Kia Ora,

Just to share a quick story with you. I am now working a rural hospital because I had to move to make money. I was locumming at a private practice prior to this on a per patient contract - With the ACC publicity we went through a huge dip in patients, and I ended up earning about 400 a week for the 10 weeks i was there. Which didn't help as I am saving to do a month in the UK for a mates wedding.
Moral of the story: in the current climate - try to avoid per patient contracts.

So feel free to go into private practice, I have lots of friends in private who are doing well, some are on per patient contracts and some are on salary. Salary private practice work wasn't common in the areas that I'v been working. So you'll have to be careful about your decisions re per patient or salary. Also beware that you may find yourself quite loney going into private after having been in the public system... I know I did.

Any other questions regarding why NZ is a more awesome place to be than australia and where you are thinking about working then feel free to give me a bell. You will get paid about twice the amount to work in OZ it's true, but NZ is awesome on many many levels.

Chur.