2024 Internship Guide

FROM ACT NEW GRAD
Congrats on almost finishing! If you are reading this, you are likely at the end
of your med school journey and about to embark on one of the most
exciting journeys (career-wise) there is! It is a huge deal and you should all
be very proud of yourselves!
As an ANU graduate, Canberra has been my home for the past four years. It took me a
while (2 years to be exact) to like the capital city. While Canbs (a nickname for Canberra
by many locals) may not be as busy or popular as other big cities like Sydney, it certainly
has its own perks. I do not have to drive through big-city traffics (like when I was back in
Melbourne). My commute is about 10-15 min each way from home to the Canberra
Hospital depending on parking. The city is buzzing with its growing food and coffee
culture. And this year, ACT is the first territory in the country (if not the world), to table
Australia’s first legislation to ban unnecessary and irreversible intersex surgery on
children. Talk about being progressive and going in the right direction!
I am loving my time in Term 1 ED in the Canberra Hospital at the moment. I do still struggle
to wake up before my shifts but I always have fun during work. I am always well
supported by consultants, registrars, nurses, PTs/allied health, admin and my intern
peers. Having to do shift work can be frustrating and difficult but ED rostering in TCH is
possibly the most understanding and accommodating. In addition to being an intern in
ED, you can also choose to teach/examine clinical skill sessions for the Y3 and Y4 medical
students in ANU, partaking in research projects, and taking up leadership positions in
CRMEC, AMA and JMOA.
For those of you who are looking to move to Canberra to start internship, my short answer
is, “Welcome and you will love it!” The internship cohort is comprised of some ANU grads,
some graduates from other Australian medical schools and IMGs. It is a very diverse
group of talented people from all walks of life who are passionate about medicine. There
are dedicated prevocational education officers within the Canberra Health Services who
are always there to support junior doctors (especially interns) through the highs and lows
of this steep learning curve (with chocolates and candies!).
Finally, a word about the ACT application process. The application process to ACT
internship is a breeze compared to the HETI application or the application process to VIC. I
believe you can choose to do a mixture of Canberra Hospital, Calvary Hospital, Bega and
Goulburn, or a long-term internship program in Bega. I would encourage you all to apply
to as many territories/states to expand your horizon. At the end of the day, it is a job you
have been working towards for at least the past four years, most likely the past eight or
more. Good luck and you got this!
Yangzirui Fu
Dr Yangzirui (Zee) Fu
PGY1, Canberra Hospital (2023)