Overview of the Australian Health System
The Australian health system involves a mixture of public and private services involving various government departments. The Commonwealth government is responsible for general practice services, pharmaceutical benefits, aged care services, veterans health services, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services. The state government regulates public health services, which include but are not limited to public hospitals, dental services, mental health services and community health. Note that there are two types of hospitals; public hospitals are funded by the government and private hospitals, some of which operate for profit.
General Practice in Australia
General practice is a key component of primary health care in Australia, and often involves a team of General Practitioners, General Practitioner Registrars, Practice Nurses, Practice Managers, and administrative/reception staff. There is a variety of general practice arrangements, ranging from solo GP practices to corporate practices with a team of health service providers on staff. In rural areas, many of the GPs provide Visiting Medical Officer (VMO) services at the local hospital, covering emergency and/or procedural services for the town. GPs work in coordination with other health care providers, including medical specialists, allied health professionals, and nurses.
GPs are supported by two separate and independent professional colleges: Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Both colleges can confer the award of Fellowship (which will lead to Vocational Registration) and offer continuing professional development programs. Extensive resources are also available through the college websites.
A list of common acronyms used in general practice in Australia is available.
Seeking Employment as an International Medical Graduate (IMG)
If you are interested in working as a GP in the Central West region of NSW, go to Living and Working in the Central West to learn about life as a rural GP. You can also search the Division's GP Vacancies for job postings.
While there are many medical vacancies in rural Australia, the process of finding a suitable position and addressing the mandatory requirements can be complex for medical practitioners that have received their primary medical degree overseas. A series of processes have been developed to assess and recognise overseas qualifications, and there are often restrictions placed on the doctor's Australian practice. The DoctorConnect website is produced by the Department of Health and Ageing, and provides a valuable starting point for doctors who may be considering work in Australia.
The Rural Doctors Network (RDN) is the NSW rural workforce agency. RDN provides assistance to eligible doctors to support the transition to rural general practice for both doctors and their families. To learn more about the RDN services and/or apply for assessment for a rural vacancy, go to GP Recruitment on the RDN website. Please note that relocation grants are no longer available through RDN.
The Greater Western Area Health Service Country Careers website has a range of useful information for overseas recruits.
In general, the initial process can be made less confusing by firstly addressing the following three key areas:
1. Medical Registration
Medical practitioners wishing to work in NSW must be eligible for registration with the NSW Medical Board. There are a number of registration pathways available to doctors, depending on their training, experience and primary medical qualifications. The Australian Medical Council (AMC) assesses international medical graduates that want to practice in Australia. The AMC examinations are divided into two separate components: the Multiple Choice (MCQ) and Clinical examination, which are offered both on- and off-shore. There are several different categories of registration for medical professionals, which may include the following:
- General Registration: Doctors that have successfully completed a year of supervised training AND both AMC examination components (see above) may be eligible for general registration.
- Conditional Registration: There are numerous pathways for conditional registration for IMGs. Area of Need registration is one type of conditional registration whereby the doctor must work in an Area of Need position within a specific general practice in order to obtain Conditional Area of Need medical registration. NSW Health produces a list of Area of Need vacancies. Area of Need applicants must have a current (within the last two years) proof of English language competency and successful completion of the AMC MCQ.
For specific information on current medical registration and pathways, go to the NSW Medical Board website.
2. Immigration
There are a number of visa classes that may be suitable for IMGs and their families. For more information, go to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website. Alternatively, a Registered Migration Agent can help guide you through complex visa application processes, handle paperwork and present your case. The Migration Agents Registration Authority can help with finding an agent and provide advice about the fees that agents might charge.
3. Provider Number
The Medicare scheme provides Australian residents with access to free or low-cost medical treatment, and is the major source of income for most GPs. In order to receive payment from Medicare for general practice services, a GP will require a Medicare Provider Number. However, all IMGs that were not generally registered before 1 January 1997 will need to practice in a District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) in order to obtain a Provider Number. The DWS scheme limits the practice of IMGs to where the services are most required, and usually are found in rural areas. The Department of Health and Ageing manages the searchable database of DWS towns.
Support for International Medical Graduates
Vocational Registration
Vocational Registration (VR) applies to doctors recognised as general practitioners by Medicare Australia. Vocational Registration allows doctors to bill Medicare at the higher VR rate. To achieve Vocational Registration, a doctor must receive Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP) or Fellowship of ACRRM (FACRRM). Reciprocal Fellowship ad eundum gradum may be granted to Fellows of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, members of the Irish College of General Practitioners, and to doctors from the UK and Canada who meet criteria.
For doctors that do not qualify for Fellowship ad eundum gradum, there are several pathways to pursue vocational registration. The pathway chosen depends on previous experience, education and eligibility. Regardless of the pathway to Fellowship undertaken, there are requirements for medical professionals to qualify for assessment, successfully complete the clinical assessment, and complete the training program/required experience before meeting Fellowship requirements. Pathways include:
- The Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) is a postgraduate vocational training program for medical graduates wishing to pursue a career in general practice and/or rural and remote medicine in Australia. The program is a three or four year full-time registrar training program funded by the Australian Government, and is managed by General Practice Education and Training Limited (GPET). Beyond Medical Education is the Regional Training Provider for the Central West.
- Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) is a training program for doctors in remote communities throughout Australia. This four year program allows doctors to pursue vocational registration in a supported and structured manner while continuing to provide general practice services in remote communities. The training provided meets the requirements for Fellowship of both ACRRM and RACGP. Go to the RVTS website for more information.
- Independent Pathway (ACRRM): The Independent Pathway will suit individuals who prefer self-directed learning and who have a broader and more extensive range of work experience than those training through the AGPT pathway. For more information, go to the ACRRM Vocational Training website.
- Practice Eligible Route (RACGP): This alternative pathway combines assessment in the candidate's clinical practice and submitted work and may be undertaken over 6 or 12 months. For more information, download the RACGP Fellowship Guide.