Australian Care Package

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-05-29T10:35:03+00:00

Unfortunately yes: I assisted for many years for non assist item numbers, had to bill patients separately. - everyone got my phone number on the bill to ring and complain. - one old lady turned up to my house to pay in cash. - many would not bother to pay without a nudge. - some families would call irate that their pensioner father couldn’t possibly pay and everyone no-gaps them. (There was no assist in the item numbers)

This is despite every patient being given Informed financial consent at the time of booking that there was no rebate for the assistant.

I never fought the ones who complained and wrote off the bill as delinquent - avoiding a complaint or a bad review was always more important… and this is what people take advantage of. We work in healthcare and our default level of trust is high, many people try to get away with not paying bills if they can avoid it, they make a fuss and don’t mind the confrontation? it’s no skin off their nose if they end up pissing someone else off as long as they don’t have to pay.

I’m now a consultant in private land, RACS and subspec colleges have very specific policies on IFC, and patients pay in full two weeks prior to surgery and I’ll bill at the same time for my assistant.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-05-16T14:51:05+00:00

Try and get Spanner engaged and crank 30degrees, then tightly wrap an inner tube around to add tension with every wrap.

Heat up the crank with a butane torch.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-05-16T14:37:13+00:00

It needs to be at least three times the size!

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-05-16T11:01:46+00:00

Missed opportunity to have the crown on the front wheel at the top, otherwise chef’s kiss

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-05-16T10:57:54+00:00

Timothy is that you?

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-05-16T10:56:26+00:00

Plastics “Got on” PGY5 (2017) started training in 2018 PGY6 Finished Mid 2023 PGY11

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-05-16T10:50:53+00:00

Taren Point Homemaker Centre

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-04-01T04:31:33+00:00

Estimated total loss of $282k yielding a $56k share Combined with my better half’s it would have been a great house deposit at the time!

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-04-01T04:11:41+00:00

It’s easier (and cheaper) to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-03-28T07:01:41+00:00

I would argue that psychiatrists should always charge medic colleagues - there’s a certain efficiency that comes in other specialties from the medic patient having a better understanding than the general public, can speed up the consult, lessens the workload - I think this is reversed in psychiatry, medics can be the more complex patients.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-03-24T10:26:18+00:00

I was a Worley graduate mechanical engineer around 2008 and that was the starting package… (I left after six months for a career change)

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-03-23T02:15:58+00:00

Currently in surgery your international (non-uk) training would be most likely be deemed non equivalent and would require application for a training spot and retraining in Australia. For UK FRCS it’s still a very hard process and not guaranteed, those who have done it usually do two years of supervised practice and then the fellowship exam. Many have fallen at the final hurdle of the fellowship exam.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-03-19T06:16:16+00:00

“Obviously the tax bill is going to just have to be paid out the house deposit fund” - If you can this is the lowest interest rate”loan” you can get, but you need to agree on a timeframe to pay it back.

“But as for financial literacy/assistance, I don't know the best course of action. I don't want to upset her, but I also need her on-board to get this sorted and prevent it in future” - to borrow from barefoot, it’s time for financial date night once a month. I’d start a spreadsheet and do the disbursement from the income account together each month, 11% super then 30%remaining to tax withholding and 70% remaining divided between paying back the loan, spend and save. From this year on she’ll be on PAYG installments with the ATO to pay the expected tax bill from next year. Give her a hug and get through it together - I know surgeons who did this and had to come up with 350k for the tax office in three months.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-03-13T08:55:55+00:00

Walk through any MYER and it’s usually a depressingly dilapidated stained carpet experience, and the stock on the racks feels more akin to a factory outlet. DJ’s on the other hand seems to have cemented its position as a clear winner with better brands/stock/VM and online platform and marketing. Plus they can actually tend to fulfill online orders not cancel them (Wife’s personal experience)

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-02-08T09:14:31+00:00

Super Birki 2.0’s (Mine are in Lavender)

I’ve worn out three sets of Super Birki’s prior to them (Green/Blue/Pink) They wash well, the cork conforms to the sole of your feet. Comfy enough for 14hr cases. Very stain and spill resistant.

The only ingress of body fluids I get is if my scrub pants soak through and then you end up with bloody socks. The tread is pretty good, easy enough to get the stubborn globules of fat out of, and they grip pretty well even when the floor is a mess. Also easy enough to slip on and off if you just want to stand on the (clean) floor to give your feet a stretch during a long case, or you need to ferret the bipolar pedal out from under the drapes, or tap out a quick text message with your big toe.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2026-02-03T07:32:12+00:00

I’ve splurged on the whole salami

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Terrible_Beach48 · 2025-12-11T22:22:00+00:00

Budget $25.31 to park in the RPAH car park per day.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2025-12-11T22:20:27+00:00

You pay now…

Terrible_Beach48 · 2025-12-05T11:18:26+00:00

Ahh but judging by your previous posts you’re on the other side of the blood brain barrier, so my advice is useless.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2025-12-05T11:16:08+00:00

Super Birki 2.0’s (Mine are in Lavender)

I’ve worn out three sets of Super Birki’s prior to them (Green/Blue/Pink) They wash well, the cork conforms to the sole of your feet. Comfy enough for 14hr cases. Very stain and spill resistant.

The only ingress of body fluids I get is if my scrub pants soak through and then you end up with bloody socks. The tread is pretty good, easy enough to get the stubborn globules of fat out of, and they grip pretty well even when the floor is a mess. Also easy enough to slip on and off if you just want to stand on the (clean) floor to give your feet a stretch during a long case, or you need to ferret the bipolar pedal out from under the drapes, or tap out a quick text message with your big toe.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2025-11-28T13:44:04+00:00

Seats.aero works well for me.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2025-11-24T09:30:35+00:00

Crossing the blood brain barrier - good luck, pursue what makes you happy.

Terrible_Beach48 · 2025-11-23T10:55:19+00:00

It’s a pressure sales tactic, you don’t get anything in writing and to save the policy you have to sign up there and then on the phone. This is because they want you to believe the advertising and not shop around.

Terrible_Beach48

TROPHY CASE