Internship Guide 2020

The culmination of your dedication…
Firstly, and most importantly, my congratulations to you on making it to this last stage of your degree. I
appreciate the long road you have traversed from the first day of medical school to now.
Going through medical school is a tough journey. You thoroughly deserve the accolades and approbation that
will be bestowed upon you towards the end of the year.
Your dream is about to become a reality. Like myself, some of you may have dreamt of becoming a doctor at
a very young age, legendary peers or medical family members may have influenced others, and others may
have chosen this career because you knew you had it in you to make a difference. Your upcoming intern year
marks a new beginning in your lives. It is perfectly normal to experience the mixed emotions of jubilation for
having made it, and apprehension as you face unknown challenges in navigating your new role and putting into
practice everything you’ve learned.
The great Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the
world”. Strong words for you to reflect on! Please remember that qualifying as a doctor may be the end of
medical school, but is just the beginning of a journey of life-long learning.
Your studies will provide you with the basic skills and experiences that will start you off right in your career. The
friends you have made in medical school will stay with you throughout life. But you will continue learning and
building newer and bigger networks. That is the nature of medicine. The AMA is a crucial part of your bigger
network.
When I reflect back on my time as an intern, one of the good things about this stage of your career is that no
one expects you to have all the answers, so take the opportunity to ask, watch and learn. Take time to reflect
on what you see and learn, and each day consolidate your learning both from both good experiences and also
challenging ones.
At AMA Queensland, we understand the numerous challenges ahead of you as you start your working life
as a doctor – the challenges of career progression, the need for certainty of training, appropriate industrial
arrangements and safe working conditions, and the government policies that affect you – all of which impact
on the balancing of a rewarding day’s work together with a satisfying home and social life.
A doctor cannot practice effectively without a working knowledge about and support with industrial relations,
human relations, the laws surrounding medical practice and ongoing education. AMA Queensland is focused
on providing this support to its members, so that you can be confident and unhindered in providing high quality
care to your patients.
Ahead of your intern year, attend the AMA Queensland free Intern readiness workshops in Brisbane, Gold Coast
and Townsville. These workshops will provide you with practical tips to help you feel confident as you transition
from student to medical practitioner. You can also attend our free doctor-in-training seminars and the AMA
Queensland annual Junior Doctor Conference. Keep an eye on our website at www.amaq.com.au and social
media platforms for registration information and further updates.
During your intern year, we will provide you with workplace support to ease the transition, and our team will help
you navigate any problems with rosters, overtime, overpayment or underpayment, bullying and harassment.
We also negotiate your employment agreement during your Resident Medical Officer (RMO) years and make
sure you get the terms, conditions and salary that you deserve.
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