Doctors

Doctors FAQ

Some of the questions Doctors ask us most:

• How long will it take for me to be able to work in Australia?

  • For international graduates who hold fellowship in either UK, Ireland, NZ or Canada, the process will typically take 9 - 12 months, provided there are no delays in the lodgement process. Please refer to the international page diagram for a simple graphic outlining the process.

    If you are not from one of these countries, the process will take in excess of 12 months and positions are limited for the Area of Need pathway, especially for General Practice.

    Don’t stress about the paperwork as a Your Doctor Jobs consultant will assist you throughout the process, one step at a time.

• How long will it take for me to be able to work in Canada?

  • On average, the process takes between 6 - 12 months, although this will vary with each province.

    The application process varies between provinces, with paperwork taking up most of this time. By working with one of our specialists you can ensure all your documents are correct and complete, and provided to the applicable governing body in the province you wish to work in, so your application can be processed as quickly as possible.

• How long will it take for me to be able to work in New Zealand?

  • New Zealand has one registering body, the Medical Council of New Zealand (NCNZ). Unlike Australia, you do not need to present your application in person. You can submit it on paper, a maximum of 6 months from your intended start date. The length of the process will depend on the registration pathway you are applying for. For a Canadian doctor, the process should take 10 weeks from signing of contract to first day of placement.

    Once again, Your Doctor Jobs will assist you every step of the way.

• How much can I earn as a GP locum or permanent doctor in Australia?

  • Locum doctor earnings can be either fixed or a percenage of billings, and can vary considerably depending on factors such as location, seniority, specialty, the level of responsibility of the role, and whether you are working in a hospital or private clinic.

    Typically, a GP-only locum doctor can earn between $25,000 - $35,000 AUD per month, depending on the location. GP/VMO (Hospital Visitation) doctors and specialists can earn upwards of $40,000 AUD per month.

    GP Permanent doctors in Australia are contractors, not employees, and they receive a percentage of the billings from the patients they see on a daily basis. This fee for service rate can vary depending on the client and location, but the standard average is 65%. When a doctor first starts working in Australia, Your Doctor Jobs suggets an hourly minimum rate of $120 – $150 AUD per hour, or 65% -75% of billings, whichever is greater. This way you have financial security, and it places more emphasis on the client to ensure you are busy and productive from day one.

    Please note: These rates are a guideline only, as the sabbactical market can fluctuate greatly; rates are subject to rapid change.

• How much can I earn as a GP locum/permanent in Canada?

  • Locum rates are not fixed and can vary considerably depending on factors such as location, seniority, specialty, the level of responsibility of the role, and whether you are working in a hospital or private clinic.

    Typically, a GP-only locum can earn between $1,000 - $1,500 CAD per day. For GP/ED (Hospital Visitation) doctors and specialists, the daily rate is upwards of $1,800 CAD per day. In some cases, rates will be paid hourly rather than on a daily basis.

    GP permanent doctors earn a fixed percentage of billings. This can vary between 65% - 80%, depending on the client.

    Please note: These rates are a guideline only, as the locum market can fluctuate greatly; rates are subject to rapid change.

• How much can I earn as a GP sabbatical/permanent in NZ?

  • Sabbatical rates are negotiable in most cases, and base rates vary depending on the location, the length of the placement, accommodation and travel requirements, the kind of practice and any extra skills that are required.

    Sabbatical placements for GPs in rural areas, smaller towns and cities will usually include accommodation, a vehicle, and flights within New Zealand. In most cases the hourly rate or half-day session rate will also be higher in these locations.

    A sabbatical/permanent doctor will earn between $400 - $500 NZD per 4-hour/half-day session,

• How does tax work in Australia?

  • Your Doctor Jobs are not able to provide you with taxation advice directly, which is why we have a partnership with a specialist financial institution and close associations with one of the major banks, to ensure you receive the right advice tailored to your needs.

    To get you started we recommend you check out the ATO website.

• How does tax work in Canada?

  • The taxation rate varies between provinces.

    Your Doctor Jobs are not able to provide you with taxation advice directly, which is why we have a partnership with a specialist financial institution and close associations with one of the major banks, to ensure you receive the right advice tailored to your needs.

• How does tax work in New Zealand?

  • We are not in a position to give taxation advice, but would recommend that you take a look at the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (IRD) website for further information.

    If you are working as an employee in New Zealand you will be required to get an IRD Number. Employees have their tax deducted prior to being paid. This is known as PAYE (Pay as You Earn). Your Doctor Jobs can assist you to apply for your IRD number when you arrive in New Zealand.

    If your country has a double tax agreement with New Zealand and you are in New Zealand for less than 183 days, it is expected that you will pay tax on your earnings in your home country. Independent contractors get paid the full amount without any tax deducted, but then must arrange payment of tax to the IRD (if you are in New Zealand for more than 183 days) or to your home country (if you are in New Zealand for less than 183 days).

    If you are a working as a contractor, you will need to get an IRD number and you may need to become registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST). We will arrange for you to discuss this with the IRD non-resident contractor’s team when you arrive in New Zealand.

• What medical indemnity do I need to work as a locum or permanent doctor in Australia?

  • For locum/permanent doctors working as a hospital PAYG employees (that is, candidates placed on the hospital payroll), you will be covered by the hospital’s State Medical Indemnity Policy. Some hospitals also offer indemnity cover to sole traders and PTY limited companies (contractors), for the duration of their sabbatical/permanent. However this is at the discretion of the client and Your Doctor Jobs can’t insist that our clients provide guaranteed cover for a locum /permanent doctor. It is ultimately the client’s decision, and it is your responsibility to have an understanding of exactly what you are covered for before commencing a locum/permanent placement.

    Regardless of whether the client provides you with medical indemnity cover for the duration of your placement, Your Doctor Jobs recommends that all locum/permanent doctors working in Australia have their own private indemnity cover at all times, with run off cover.

    We recommend using MDA National for all indemnity enquiries.

• What medical indemnity do I need to work as a sabbatical or permanent doctor in New Zealand?

  • All doctors who would like to work in New Zealand must ensure that they have the correct medical indemnity while undertaking sabbatical/permanent work. Medical indemnity cover is a requirement for registration in NZ. On average, medical indemnity costs less in NZ than it does in Australia. This is due to the NZ Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), which has an accident and compensation scheme in place, providing personal injury cover for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors. In return, people do not have the right to sue for personal injury, other than for exemplary damages.

    Please contact the Medical Protection Society for more information on NZ medical indemnity.

    For further information on ACC please follow the link: The Accident Compensation Corporation

• Do I need to charge GST as a contractor in Australia?

  • As a contractor, you will need to pay GST if your earnings exceed $75,000 AUD per annum. You can register for GST online. This means you will need to charge an additional 10% GST, on top of your gross earnings. At the end of the financial year, the hospital or GP clinic will then claim the GST back from the ATO. All PAYG workers and contractors in Australia are expected to complete a yearly self assessment and to lodge a Tax Return on an annual basis with the ATO.

    Further information can be found on the ATO website.

• What is the shortest time a Canadian can work in Australia?

  • This is a loaded question, and Your Doctor Jobs will assume that you have never worked in Australia before, and you are not an Australian Citizen but do hold Family Medicine Fellowship CCFP.

    If this is the case, the very first time you work in Australia, through Your Doctor Jobs and our clients, your placement would need to be for at least 12 months at the same location. Australian clients are more than happy to take Canadian doctors, but they are looking for some return on investment as it takes time to induct, mentor and educate a Canadian doctor to the Australian system.

    As registration takes 9 - 12 months to complete, Your Doctor Jobs advises Canadian doctors to begin the process in January, to be ready for your first placement in November. This way, you avoid another Canadian winter - that is, if you’re not into skiing!

• Who negotiates my contract in Australia, Canada and New Zealand?

  • We do, of course - but with your assistance and input!

    At Your Doctor Jobs, we work for you and have your best interests at heart. We take the stress out of negotiations, and ensure that remuneration, working conditions, accommodation and travel are all considered and represent current market conditions.

    We promote collaboration between our doctors and clients, and strive to work with both parties to ensure a mutually beneficial agreement is achieved.

    Because Your Doctor Jobs is a more personalised service, we know our clients just that little bit better than our competitors, and we pride ourselves on looking past the financial benefits to ensure the placement will also be a great cultural and dynamic fit.

    If you wish to discuss your requirements with one of our team in more detail, please register your interest or email justin@yourdoctorjobs.com.

• As a doctor, will I have to pay to use Your Doctor Jobs?

  • No. In Australia, it is illegal for any recruitment company to charge an applicant directly to find a position. Our financial relationship is with the client.

    If you ever find yourself being asked to pay an agency fee for service directly relating to sourcing you a job in Australia, we strongly recommend you seek advice from the recruitment industry association in your country. In Australia and New Zealand, contact the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA).

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