Dr Yousuf Ahmad
Tell us about where you practice, and some of the other roles you have?
I’m Managing Director in a multidisciplinary practice in Sale with 19 GPs, including GPs in training, and six specialists in allied health. We have a mental health unit, Head to Health, and respiratory and infectious disease clinic, Ingliss Respiratory Clinic, and I work as the Clinical Lead for these units.
I am also an RACGP Victoria Council Member, and a member of RACGP Rural. I have had various not-for-profit board roles over the years, including with the Rural Workforce Agency (RWAV) Victoria, where I was a board director for 10 years. I’ve also been a GP liaison with Central Gippsland Health Services where I coordinated collaborative work between general practice and hospitals.
What was your journey to become a GP?
My journey spans across three different continents. I graduated in Pakistan, and in my early career I moved to South Africa and Zimbabwe where I worked in rural and regional areas for seven years as a procedural GP. That was my goal, to be a rural generalist. When I moved to Australia in 2000, I first moved to Queensland, where I was also a procedural GP. Then in 2003, I moved to Sale where I continue to work as a Rural Generalist, with a focus on small town rural generalism, palliative care and mental health.
What was the biggest change for you coming to practice in Australia?
Working in primary care across different countries, I found there were a lot of similarities, but there were various cultural and contextual differences. Even in Australia, I found there was a significant difference between the experience in Queensland and Victoria. Overall, primary care and general practice is very well established and coordinated in Australia, and the support provided by organisations like RACGP in terms of setting the standards and providing leadership is really great.
One of the benefits I’ve found in my experience as a GP, is that at the various stages of your life you can change your practice to adapt to your needs and strengths and pursue specific interests. Nowadays I'm more office based, and still doing a lot of procedural work. I’ve also enjoyed the lifestyle as a rural and regional GP – that’s where you get more experience and more opportunity to really learn because there’s a need in the community.
What's one change you want to see for IMGs in Australia?
Coordinated support in terms of education and training for IMGs. I've been engaged a lot with IMG support over the years, and I feel there are areas that can be improved. We have a very robust training program for local graduates. But I think IMGS face more challenges because it’s not just the education and training they have cultural aspects to learn as well. There have been improvements, including with the Fellowship Support Program (FSP), but there is still room for improvements.
Why did you get involved with RACGP Victoria, and why would you encourage others to get involved?
From my experience working in various countries, I find myself very proud to be working in one of the world’s best GP systems, and with RACGP being the champion for GP in Australia I would encourage everyone to engage with RACGP, which is their college. This is something I highlight to all my IMG colleagues, that being part of the College is not just a matter of pride but maintaining and enhancing the standards of general practice. The Faculty Councils are forums not just for engagement but sharing ideas with colleagues and RACGP staff for continuous improvement. I’m also working to transfer knowledge, skills and professional standards between Australia and Pakistan. RACGP signed an MOU with the College of Pakistan in 2018, and we’re in the process of renewing that now.