'Stepping up to consultant' is a series of resources to support doctors to successfully transition from trainee to medical specialist.
Fractional roles and working across multiple health services – the upsides!
Out of necessity:
Early in your consultant career, larger fractional roles might not be readily available in one location.
Starting in multiple roles helps establish your presence across different settings.
Develop a broader skill set:
Each role offers the chance to refine distinct skills.
Exposure to varied patient cohorts, clinical approaches, and team dynamics enhances adaptability and expertise.
Diverse experiences:
Working in locations such as rural, regional, metro, or private practices can bring richness to your professional journey.
This diversity may shape your long-term preferences and career goals.
Expanded network:
Working across multiple locations allows you to build connections with a broader range of colleagues, administrators, and leaders.
This expanded network can provide opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and career development.
Lifestyle flexibility:
Combining roles in different areas (e.g., metro and regional) allows balance between personal and professional priorities.
Discover your ideal role:
Working across settings helps clarify which practice type, patient group, and workplace culture best align with your values and goals.
Financial opportunities:
Working across multiple workplaces can offer financial advantages, such as accessing higher rates for locum work, salary packaging or diversifying income streams.
We will explore this further in a future instalment of Stepping Up to Consultant.
Reflection questions
Your vision:
What is your ideal work-life balance?
What types of patients and clinical environments excite you the most?
Skill development:
Are there specific skills or experiences you want to gain?
How might varied roles contribute to your professional growth?
Exploring diversity:
Have you considered working in different geographic locations?
How might exposure to diverse health services impact your career trajectory?
Planning steps to implement this approach
Research opportunities:
Explore available roles in public, private, and community health services.
Consider locum work to gain short-term experience in different settings.
Set clear goals:
Identify what you hope to learn or achieve in each location.
Align roles with your long-term career aspirations.
Build networks:
Connect with consultants who have taken similar paths.
Seek mentors to guide you through decisions about work locations. (AMA Victoria has a mentoring program – contact us if you would like more information)
Building and leveraging professional networks will be expanded upon in a future instalment of Stepping Up to Consultant.
Evaluate regularly:
Reflect on what you enjoy or find challenging about each role.
Adjust your career strategy based on new insights and preferences.
Next steps
Stepping into a consultant role is a major transition — don’t do it alone. AMA Victoria’s Professional Development and Careers team is here to support you.
If you're a member, start by booking a 15-minute Career Call to get clear on your direction. For deeper support, consider a 1-hour Career Coaching Consult or our 6-month Career Coaching Program, tailored to help you plan and navigate this next stage with confidence.
This is your chance to shape a consultant career that works for you. Start strong — with the right support.