A top British doctor has alleged that Australians are ‘quite racist’ and added that they always looking down on international medical graduates (IMG), according to media report.
While sharing his experience of studying to be a medical professional in the country, Dr Salim Uddin said that ‘Aussies can be quite mean if you are not white’.
“If you’re more on the browner end of life the Aussies can be quite mean, especially if you’re Asian,” he told medical podcast Strive Med.
“It’s not the land of the rising sun and golden rainbows and springs and clearwater. The Aussies are quite racist, this is just a fact. They’re not so IMG friendly.”
The IMG refers to medics who qualified at an institution in a foreign country outside the country of their practice.
Dr Uddin added that obtaining a visa for Asians was a bigger problem than racism in Australia. He also recommended doctors undertaking a two-year postgraduate medical training programme, known as the Foundation Programme, not to go to Australia.
This qualification allows doctors to move from medical school to specialist and general practice.
He revealed that he is still in his first stage of visa processing even after seven month into his application. Dr Uddin added that he need the visa by February to do his work in Australia.
According to Dr Uddin, in Australia he could earn triple the amount he is currently getting in UK. Also, the work conditions are better, he added.
The average salary for a doctor in Australia is around $160,000 or $128,000 for entry level jobs. In UK, it is $128,000 or $68,000 for beginners.
“You get more annual leave, you get more study time. It’s a far more relaxed lifestyle as well. Thirty-eight hour weeks. The job is amazing. That’s the good part of going to Australia. It’s easy to get a job. I applied online, I had a five minute interview,” the doctor was quoted as saying during the podcast.
The video of the podcast went viral on TikTok where many users responded to Dr Uddin’s claims.
A user agreed to his comments saying that ‘it is quiet insidious racism’ prevailing in the country which is hard to address.
“Facts…. suffered from it during my placement (as a middle eastren person),” another user said.
But some disagreed with his statement saying that the country is ‘culturally diverse’.
