From Burnout to Balance: Dr Nilab's Journey from the NHS to Australia

In this episode of BluePrint MedTalks, recruitment consultant Sorcha O’Connor sits down with Obstetrics and Gynaecology doctor, Dr. Nilab. Dr. Nilab shares her path into medicine as a first-generation immigrant, reflecting on what drew her to healthcare, the challenges of training, and why resilience and curiosity have shaped her career from the very beginning. She opens up about her decision to move from the NHS to Australia, and how burnout, workforce pressures and long hours forced her to rethink what sustainable medicine should look like. Nilab shares: How working in the NHS shaped her as a junior doctor, and why those experiences ultimately led her to explore medicine in Australia What surprised her most about Australia’s healthcare system, from work-life balance to training opportunities and the public–private model Her experience locuming in regional New South Wales, including working at Tweed Hospital and discovering how rural practice differs across states, guidelines and patient populations The realities of rural and locum work, from adapting to new teams and systems to finding balance outside of work and truly experiencing life beyond the hospital Why active listening is one of the most powerful clinical skills she’s learned, particularly in obstetrics, where trauma, fear and autonomy often shape patient decisions How difficult conversations differ between metro and rural hospitals, and why understanding cultural, social and geographical context is essential to safe care What she wishes she’d known earlier in her career about boundaries, burnout and stepping off the traditional training “ladder” How she looks after her own wellbeing in a demanding role, from running and squash to reflection, rest and learning when to say no Practical advice for doctors considering their first rural or locum role, including the importance of choosing the right agency, staying within scope, and prioritising safety over pay If you’re a doctor navigating career decisions, considering locum work, or curious about what obstetrics looks like across different healthcare systems, this episode offers an honest, thoughtful and deeply human perspective you won’t want to miss. Contact us: https://bit.ly/BPMT-Podcast