A Doctor's Guide to Working and Living in Australia

For decades Doctors from the UK and further afield have targeted working and living in Australia
as the dream move.

Even to the present day Doctors are still flocking. But there is a healthy amount of information to
download and digest first before starting the process.

That is where Blugibbon comes in. We have broken down each consideration under the
headings below and will explain each step of the process as you read on:

WORKING IN AUSTRALIA

1. Healthcare System
2. Registration
3. Immigration
4. Language Requirements
5. Impact to Career

LIVING IN AUSTRALIA

6. Lifestyle
7. Housing
8. Salary
9. Education
10. Transferring a UK Pension

1. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Although not too complex to understand there are some key points to take on board.

Approximately 70% of Australian’s healthcare expenditures are funded by the Australian

government, with two major national subsidy schemes called Medicare and the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Having said that 55% of Australians use Private Health Insurance and the Government provides
a subsidy of 30% to individuals that purchase it.

2. REGISTRATION

Medical Board Registration times with AHPRA vary based on the type of registration applied for
and seniority.

Senior House Officers (SHOs) and Registrars should allow 3-4 months after securing a
position, but for Consultants and GPs this can take at least 6-8 months.

The stages can be summarised below:

Stage 1 - Australian Medical Council

The AMC is responsible for ensuring the standards of education, training and
assessment of the medical profession ensure the health of the Australian community.

They will determine eligibility at this phase and usually decide which level you are applying for
as an International Medical Graduate (IMG). It is encouraged that you confirm your eligibility
before you apply for work through Blugibbon.

The pathways determined by the AMC are below:

a. Advanced Standing within AMC

To be eligible you will have:
- A primary degree from the UK, Ireland, US or
Canada and currently hold full registration in the country where
you received your primary degree or;
- Have completed the equivalent licensing exams (such as PLAB I
and II, NZREX, USMLE) and;
- Have completed a full year of supervised practice in UK, Ireland, US, NZ
or Canada

b. Specialist
To be eligible you will have:
- Have completed a specialist training program in another country, or are within
two years of completing an accredited specialist training program
- You are then eligible to have your qualification assessed by the equivalent
Australasian College and they will then determine what (if any) additional
requirements they wish you to undertake to gain specialist registration in
Australia

c. AMC Examination
If you do not fall into either of these categories, but you do have a medical degree from a
medical school listed in the WHO directory, then you will need to complete AMC
examinations which involve an MCQ Exam and a Clinical Examination.

Stage 2 - Specialist College (if required)

The relevant specialist college will assess the Doctor’s comparability to an
Australian trained Doctor, reviewing training, examinations and clinical experience.
Interviews are a possibility.

Stage 3 - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

AHPRA provide the final approval for a Doctor to practice in Australia, based on recognition that
a Doctor meets all requirements and is deemed competent to perform up to the healthcare
standards desired by Australia.

Stage 4 - Department of Immigration & Border Protection (DIBP)

3. IMMIGRATION

After registrationreceiving a ‘Approval in Principal of Limited Registration’ letter from AHPRA,

you will be eligible to apply for a temporary skilled visa. visa for his / herself (MORE TEXT
THAT WAS MISSING FROM PDF).

For all Doctors we use the Temporary Skilled Shortage Temporary Work (Skilled) visa
(Subclass 457482) program..

The Temporary Skilled Skilled vVisa can provide s you with up to a four (4) year visa, with the
duration of visa dependent on your personal and professional goals. (dependent on the length
(MORE TEXT THAT WAS MISSING FROM PDF).

Eligibility for a Permanent Visa is dependent on you attaining General Registration with AHPRA,
and subject to other eligibility requirements for independent or sponsored permanent pathways.

4. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

All Doctors have to satisfy the requirements of the Medical Board of Australia (MORE TEXT
THAT WAS MISSING FROM PDF).

If English is not your first language (MORE TEXT THAT WAS MISSING FROM PDF).

The Occupational English Test (OET) is another testing option that provides an assessment of
language skills of healthcare professionals aiming to work in an English-speaking country.

[Do MBA and AHORA not mandate the IELTS as the only compliant test?]

5. IMPACT TO CAREER

Senior Medical Officer (SMO) / Specialist

Working 'Down Under' offers an incredible lifestyle for Specialists where they can immerse
themselves in the local community and culture. Because Senior Doctors are in high demand,
there is also the opportunity to quickly progress your career.

General Practitioner
General Practitioners can enjoy a relaxing lifestyle in Australia while working in major cities or
smaller communities. GPs are in high demand all throughout the country, therefore the
opportunity for career advancement is high.

Junior Doctor
As PGY4+ Doctors are in short supply in Australia there are great opportunities for overseas
Doctors to enter training programs and complete their training here.

6. LIFESTYLE

Australia has a unique blend of native cultural traditions coupled with newer influences
from cultures across the globe. In fact, over 25% of Australia's population of 23 million were
born overseas.

This mix of personalities and cultures has unified its people under a shared love of country.

This rich cultural diversity is represented in Australia's vibrant art scene and of course Australia
has a notoriously passionate sporting population.

Even if you live in the city, you and your family can achieve a fantastic lifestyle.

7. HOUSING

There are a wide range of housing options in Australian cities ranging from sleek high-rise
apartments to spacious homes with land in beautiful suburbs.

Country towns and regional cities are smaller and more isolated. Renting homes is usually done
through real estate agents.

Average weekly rate for 3 person bedroom rental property ($AUD)

Hobart, TAS = $310
Adelaide, SA = $350
Melbourne, VIC = $375
Brisbane, QLD = $400
Canberra, ACT = $460
Perth, WA = $480
Sydney, NSW = $500
Darwin, NT = $700

8. SALARY

In the public sector, Doctor salaries vary from state to state and are based on fixed Government
award rates.

Approx. Basic Salary ($AUD)

Junior Doctor / SHO = $60,000-$110,000
General Practitioner = $150,000-$350,000
Consultant / Specialist = $230,000-$400,000 +

Tax Rates
$0-$18,200 = 0%
$18,201-$37,000 = 19%
$37,001-$80,000 = $ 3572 + 32.5%
$80,001-$180,000 = $ 17,547 + 37%
$180,000+ = $54,545 + 45%

Additional Salary Benefits

In addition to competitive salaries, permanent Doctors working in Australia are entitled to:

● Up to 5 weeks paid annual leave per year

● Up to 10 days paid sick leave per year
● Superannuation to the value of 9.5% of total salary
● Specialists are also likely to receive a yearly CME allowance as well as travel and
accommodation allowances.

9. EDUCATION

The Australian school year runs from January to December with four school terms.

There are three one-week vacation periods throughout the year along with a (MORE TEXT
THAT WAS MISSING FROM PDF).

Probably not accurate. See:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/calendars#20200

and other states education departments calendars.

10. TRANSFERRING A UK PENSION

If you are thinking of making the move to Australia you may wish to consider transferring your
UK pension.

Recent changes to regulations make the process a lot easier to transfer a pension than it used
to be.

We hope the above information has been useful, if it has, let us know and send us an email on
info@blugibbon.com to set up a time to chat informally. We cannot wait to see you in Australia!