02. October 2024.
We have huge news! Since September 2024, there is a possibility for specialist doctors to get jobs in Australia.
Job opportunities in Australia can be very beneficial for any specialist doctor, but it requires you to follow certain rules and meet specific requirements.
To help you prepare for the process and self-assess if you meet the work requirements, we’ll give you all the necessary information in this article.
In order to work as a specialist doctor in Australia, you need to meet certain conditions. We’ll list them out below:
Every specialist doctor who wants to work in Australia but comes from a foreign country needs to fulfill several requirements. They have to have:
1. Adequate qualifications, i.e., qualifications recognized by Australian medical bodies (APHRA).
2. AHPRA registration. All international doctors need to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), which includes undergoing one of the recognized procedures, such as a specialist procedure or a competent authority procedure.
3. Australian personal or coordination number. To even begin the registration and visa application process, you’ll need a personal or coordination number issued by Australia’s tax administration (ATO).
4. Visa. To work in Australia, you need to have an adequate visa. There are different types of visas, including a temporary working visa and a permanent residential visa.
Besides that, you can only get hired in Australia if you come from one of the countries whose qualifications Australia recognizes. More on that below.
The visa application process can last between one week and two months. It includes the following expenses:
– The main applicant: 3115 AUD (~1885 EUR)
– Partner or spouse: 3115 AUD (~1885 EUR)
– Children older than 18: 3115 AUD (~1885 EUR)
– Children younger than 18: 780 AUD (~472 EUR)*
*Note: The currency conversion can vary depending on the current rates.
In Australia, specialist doctors need to have qualifications that meet the standards set by AHPRA.
These countries have such qualifications:
1. Belgium: Specialist Certificate in General Practice/Family Medicine, Master of Family Medicine KU Leuven, Master of Specialisation in General Medicine University of Liège.
2. Canada: Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP).
3. Denmark: Specialist Certificate in Family Medicine.
4. Hong Kong: Fellowship of the Hong Kong College of General Practitioners.
5. Ireland: Membership of the Irish College of General Practice (MICGP).
6. Malaysia: Membership of the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia, Master in Family Medicine National University of Malaysia.
7. Malta: Specialist in Family Medicine.
8. Netherlands: Certificate of Specific Training for General Practice.
9. New Zealand: Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP), Fellowship of the Division of Rural Hospital Medicine New Zealand (FDRHMNZ).
10. Norway: Certificate of Specific Training for General Medical Practice.
11. Singapur: Fellowship of the College of Family Physicians Singapore, Master of Medicine in Family Medicine.
12. Southafrican Republic: Master of Family Medicine, Fellowship of the College of Family Physicians of South Africa (FCFP(SA)).
13. Sweden: Certificate of Specific Training for General Practice.
14. Spain: Specialist in Family and Community Medicine.
15. Sri Lanka: MD Family Medicine (Family Medicine Specialist Board certification required).
16. Thailand: MD Family Medicine (Family Medicine Specialist Board certification required).
17. United Kingdom: Membership of the Royal College of General Practice (MRCGP) with various certifications.
18. United States of America: Certificate of the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM).
Qualification recognition process: APHRA uses several different specialist models for qualification recognition. Specialist doctors from the above countries can use them to request the recognition of their qualifications.
At this moment, the hiring of specialist doctors in Australia is mainly focused on family medicine doctors with recognized qualifications from the above countries.
However, you can also contact us if you have a different type of specialization if you fit other criteria. We can help you get a job in different medical centers and hospitals across Australia.
The English language is necessary for working in Australia because doctors need to communicate with patients, colleagues, and team members every day.
Every person who applies for a permanent residential visa is obligated to take an English test.
If you apply for a temporary visa, you may not be obligated to take the test. There are certain exceptions:
(a) The applicant is a citizen and has a valid passport issued by one of the following countries:
– Canada
– New Zealand
– Republic of Ireland
– United Kingdom
– United States of America
(b) The applicant has completed at least five years of regular studies in a high school or college where the lessons were held in English;
(c) The applicant was nominated by a standard business sponsor for a job that will be done in:
– a diplomatic or ili consular mission of another country, or
– the office of Taiwan in Australia;
(d) The applicant:
– was nominated for a job that requires them to have a license, registration, or membership;
– got a license, registration, or membership, and
– in order to get it, had to prove that his level of English was the same or above the level needed to get the required results on the approved English test he would’ve needed to take otherwise.;
(e) The applicant:
– is employed at a firm that does international business,
– is nominated by a standard business sponsor (a firm or a person connected to that firm), and
– will receive a yearly salary of at least 96,400 AUD (~58,285 EUR)*.
*Note: The amount in EUR depends on the current conversion rates.
Besides visa expenses, international doctors also pay for registration, which can cost anywhere between 1132 AUD and 1800 AUD (~685 to 1088 EUR), depending on the college.
Some employers, especially in rural areas, can offer sponsorship that covers migration expenses, but this is not guaranteed. We always try to show new employers the importance of participating.
Our partners, who we represent in Europe as consultants, specialize in healthcare recruitment in Australia and will help you get registered and get a visa free of charge.
They will also help you get an adequate job in medical centers or hospitals across Australia.
The employment process typically lasts 3 months, while the entire migration process can last between 2 and 6 months.
If you believe that you meet the above requirements and are interested in working in a country that offers an ideal environment for personal and professional development, send us your resume and additional information at [email protected].
After receiving your resume, we will check your motivation because we only send serious candidates to our partners.
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