Working in the field of medicine will reward you with a passionate, enriching and exciting career, grounded in an inherent desire to help and care for those around you.
Think it’s the right move for you? We spoke to Yiping and Robert, two students currently pursuing a Doctor of Medicine at The University of Notre Dame Australia about their experiences in Australia, their decision to study abroad and the emerging job opportunities for future students and recent graduates.
Why study medicine in Australia?
Aside from the beautiful beaches, incredible food scene and friendly community, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider studying medicine in Australia!
For Robert, a major contributing factor for choosing Australia was Notre Dame’s worldwide renown for teaching and supporting highly successful graduates.
“Medicine is a prestigious degree and naturally you want to be sure the university you choose will give you the best chance at success in your future career,” Robert shares. “Anecdotally, Notre Dame students and graduates have a reputation of being well-rounded and competent medical professionals, which is corroborated by the multiple awards for NSW Junior Medical Officer of the Year going to Notre Dame graduates in recent years.”
Yiping’s decision to choose Australia was based on the study course available only at Notre Dame.
“I chose Notre Dame primarily because of its comprehensive bioethics program and the interactive learning environment it offers. The program is particularly appealing due to its emphasis on ethical medical practice, a crucial aspect of modern medicine,” she shares.
The future of medicine in Australia
According to statistics from the Australian Government, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry is the largest employing industry with 15.6 per cent or 2.2 million people working in this field. As a whole, employment rates are on the rise, with an additional 108,000 workers joining the healthcare workforce in the last year.
Australia is considered one of the healthiest countries in the world. However, AI capabilities and a changing national health profile due to an ageing population and chronic diseases open the door for advancements and improvements to the future of medicine.
Read more: How to become a doctor in Australia
Job opportunities in medicine: Emerging trends
The landscape of medicine in Australia is constantly evolving. As a student or a new graduate, this means increased opportunities and a larger scope to enact real change. To help you understand what the profession might look like in the future, here are some of the emerging trends in medicine in Australia.
A pursuit of speciality niches
Previously, it was common for students to work towards becoming a general practitioner (GP), consulting on medical services to all ages without honing in on a particular field. However, due to a decreased interest in general practice for both practising doctors and medical students, there has been a shift in focus to speciality niches including anaesthesia, psychiatrists, surgeons and more.
Telemedicine and remote monitoring
COVID-19 and social distancing paved the way for widespread telehealth in Australia. The delivery of healthcare via telephone or video call has meant patients can receive on-demand care without the need to travel, especially for those living in rural areas and minimises potential wait times.
Wearable technology devices for remote monitoring have also closed the gap on lengthy delays or in-person visits, allowing medical professionals to receive real-time data on patient’s vitals and other health conditions.
A greater need for geriatric care
Australia’s ageing population has meant a higher demand for medical professionals specialising in geriatric care. These roles can include a focus in the areas of infectious disease, oncology, palliative care, emergency medicine, primary care, health informatics, sports medicine, neurology, endocrinology, chronic disease prevalence and more.
Reliance on biotechnology
Biotechnology medicine is the use of cells – both living and cell materials – to create medicines and products that help treat and prevent diseases in humans. As Robert explains, with the advent of DNA sequencing, genetic engineering and artificial intelligence, there has been a dramatic shift in our understanding of disease and treatments.
“One of the biggest trends in the medical field over the last few decades has been the increasing reliance on biotechnology. It has become imperative for medical professionals to engage in research to bring these advancements from the lab bench to the bedside to improve the treatment of disease,” Robert says.
If you’re ready to start your exciting career in medicine, explore courses at The University of Notre Dame Australia and apply today.
