For many medical graduates, Australia is the dream location to take those first career steps. With a rewarding medical sector, warm weather and relaxed lifestyle, the appeal is obvious.

However, the recent Skills Occupation List review has shown that medical placements Down Under are likely to become more difficult to get in the future. The challenges facing international medical graduates trying to find the ideal placement in Australia are already significant – showing the important role expert medical recruiters will play in finding doctor jobs Down Under.

Let’s look at the three challenges facing overseas medical graduates coming to Australia and how Your Doctor Jobs can help remedy these.

1. Challenges to the Skills Occupation List

The Skills Occupation List comprises all the job roles that Australia lacks numbers in, with the intention of resourcing for these skills by looking overseas. Although the recent Federal review of the listed roles resulted in doctors remaining among the ranks of sought-after occupations for foreign skills, the debate around their place was more vocal than ever.

This will undoubtedly make it more difficult for international medical graduates to find work in Australia as more practices begin to prioritise national graduates over foreigners. Using medical recruitment puts you directly in touch with reputable medical clinics that are happy to work with overseas medical graduates.

The Skills Occupation List has been a subject of national debate for many years.

2. Quality of the Australian medical sector

Australian healthcare is world-renowned for the expertise evident in its workforce. The challenges for overseas medical graduates coming to Australia are documented in an Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) report:

• Improving work readiness – many overseas medical graduates come from a university training background which doesn’t prioritise on-the-job practice enough, or hasn’t prepared overseas students for the rigours of the Australian system.
• Setting appropriate expectations – translating foreign qualifications to an Australian equivalent often leaves overseas medical graduates disheartened.
• Diversified labour markets – doctors who arrive in Australia may do so without any knowledge of the local demand for specialist positions, which may lead to struggle.

Your Doctor Jobs’ team is specialised in working tirelessly with clients to find the right role. It is a delicate balance of finding what you want and ensuring we remain honest in what we can offer you – the perfect combination to deliver you the perfect doctor job.

3. Tackling the paperwork

Relocating to Australia, for a new medical graduate, can seem like a mountain to climb, especially with the masses of paperwork you need to complete in order to work Down Under.

Transferring your qualifications from overseas to an Australian equivalent is the first challenge, and can take anywhere from four to eight months. During this time, you will also have to climb aboard the acronym bandwagon – 19ab, DWS, FRACGP, AHPRA… lost yet? Next – sorting out visas. This process can be equally time consuming, and becomes even more complicated if you are travelling to Australia with a partner. Then there is filling out CVs, liaising with potential employers, contacting local clinics… the mountain of paperwork just gets higher.

The paperwork you have to fill out in order to practice in Australia is a challenge for many.

Let us take the lead here. Part of our services is a commitment to helping you with every step of your recruitment journey, from first contact to offering advice on the best locations to start your Australian adventure. We can help you every step of the way:

• We can provide assistance with paperwork.
• We’ll help breakdown the myriad of acronyms into simple terms.
• We can help ensure you get the right visa for your medical role.

Sit down with us, tell us your expectations, and we can handle the rest.

See the Your Doctor Jobs’ difference

So, will you be able to relocate to Australia as an overseas medical graduate on your own? With all the challenges facing you in your search for the ideal job Down Under, working with a team of medical recruitment professionals is a significant help in making sure everything goes smoothly.

To hear more about what Your Doctor Jobs can offer, or to touch base with one of our Australian recruiters about getting your move under way, contact us today by clicking below.