For Dr Prathibha Chandrasiri, relocating from Sri Lanka to Cairns was about more than progressing her medical career. It was an opportunity to reunite with her husband, experience a new healthcare system and build a life in one of Australia's most beautiful tropical regions.
With a background in hospital medicine and general practice, Prathibha brings a wealth of clinical experience to her new role in Far North Queensland. Now working as a General Practitioner under the RACGP Practice Experience Program (PEP) Specialist Pathway, she shares her journey of relocating to Australia, adapting to a different healthcare system and settling into life in Cairns.
Prathibha completed her MBBS in Sri Lanka in 2017, beginning her medical career in hospital settings where she gained experience across several areas of medicine.
She later transitioned into general practice, completing a Diploma in Family Medicine through the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine at the University of Colombo, followed by her MRCGP (International) qualification in 2025.
Before relocating to Australia, Prathibha worked as an independent General Practitioner in Sri Lanka, providing care across a broad range of clinical areas, including women's health, paediatrics, elderly care, chronic disease management, preventive healthcare and minor procedures.
For Prathibha, the appeal of general practice has always been the opportunity to care for patients beyond an individual illness or condition.
"I was drawn to general practice because I enjoy looking at a person's health as a whole, rather than focusing on just one condition. I like the idea of caring for people of all ages and being able to support them through different stages of life."
Building relationships with patients, understanding their concerns and supporting their long-term wellbeing remain some of the most rewarding aspects of her career.
The decision to relocate to Australia was driven by a combination of professional ambitions and personal priorities.
Prathibha was keen to broaden her clinical experience, develop her skills within a different healthcare system and experience working in a supportive general practice environment.
Equally important was the opportunity to build a future with her family.
"Moving to Australia was an opportunity for both professional and personal growth. I wanted to broaden my clinical experience, develop my skills within a different healthcare system and experience working in a well-supported general practice environment."
With her husband already living in Cairns, the decision about where to settle was a natural one.
Beyond being reunited with family, Prathibha was drawn to the region's tropical surroundings, welcoming community and relaxed lifestyle.
Professionally, she was also interested in working in regional Queensland, where GPs play an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of local communities.
Prathibha first discovered DXC Medical Recruitment while researching general practice opportunities in Australia.
Her initial contact was with Nethmi, who helped guide her through the early stages of exploring her options. She was subsequently introduced to Brad Bilinsky, DXC Medical's Senior Consultant for Queensland and South Australia.
Brad worked closely with Prathibha to identify a suitable practice opportunity that aligned with her qualifications, training requirements, career aspirations and family circumstances.
For an international GP navigating the complexities of relocating and commencing work in Australia, having experienced support made a significant difference.
"As an international GP, having people who understood the challenges of relocating and starting work in a new healthcare system was really valuable. Their guidance and support made the recruitment process much easier and gave me confidence as I took this next step in my career."
Like many international GPs, Prathibha found the transition to Australian general practice both exciting and challenging.
There were several important steps to navigate, including qualification verification, RACGP PEP Specialist Pathway requirements, medical registration, Medicare provider number applications and employment arrangements.
Throughout this process, Brad assisted with coordinating the recruitment and placement arrangements, while Jayne provided valuable support with documentation and administrative requirements.
Prathibha particularly appreciated the team's communication, patience and willingness to guide her through the different stages.
"Brad provided excellent coordination and guidance in finding a suitable practice opportunity and helped make the process much smoother. Jayne was also very supportive with the documentation and administrative requirements, which made navigating the different stages much easier."
Having the right support allowed Prathibha to approach each stage with greater confidence while preparing for her move to Australia.
Prathibha is now working as a General Practitioner in Cairns, Queensland, as part of the RACGP PEP Specialist Pathway.
Her role involves caring for patients with a wide range of acute and chronic health conditions, alongside preventive healthcare, women's health and general family medicine.
Although the foundations of general practice are similar in Sri Lanka and Australia, adapting to a new healthcare system has brought plenty of learning opportunities.
In particular, Prathibha has noticed Australia's strong emphasis on preventive healthcare, structured chronic disease management, evidence-based clinical guidelines and multidisciplinary care.
Understanding Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), prescribing requirements and billing processes has also been an important part of her transition.
Another difference has been the emphasis on clinical documentation, governance and patient safety.
Despite these adjustments, Prathibha has thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working in an Australian general practice environment.
"One of the most rewarding aspects has been the opportunity to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and communities. I appreciate the importance placed on patient involvement in decision-making and shared care."
She has also valued the support provided by her supervisors and colleagues, who have helped her become more familiar with Australian clinical practices and continue developing her skills.
"The practice provides an excellent training environment, with opportunities to learn, develop my clinical skills and become more familiar with the Australian healthcare system."
For Prathibha, the variety of general practice continues to be a highlight, with every day offering new clinical experiences and opportunities to make a difference in patients' lives.
Relocating internationally involves much more than transitioning into a new workplace. For Prathibha, it has also meant adapting to a different culture, community and way of life.
While the initial adjustment came with challenges, having her husband already established in Cairns made the move considerably easier.
"Having my husband already in Cairns made the transition much easier, as I had family support while settling into a new life and workplace."
As they continue building their life together, Prathibha and her husband have enjoyed discovering everything Far North Queensland has to offer.
From beautiful beaches and tropical rainforests to waterfalls and the Great Barrier Reef, the region has provided plenty of opportunities to explore.
One of the biggest lifestyle differences Prathibha has noticed is the importance Australians place on spending time outdoors, enjoying nature and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
She has also appreciated the multicultural community and welcoming atmosphere.
"I have appreciated the multicultural nature of Australian society and the respect shown towards people from different cultural backgrounds. The friendliness and welcoming attitude of the community have helped us settle in."
Exploring the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and the many natural attractions surrounding Cairns has been a particular highlight.
"There is something special about living in a place where you are surrounded by so much natural beauty and have so many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors."
With family nearby, a rewarding GP role and an enviable tropical lifestyle, Cairns is gradually becoming home.
Having experienced the transition firsthand, Prathibha understands that moving to Australia can feel overwhelming, even for doctors with extensive clinical experience.
Her advice to other international GPs is to prepare early, remain patient and embrace the learning opportunities that come with working in a different healthcare system.
"My advice would be to approach the journey with an open mind, patience and a willingness to learn. Moving to a new healthcare system can feel overwhelming initially, even if you have many years of clinical experience."
She encourages doctors to research their registration and training pathways, familiarise themselves with Medicare and Australian prescribing guidelines, and seek support from experienced colleagues, supervisors and medical recruitment professionals.
Most importantly, she believes international GPs should have confidence in the skills and experience they bring, while remaining open to learning and adapting.
"Most importantly, believe in your experience and abilities, but remain open to learning. It is a challenging journey, but also an incredibly rewarding opportunity for professional and personal growth."
From completing her medical training in Sri Lanka to establishing herself in general practice in Cairns, Prathibha's journey reflects the professional and personal opportunities that can come with an international move.
While the transition has involved challenges, it has also brought valuable clinical experiences, new connections and the opportunity to build a future alongside her family.
With the continued support of her practice team and supervisors, Prathibha is looking forward to developing her career and contributing to the Cairns community.
From all of us at DXC Medical Recruitment, we wish Prathibha and her family every success as they continue settling into life in Far North Queensland.
Whether you're exploring your eligibility for the RACGP PEP Specialist Pathway, researching general practice opportunities or preparing to relocate with your family, DXC Medical Recruitment can help you navigate the next steps.
Our experienced team supports international GPs with identifying suitable practice opportunities, understanding pathway requirements and preparing for the transition to living and working in Australia.
Get in touch with our team to discuss your options and take the next step towards your Australian GP career.
Brad Bilinsky
Senior Consultant
+61 428 392 777
brad.bilinsky@dxcmedical.com.au
From a career spanning Sri Lanka and Oman to a new chapter in regional Victoria, Dr Samya shares her journey of relocating to Australia with her husband and three daughters, navigating the registration process, and finding a welcoming community to call home.
Two Years in Australia: A Journey of Growth, Family and Finding a Place to Call Home For Dr Shazia Hassan, relocating from Pakistan to Maryborough, Queensland, in August 2024 was about more than advancing her medical career. It was an opportunity to embrace a new healthcare system, create a different future for her family and continue growing as a General Practitioner.
