On annother note arcadian, how much does a specialist make (I know it depends on the type and demand) but it would just be interesting to know. But in all honesty I'm not interested in the money as cliche as that sounds, and also I want to work in the country anyway.
specialists make as much as they want...it all depends on how good of a business man you are.
Generally, I'd say 200-400k would be the normal range for a non procedural specialist. For Surgeons, it would range from 300k-3millon, again, depending on what you do, how long you work, public/private, speciality etc. Some diagnostics and in demand specialists can also make 400-1million (e.g. that radiologist who got a 1 mil contract in queensland), but again, it's varies via the market.
Unlike any things, medicine is really a business trade. You have a skill, and a client base. The rest depends on how you structure your business.
Ill just say that there is no such thing as a poor doctor, you will always earn in the top 5% of Australias, easily. Probably even in the top 2%. The rest is up to ambition.