Doctors

International Medical Graduates

A new medical Job – Australia, Canada or New Zealand?

Let’s face it: those of us who live in Australia, Canada and New Zealand are some of the luckiest people around. We enjoy countries with world-class wilderness regions, and lifestyle opportunities across metropolitan, country and remote locations. There’s literally something for everyone.

But moving countries – well, it’s a big step. There are so many things to consider, especially as a medical practitioner starting a new job. For example:

  • How do my qualifications compare to those ffrom Australia, Canada or New Zealand?
  • Who do I go to for medical insurance?
  • Where will be the best location for my chosen lifestyle?
  • What schools and clubs will help my family to settle in easily?
  • Why is it all so confusing?

Don’t worry! As an experienced medical recruitment agency in Australia, Canada and New Zealand, Your Doctor Jobs is here to assist. We can help you with every aspect of your move (and if we can’t, we have a network of partners who will be able to help you).

Some of the things we can help with are, but not limited to:

  • Finding the best medical job to suit your specialty
  • Australian and New Zealand medical registration
  • Immigration and Visa processes for overseas trained doctors and their families
  • Taxation advice and taxation partners that can assist
  • Medical indemnity
  • Logistics of moving
  • Ongoing support and assistance

How long will it take to work in Australia or Canada?

To work in Australia or Canada the process from start to finish will take between 9 and 12 months and will vary depending on the time of year the application is being processed and how pro-active you are with paperwork. You will be required to work for a minimum of 12 months.

How long will it take to work in Australia or Canada?

To work in New Zealand the process is quicker and only around 3 to 6 months and locum short term placements will also be considered as well as permanent placements of 12 months or more.

Below is a snapshot of the Australian Registration process:

 

Step 1 – AMC

Verify your Medical Qualifications – Time to get your qualifications checked

Welcome to the very first step of the process, in this stage we verify your medical background and confirm your Primary Medical Degree and Post graduate Medical qualifications.

We recommend a timeframe for this step of between 8 and 12 weeks. This will depend on how diligent you are with the paperwork! Don’t stress though as we will step you through each stage of this.

Step 2 - RACGP

RACGP Application – Time to get that qualifications recognised!

The RACGP will assess your qualifications, experience and continuing professional development in order to assess your comparability for the Practice Experience Program. GPs will be granted with either substantially comparable, partially comparable or not comparable. This comparable process application can take up to 10 weeks.

The PEP program provides educational support for Overseas-Trained doctors with a specialist qualification, transitioning to Australian general practice, working towards obtaining FRACGP.

Step 3 - AHPRA

AHPRA application stage

In this part of the process, the legislation requirements which enable you to practice in Australia are processed. At this stage, while paperwork is being processed it is time to start your immigration paperwork and thumb through travel magazines! Timeframe for this step is up to 8 – 10 weeks.

Step 4 - Visa

Visa application

With this process, YDJ highly recommends that a Migration Agent is involved due to ongoing updates and changes in the Immigration system. YDJ will recommend a Migration Agent for the practice and doctor to work with if the practice does not have one themselves.

While waiting for your visa to come through, you can start packing your bags as your VISA takes around 4 - 8 weeks to process. You should just about have your personal affairs in order. Your YDJ consultant will be in close contact with you to ensure that you have started looking at logistics.

Step 5 – It’s time to come to Australia

The big move (hop on that plane)

So your visa is through, you’re registered with AHPRA and you are only a stone throw away from starting work in Australia with just a couple more boxes to tick before you start. We are here to help you with the following items:

  1. Presentation to AHPRA in person for an ID check
  2. Lodging an application for a provider number
  3. Organising Medical Indemnity Insurance
  4. Introduction to practice and Medicare
  5. Meet with a taxation specialist and set up your Tax file number and ABN

When you arrive in Australia you will need to attend the AHPRA office to conduct an ID check, once you have completed the ID check a Your Doctor Jobs consultant will then lodge a provider number to Medicare for you and assist with your medical indemnity insurance plus many other fun things involving the Australian System.

When you arrive in Australia and lodge your provider number it takes between 2 and 6 weeks for Medicare to process the application and you can’t start practicing until this is approved. Your Doctor Jobs recommends using this time to familiarise yourself with your location and take a short holiday in Australia and meet with a taxation specialist/accountant to ensure you are correctly set up to work in Australia. The choice is yours but the wait is unavoidable so you may as well plan to enjoy it!