When I first came to work in Australia, I was sent out to do rural locums — way above my experience and pay grade.

Having to be a “real” doctor was slightly terrifying, as I had qualified only a few years before, and had not completed my GP training through the RACGP.

As a result, I would regularly refer my tricky patients to the local hospital (fast AF, horrible fractures), only to be called by the ED staff to ask when I was coming to review my patients, not realising I was it for the weekend.

The staff and the patients were fabulous: tough, patient, non-complaining and grateful — even for my bumbling incompetence.