Moving to another country at the age of 50 to work as a consultant psychiatrist is both a challenging and transformative experience, both professionally and personally. I relocated from Israel to New Zealand in 2022 and have recently moved to Australia. My decision to leave Israel was motivated by a desire to create a better environment for my children.

I recall the initial 12 months spent navigating paperwork, assessments, credentialing, and all the processes necessary before beginning work in New Zealand. This journey demands flexibility and patience, as the pace in New Zealand differs from that in Israel.

The work environment in New Zealand is more balanced and less stressful than in Israel, which leads to a better quality of life, especially for families. The time you get to spend with your kids is invaluable. There are significant differences between the two work environments. First, Israel is more advanced and better funded, with stronger community support. The working teams differ as well; in Israel, there are no key workers, which takes some time to adjust to when transitioning to such a team structure. I also noticed that the workload was smaller and there was a strong emphasis on team-based decision-making, which is less hierarchical and more collaborative. This approach felt challenging at times after spending years in a more directive system.

When relocating to a country with a different culture, one of the biggest challenges can be understanding cultural differences. This includes nonverbal cues such as eye contact, physical distance, and varying communication styles, all of which can have different meanings. In Israel, communication tends to be direct and pragmatic. However, in New Zealand, this same directness might be perceived as blunt or even rude, even when there is no intention to offend. Many overseas doctors encounter this challenge. Learning to soften one's language, recognise subtle cues, and adjust tone takes time. This skill is especially important when interacting with the indigenous population. I was fortunate that my first role was within a Pacific service, which gave me invaluable exposure to Māori and Pacific communities. This experience helped me develop cultural competence and gain insights into a unique aspect of working in New Zealand.

As you start working, you also begin your supervision and the accreditation pathway. As many of the SIMG doctors know, it’s not always easy to find yourself under supervision at your age and experience, which, from my perspective, underscores the need for humility. My supervisor was very supportive and helped with the transition to New Zealand, making it a positive experience. Becoming a fellow of the College requires continuing the pathway in Australia for various reasons, so I found myself moving once more to Australia to continue my supervision and training. Here, the work environment is more fast-paced and dynamic, with a more direct Communication style and greater stimulation and resources, making it a great place to develop professionally further.

The journey is undoubtedly challenging but also invigorating. You stay intellectually engaged and stimulated. It’s fascinating to study a diverse population representing various ethnic groups and observe how different conditions are uniquely expressed within each group. This has been an extremely rewarding learning experience. You make new friends and colleagues from all over the world, and I am grateful for the support I received from many of them. 

Looking back, despite the stress and uncertainty, the experience has been profoundly rewarding, and I hope my boys will come to appreciate it one day as well.