(((sw628))) i'm sorry this experience is so pervasive for you. but gosh, i feel relieved that someone understands. Australia is meant to be very good as far as multiculturalism goes - certainly we hate the accusation of being labelled 'racist'. but i do think it's a lot more pervasive than the majority would like to admit - not necessarily in terms of being denied services/job offers etc - but in terms of character judgements, this weird notion that australia is "our" (=white anglo-saxon) country and that we don't have enough room or resources to support more migrants (LOL!!! absolute rubbish; we're one of the least populated countries on earth in terms of density and resources). it makes me hesitant to raise this stuff (the larger race issue) with pdoc/austin-t, for fear i'll just be labelled paranoid or out-of-touch or having a chip on my shoulder or something. and also because it's totally not politically correct to admit to avoiding certain ethnic groups myself (primarily my own).
i know race relations in the States aren't good, but certainly they are better than they have previously been. i think in australia it's very much a case of hush-hush at times - unlike in the States where the world knows, in Australia it's almost a case of don't look, don't tell. i shouildn't moan too much - my family migrated here - and therefore we were afforded better opportunities than the Indigenous population. i think Aboriginal Australians have to face a more systemic prejudice than the sort of by-the-by stuff i do.

i don't think it even occurred to this Dr that i wouldn't be living with my parents, i think that's how culturally entrenched he was. it's ok though, because i've had other Drs who are aghast that i was still living with them once i hit 18. one of the difficulties in trying to move out was that neither pdoc nor austin-t really got how taboo it is for me to be leaving home. so i can forgive ignorance and assumptions but it's painful to be lectured to.

you could be right. i think austin-t often oversteps professional boundaries (i'm not sure if it's just with me or not) but he does mean it in a good way. i asked him for a recommendation specifically because the previous GP i had been to gave me a lecture on public spending and refused to write a referral. at the time austin-t wanted to knoww who it was because he said that way he would know not to refer to that person. i guess if i told austin-t about this GP he would know not to refer certain clients there also.

googley being assertive on my behalf!!! that means a million, thank you .

yes. i'm wondering how i could have handled it differently, or if most ppl would have sat there in mute shock also. i do think the GP was really trying to give (what he thought was) sound advice, so i didnt want to hurt him by telling him to keep his opinions to himself.

your 6 sessions have to be spread over a minimum of 3 months before you can get the new lot. i see austin-t more often than fortnightly, so i needed the referral quicker, but i understand why that rule is in place.

edit: thanks possum for your reply. i've been GP hunting for a long time now; it makes me think there is something wrong with me that i cant find one who will take me seriously.