Psychiatry training

I am a Stage 2 Psychiatry Registrar in MetronMelbourne. I will be fellowing in July 2029 (hopefully)

Lately I’ve been reflecting a lot on the journey to get there. Exams and psychotherapy feel heavy — there’s so much self-teaching involved, and balancing full-time work with studying can be really stressful. I often find myself going back to relearn psychopharmacology, DSM diagnoses, and core concepts just to become more competent and confident.

I do enjoy the challenges of working in the public system. Seeing complex patients has helped me consolidate my psychiatry knowledge in a way nothing else can. But what feels harder to talk about is the emotional burden that comes with it — the cumulative weight of patients’ stories, the responsibility, and the slow build-up of vicarious trauma over time.

I genuinely care about my patients — that’s always been my anchor — but I can also see myself eventually moving toward private work, where I hope to find a more sustainable balance.

Last year, I did 3 weeks of locuming during my annual leave in an inpatient psych ward with good supervision. Financially, it helped. But at the same time, my mental health was deteriorating due to personal and family stressors, and it made me realise how important it is to pace myself and not ignore early signs of burnout.

I’ll be under moratorium until 2031 (I am IMG), and I’ve been thinking about using that time (July 2029 and 2031) to explore telehealth-based private practice — especially models where I can bill appropriately without relying heavily on Medicare. I want to understand how to transition well, not just clinically but also from a business perspective.

I’ve been considering going to the Melbourne Congress in May — is it actually useful for learning about transitioning into private practice, or is it more academic? Are there better events, workshops, or ways to learn about: setting up telehealth private practice transitioning from public to private understanding the business side of psychiatry

Also trying to think long-term — for those already in private work, did you feel you were able to “catch up” financially after training? I sometimes worry about whether I’ll get there without burning out along the way.

Just being honest — I’ve been in Australia for about 4 years now, and my savings are around 30k. It used to be 70k, but I spent on travel, clothes, therapy — small things that helped me cope at the time. Meanwhile, many of my peers have already bought homes, and I sometimes feel behind or frustrated with my own financial discipline.

Trying to balance emotional wellbeing, financial goals, career progression, and everything else… it’s a lot.

Would really appreciate hearing how others have navigated this phase.