERS ON THE DAY

Australian Medical Association (AMA) Queensland and the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation Queensland (ASMOFQ) are hosting a mentoring session regarding Resumé Writing and Interview Skills.

This session will provide you with information about college application processes and how your candidacy will be assessed.

Please bring your friends for what will be a casual yet beneficial session to your future career.

All doctors and students welcome.

Dr Alex Markwell Emergency Physician at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and AMA Queensland President

Dr Gino Pecoraro Obstetrician and gynaecologist in private practice and Past President of AMA Queensland

Dr Vanessa Grayson SHO at Caboolture Hospital and Chair, Council of Doctors-in-Training, AMA Queensland

Thursday 18 April 2013, from 6pm – 8pmBrisbane location to be confirmed

Nibbles and drinks provided

RSVPEmail: j.ovnic@amaq.com.au

Phone: (07) 3872 2216

PO Box 123, Red Hill, QLD 4059 P: 07 3872 2222F: 07 3856 4727 E: amaq@amaq.com.auwww.amaq.com.au

HOW TO CONTACT US:

Coming event

GET THECOMPETITIVE EDGE !