Resources - Australia

Frequently Asked Questions

I am a New Zealand Graduate, how do I get registered as a Medical Practitioner?

If you are a New Zealand Graduate and providing you have no restrictions on your current registration in New Zealand, you are eligible for both General and Specialist Registration. If you are a first time applicant to an Australian Board, registration can take up to 6 weeks to be approved and you may be required to attend an interview with the relevant board when you arrive in Australia.

We understand that assessing your registration eligibility can sometimes be confusing and we are happy to assist you with any of your queries. So if you require further assistance to determine your eligibility please contact one of our expert locum recruitment consultants at

How long does it normally take to get registered in Australia?

There is no short answer to this question, but the absolute minimum period of time for a simple junior doctor application with no complications would be about 6 to 8 weeks. A typical application should allow for 3-6 months to allowed for delays and further documentation

For complicated or senior placements it would be a safe to estimate this at around 6 months but could be longer depending on paperwork.

Is there anyway to fast track an Australian application?

The registration process in Australia is very complicated with regards to paperwork and varies in each State. To help aid our consultants and avoid any delays it's a great idea to have the following certified documents ready to send;

• All your medical degrees & certificates (plus any post graduate certificates)
• A complete CV with logbooks and 3 listed referee's
• Proof of identification
• Passport photos x 2
• English Proficiency exam results
• EICS verification
• In some cases police certificates will also be required

It is strongly advised to collate all of the above documentation as soon as possible, so when it comes time to begin the application process, you will already have the majority of your documents in order.

If you have not sat the English exam please see the IELTS website to organise your exam date as soon as possible.

How much will it cost to work in Australia for the first time?

There will be some initial upfront costs associated with moving to and being able to work in Australia. Some of these costs are reimbursed by employers upon arrival while others can be used as a tax deduction. General costs associated with relocating and working in Australia include but will vary for each doctor:

• Visa application fee
• Immigration x-rays
• Immigration Police clearance Certificates
• Translation of documents if they are not in English originally
• English proficiency examinations
• AMC certificate examinations
• Medical Board interview (Varies in each state)
• Application and Annual Registration fee, Varies from state to state
• Certificate of Good Standing – from your current and previous Medical Boards
• Certification /notification of documents
• Medical indemnity insurance

I am an Overseas Trained Doctor, how do I get registered as a Medical Practitioner?

The registration process for Overseas Trained doctors can vary and it will depend on where you were trained and what your post graduate qualifications you have obtained. The Australian Medical Council website www.amc.org.au lists all of the overseas trained doctor's pathways.

If you have any further questions please contact our office for more information.

How long can I conduct a locum contract for in Australia?

A locum contract can be anywhere from one shift up to three months. In some instances if a client is particularly happy with a locum doctor they may ask you to return on an ongoing / regular basis or extend a contract for a longer period of time. Most Area Health services or District regions will only allow a hospital locum doctor to work for 3 months before going onto a permanent contract. GP clinics may offer longer contracts and this will be negotiated on a case be case basis.

Overseas trained doctors looking to work for short periods in Australia are encouraged to look at 6 month options and may be placed on permanent 6 month contacts or something similar.

If you have any further questions regarding locum work please contact our office for more information.

What would I earn as a locum in Australia?

Locum rates are not fixed in most states and can vary significantly depending on a number of contributing factors such as location, seniority, hospital or private clinic, speciality and the amount of responsibility you have been entrusted with and of course how much notice has been given.

In our experiences in dealing with rural locations they will often pay a lot higher and offer a few more benefits such as accommodation, car and travel than the metropolitan locations.

Operational and procedural skills (such as those used in anaesthesia, surgery, ICU / ED and O&G) tend to attract higher rates of pay, particularly given that doctors with these specialties are often required to maintain 24 hour cover for a hospital. Similarly in General Practice, procedural skills (such as those used in Obstetrics and anaesthesia) are more sought after than straight consultation skills for clients in rural locations.

On average locum junior doctors can typically earn anywhere between $70 to $90 per hour. Locum Registrars can earn between $100 to $150 per hour, GP's with VMO rights can earn between $1200 - $2000 per day and Consultants can earn between $1500 to over $2500 per day. In some instances a Consultant may be paid an hourly VMO Rate and dependent on the number of working hours and on call, this can sometimes equate to more than the average daily rate. Please Note: These rates are guidelines only, as the locum market can fluctuate greatly and rates are often subject to change.

Please contact your locum recruitment consultant at Ochre Recruitment if you require more advice on what you could potentially earn as a locum in Australia.

How long do I have to stay in one position and what time of the year is best to start?

Depending on what type of position you are looking for will effect what time of the year is ideal for you to making the big move. For General Practitioners and specialists anytime of the year is acceptable to start the process. These positions it is encouraged to come out for 12 months but 6 month positions can be sourced.

For junior doctors the Australian clinical year runs from the second week of January. Most overseas doctors are offered posts of one year's duration and occasionally 3-6 months and some hospitals will take doctors out of this cycle depending on availability.

Any positions that are less than 6 months are discouraged due to the time taken to process all of the paperwork and obtain registration and visa which can take up to 6 months.

Please contact Ochre Recruitment for more advice on when to make the move and also check out our available positions on our website.