30/01/2026
Excellent advice from the Chair of Doctors in Training Council Sanjay Hettige
To the interns starting work in 2026 ๐ฉโโ๏ธ๐จโโ๏ธ
Thousands of interns are stepping into hospitals across the country this month, officially starting their medical careers. Itโs exciting, daunting, exhausting, and meaningful, often all in the same shift.
As you become core members of your teams, I wanted to share a few things that genuinely helped me when I started, and a few things I wish Iโd taken more seriously earlier.
1. Look after the basics (seriously)
Internship is a steep learning curve and the pace can be relentless. Adrenaline will carry you for a while, but itโs not a long term strategy. Sleep when you can, drink water, eat actual meals. You donโt need a perfect routine, just aim to get the basics right most days. That alone will make you a better doctor and a safer one.
2. Have your own GP
You are not immune to getting sick, burnt out, or overwhelmed just because youโre wearing a lanyard. Having a GP you trust is essential during internship. AMA NSW keeps a list of GPs who are happy to see doctors as patients, which is a great place to start:
https://www.amansw.com.au/doctors-for-colleagues/
3. Use your people
Internship is not a solo sport. Lean on your family, friends, and the people who know you outside of medicine. Build connections with your fellow interns, they will become your lifeline. And donโt forget that registrars, fellows and consultants have all stood exactly where you are now. Most are very happy to help if you ask.
4. Ask the questions you think you should already know
This is the one I wish Iโd done more. Internship is the time to ask questions, not later, when expectations are higher and the stakes are bigger. No one expects you to know everything. What matters is that youโre curious, safe, and willing to learn.
5. Use the AMA Intern Guide and join the AMA
The AMA has released its 2026 Intern Guide, which is packed with practical advice on starting work, workplace rights, wellbeing, and navigating your first year as a doctor. Itโs a genuinely useful resource and worth bookmarking early:
https://www.ama.com.au/articles/ama-2026-intern-guide
Being part of the AMA also means having an organisation in your corner that can support you with workplace advice, career guidance, advocacy, and connection, so you can focus on learning and looking after patients. Youโll see your state AMA at orientation events, so have a chat, ask questions, and get involved.
Youโve earned your place. You wonโt feel ready, none of us did, but you are more capable than you think.
Welcome to the profession.
Congratulations to our 2026 Interns on reaching this next stage of your medical career. Our 2026 Intern Guide provides essential support and guidance to help you navigate your first weeks as an intern and begin your career as a doctor.
