Embracing the culture --- Dr Pratap Phillip

‘The general feeling of happiness and quality of life, and the honesty in relationships and the friendliness, I have not experienced in any other country.’

Dr Pratap Philip loves medical practice in Griffith, New South Wales. He and his family have truly embraced the Australian culture and rural lifestyle and couldn’t be happier. Pratap and his wife are particularly impressed by the standard of Australian education, in which their daughter Divya has flourished.

Born in India, Pratap has travelled or worked in nearly 40 countries. In Australia, he began working at the Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide, where he received an award from the South Australian Premier for ‘outstanding humanitarian service’. He was also awarded ‘best teacher in medical services’ at Flinders University in 2005.

Having worked in rural and remote areas in India, Pratap found the transition from Adelaide to rural practice in Alice Springs and, later, Griffith to be easy.

His wife Leela, an opthalmologist, was initially unable to gain Australian medical registration, which made their future in Australia uncertain. She has since pursued training in psychiatry and is now working as a Career Medical Officer.

However, Pratap offers this advice to OTDs considering work in Australia. Medicine in Australia is practised at a very high level. Unlike many countries where medical registration is retained for life, here, it must be maintained. You must remain up-to-date and competent by continuously studying and reading, or you will not survive in the Australian system.