When Dr Andy Wall made the move from Edinburgh, Scotland to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland 18 months ago, he wasn’t just looking for a career change. Like many international GPs, he was searching for a better lifestyle for his family, more flexibility, and the opportunity to work in a healthcare system where he could truly enjoy medicine again.
Today, Andy is thriving in Queensland, balancing general practice and aged care while raising his three children on the Sunshine Coast. But alongside settling into Australian life, he’s also been quietly developing something else, an innovative medical documentation app called Rowan, designed to help doctors create stronger, more defensible clinical notes in the age of AI scribes.
For Andy, the move to Australia wasn’t just a relocation. It became the catalyst for a whole new chapter professionally and personally.
A Fresh Start in Queensland
Originally from the UK, Andy worked as a GP partner in a large practice caring for more than 100,000 patients. Part of his role involved handling complaints and medico legal matters, which gave him firsthand insight into how critical good documentation can be in healthcare.
After deciding to make the move to Australia with his family, Andy connected with DXC Medical and Senior Recruitment Consultant Brad Bilinsky, who helped guide him through the transition.
“I came into a really great practice and became busy very quickly,” Andy said.
Now based on the Sunshine Coast, Andy works in the Moreton Bay region while enjoying the coastal Queensland lifestyle with his family.
“I’m booked out two to three weeks ahead in both general practice and aged care,” he explained. “I’ve now got more than 200 aged care residents under my care, which has been incredibly rewarding.”
The flexibility of Australian general practice has been one of the biggest differences for Andy compared to working in the UK.
“In Australia, you can really shape your career around your lifestyle,” he said. “You can work more if you want to increase your income, or you can slow things down and focus on flexibility and family life.”
For Andy and his wife, who are raising three children without extended family nearby, that flexibility has been life changing.
“Aged care has worked really well for me because it gives me flexibility around family life. I can pick my daughter up from nursery and still structure my work around that.”
Adjusting to the Australian Healthcare System
After more than a decade working as a GP in the UK, one of the first things Andy noticed was how efficiently the Australian healthcare system operates.
“You feel like you’re working in a healthcare system that still functions really well,” he said.
“The speed of access here is incredible. I can see a patient on Monday, organise imaging by Wednesday, and discuss the results by Friday. In the UK, patients can wait nine or ten months for scans.”
He also found the transition into Australian practice smoother than expected, thanks to the support provided by the DXC Medical team.
“Brad was fantastic at finding the right opportunities and moving things along quickly,” Andy said.
“And Jess and Bec were amazing on the admin side. They really helped with all the practicalities. Honestly, it was surprisingly low stress.”
Like many international GPs arriving in Australia, Andy still experienced that familiar feeling of uncertainty while learning a new healthcare system.
“You come over and you feel exposed at first,” he explained.
“You’re still learning referral pathways, local systems, and how things work. Even if you’re experienced, there’s definitely an adjustment period.”
That experience would ultimately inspire the development of Rowan.
Turning a Personal Challenge Into Innovation
Having worked extensively in medico legal and complaints management in the UK, Andy understood how strongly documentation can influence outcomes when things go wrong clinically.
When he arrived in Australia, he also noticed the rapid rise of AI scribes and note-taking tools being used in general practice.
“I thought the AI scribes were really useful,” Andy said. “But I was also nervous about the medico legal implications.”
That concern became the foundation for Rowan.
Developed initially in the UK and now being introduced into Australia, Rowan is designed to help doctors quickly assess the quality and defensibility of their clinical notes, particularly notes generated by AI scribes.
The app works by analysing clinical documentation and providing doctors with a defensibility score, alongside practical suggestions to strengthen the note.
“The idea is to help doctors create notes that are more defensible,” Andy explained.
“It encourages clinicians to show their thinking, explain how they arrived at decisions, and include the information that really matters if something ever goes wrong.”
The app also helps doctors improve compliance with Australian documentation requirements, including reducing risks associated with PSR audits and medico-legal complaints.
For Andy personally, the tool has helped ease the stress that many doctors experience when adapting to a new healthcare system.
“I found it reduced my own stress levels significantly,” he said.
“I’d come home feeling more confident that my notes were thorough and that I was protected if anything happened to a patient.”
But for Andy, the benefits extend well beyond protecting doctors.
“Clear communication improves patient safety too,” he explained.
“If notes are clearer and more complete, there’s less chance of errors, better continuity of care, and better communication between clinicians.”
Launching Rowan in Australia
Rowan is currently in its early launch phase in Australia, with Andy working closely with doctors to gather feedback and continue refining the platform.
Andy is also running free educational sessions focused on medico legal risk, AI documentation, and safe note-taking practices for doctors working in Australia.
The sessions have already attracted interest from both experienced GPs and registrars, particularly doctors navigating the transition into the Australian healthcare system.
“There’s definitely a growing need for these conversations,” Andy said.
“The rise of AI in healthcare is exciting, but we also need to think carefully about how we use it safely and responsibly.”
Embracing Life on the Sunshine Coast
Outside of medicine and technology, Andy says the lifestyle benefits of moving to Australia have been enormous for his family.
The family now spends weekends exploring the Sunshine Coast, travelling around Australia, and embracing the outdoors.
“My boys are surfing, we’re down at Mooloolaba Beach regularly, and the kids are involved in sport,” he said.
“We’ve travelled to many places around Australia already, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef. It’s been an amazing experience.”
Education opportunities were another major factor behind the family’s decision to relocate.
“In the UK, private schooling can cost around $40,000 a year,” Andy explained.
“Here, there are fantastic schooling options at a fraction of the cost, and the public schools are excellent too.”
The family has now received Queensland state sponsorship for their permanent residency pathway, another milestone in their Australian journey.
“We’re definitely becoming more settled,” Andy said.
“It’s far away from family back home, which is the hardest part, but overall the opportunities and lifestyle here have been incredible.”
A Different Way of Working
For Andy, one of the biggest surprises about Australia has been the culture itself.
“I really like Australians,” he laughed.
“People are relaxed, supportive, and things don’t feel like such a big deal all the time. There’s more flexibility and more freedom.”
He also believes Australia has encouraged a more entrepreneurial mindset.
“It feels like people here encourage you to try things and build things,” he said.
“That freedom has been a huge part of what allowed Rowan to happen.”
But at the heart of it all remains the same motivation that brought him to Australia in the first place: building a better life for his family while continuing to improve patient care.
For doctors considering their own move to Australia, Andy has simple advice:
“There are huge opportunities here, professionally and personally. For us, making the move has absolutely been worth it.”
Thinking About Your Own Move to Australia?
At DXC Medical Recruitment, we’ve helped hundreds of international GPs successfully relocate to Australia and find the right practice, location, and pathway for their goals.
If you’re keen on exploring your options, our team can help guide you through every step of the journey.
Get in touch for a confidential chat or explore current GP opportunities across Australia.
Brad Bilinsky
Senior Consultant
+61 428 392 777
brad.bilinsky@dxcmedical.com.au
