frequently asked questions

Q: Why work in Australia?
A: Because of the people and the lifestyle. The vast majority of people who choose to come to Australia do so because of the lifestyle and high standard of living that Australia offers. From the city to the outback, Australia is a spectacular country for work and play.

Australia also has an excellent health care system with advanced facilities and medical infrastructure. Many doctors choose to move to Australia because of the opportunities for career development.

Q: What is the process for applying to Horizon Medical Recruitment?
A: Please register with Horizon and submit your CV via the Submit Your CV page. Once we have received your CV one of our recruitment consultants will assess your CV and if you meet the eligibility requirements a consultant will be in touch with you to discuss and further understand your employment plans and interests, and answer any questions you may have about working in Australia.

Q: What happens if a Hospital or Health Service has offered me an interview?
A: If you accept an offer of an interview from a health service Horizon will forward your preferred contact number for the interviewer/panel to call you at an agreed time for an interview. Most interviews will be by telephone or videoconference if you have access to videoconferencing facilities.

Q: What happens next if I am offered and accept a position?
A: We will send you a contract from the employer for you to sign, and will then assist you with your Medical Board registration and visa/immigration applications, together with your new employer.

Q: Does Horizon charge me a fee for your recruitment services?
A: No. Horizon is a fully registered Employment Agency in Perth, Australia, and must abide by a strict code of conduct under which we are prohibited from charging a candidate a fee for the recruitment services that we provide.

Q: Who pays for the medical registration and visa application fees?
A: These costs are usually your responsibility as they relate to your professional registration requirements and ability to practice in Australia, and are eligible for a tax deduction against your income. Some employers may be willing to provide some assistance with meeting these costs, or with some reimbursement on completion of your contract.

Q: How long is the average placement?
A: Horizon primarily deals in permanent or fixed term placements of candidates with employers for 12 months or longer, but we also offer locum or shorter-term placements with employers. The Australian clinical year runs from the second week of January. Most overseas doctors are offered posts of one year's duration and occasionally 6 months.

Any shorter posts are made difficult by the amount of paperwork and administration involved, as the time to generally obtain registration and a visa can take up to 4-6 months.

Q: Who will pay for my relocation?
A: This often depends on the location your are appointed to. Most of our clients will provide assistance to foreign doctors with their relocation expenses. The amount paid up front or reimbursed depends on the policies of the individual hospital or health service and should be discussed with your Horizon consultant prior to your accepting a placement.

Q: Will accommodation be supplied?
A: This also often depends on the location you are appointed to, and the Hospital or Health Service. Some Health Services provide subsidised accommodation or rental assistance, but this is generally in the more rural and remote locations. Almost all our clients will provide some form of temporary accommodation when you first arrive which can include staff quarters at a hospital, furnished apartments or a hotels/motel.

Accommodation assistance will be discussed with you and you employer, prior to your acceptance of any placement.

Q: Is the information I provide to Horizon private?
A: At Horizon we abide by very strict rules with regards to candidate confidentiality. When you provide information to us we store that information securely and we only send out your details to our clients after we have gained your permission to do so, and you have confirmed your interest in the role.

You may provide us with general permission to distribute your CV as soon as we know a position in which you are interested has arisen. In these circumstances, we will always inform you when we forward your details and provide some initial information about the employer and the role so that you are aware of where your personal details are going. These practices are considered best practice in our industry as recommended by the RCSA, our industry body.

Q: Do I have to provide my own medical indemnity insurance?
A: Medical indemnity insurance is usually provided by your employer, and you will be advised if it is not provided as part of your offer of employment.

Q: What medical tests will I be required to have?
A: Requirements vary throughout our destinations, however you may be required to have chest X-rays, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and other tests. Our recruitment consultant will advise you what is required for each location that you are considering.

Q: Do I need character checks/police clearances?
A: Depending on your destination and class of visa, you may be required to obtain Police Clearances in Australia or from the country your are coming from, in order to confirm your employment offer or to obtain a visa. You will be advised should this be necessary.

Q: Do I need private health insurance while I am living/working in Australia?
A: Australia has health care reciprocal agreements with several European countries (see Medicare for further details) for health care in Australia but it is usually advisable and a visa/immigration requirement that you take out private health insurance unless you have permanent residency in Australia. There is a very wide choice of health insurance policies for visitors to Australia, which you can review by following the link below. Some employers will provide you with the option of joining their Employer funded scheme.

www.iselect.com.au

Q: Will I be subject to an English Language Test?
A: Yes you will if your secondary education was not in a country where English is the first language and if you do not already hold General Registration in Australia. The following exams and results are required for registration with the State Medical Boards:

IELTS – 7 and above for each component/module
OET – B and above
PLAB 1 & 2 – Pass
ECFMG – Pass

Q: What if I completed my IELTS exam over two years ago?
A: You will need to provide evidence of having completed your IELTS exam and this must be in the form of an original results certificate issued by the IELTS test centre. An exemption may be granted (depending on the assessing Medical Board) if you achieved a satisfactory result more than 2 years ago and can demonstrate that you have continued working as a medical doctor in an English-speaking environment continuously after completing the exam.

Q: What if I have completed an English Language test other than the IELTS in the last two years - am I exempt?
A: If you can provide evidence of completion in the last 2 years of any of the following tests, this can be used in place of the IELTS exam:

- OET (Occupational English Test) – Grades of A or B only in each of the 4 components
- PLAB (Professional Linguistic Assessment) – pass
- NZREX (New Zealand Registration Exam) – pass

Satisfactory results from the above exams must be obtained in one sitting.

Q: What is Medicare?
A: Medicare was introduced in Australia in 1984 as a Federal Government administered health Insurance. It aims to provide high quality healthcare, which is affordable and accessible to all Australians. Medicare includes free or subsidised treatment from medical practitioners as well as some services from Allied health and dental practitioners. It also provides subsidies for prescribed medicines (with a safety net providing free medicines for the chronically ill).

Medicare benefits are paid based on a comprehensive list of services and corresponding benefits which is the Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS). If the Medical Practitioner provides an eligible service such as a consultation at the MBS recommended fee the patient pays no fee at the point of care and this is often referred to as Bulk Billing. If the Medical Practitioner provides a service and elects to charge more than the MBS recommended fee the patient pays the higher fee and then claims back the MBS fee from Medicare.

Some services under medicare and at public hospitals have long waiting lists and for this and other reasons many Australians have private medical Insurance as well as being able to access the benefits of Medicare.

Q: What is a Provider Number?
A: To work as a Medical Practitioner in private practice in Australia, you must have a Medicare Provider Number. Provider numbers are location specific so you will need one for each location in which you practice. There are different levels of Medicare access under the provider number scheme depending on Medical Board Registration and satisfying the legislative requirements on accessing Medicare rebates.
 
A Medicare Provider Number may allow a doctor to:
1. Raise referrals for specialist services; and
2. Make requests for pathology or Diagnostic Imaging services.
Where the doctor satisfies the legislative requirements, their Provider number may also be used to:
3. Attract Medicare rebates for professional services rendered (that is, treat private patients).

International Medical Graduates are subject to Medicare Provider number restrictions if they require the third type of Medicare Provider number listed above (see the section on the Medicare 10 year moratorium).

These Medicare Provider number restrictions affect where an IMG can work in Australia and are determined by both residency status and when the IMG first registered in Australia. Medicare Provider numbers are issued by Medicare Australia), after an IMG has been offered a job and has obtained the relevant Medical Board registration.  

Q: What are the types of Immigration Visas available for International Medical Graduates?
A: IMGs once they have gained their Medical Board registration will then need to apply for a visa that allows them to commence work in Australia. It should be noted that this does not apply to New Zealand Citizens who are considered temporary resident doctors indefinitely and do not need to apply for a visa. Other overseas trained doctors can enter Australia to work on either a temporary or permanent visa.
 
In many cases, the most streamlined pathway for overseas trained doctors seeking permanent residency in Australia is to initially be employed and sponsored as a Temporary Resident while meeting the requirements to obtain full Medical Registration. Doctors are not eligible for Permanent Residency in Australia until they hold full registration. 
 
The two temporary visa options open to IMGs are: 

Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457)  
The Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa is the preferred Temporary Visa pathway for doctors entering Australia, as it allows applicants to take advantage of streamlined processing arrangements which include the ability to lodge applications over the internet using a special online application form. This type of visa can be valid for 3 months to 4 years. The visa is done online and in three parts as below:
Sponsorship - Employer applies to be a sponsor
Nomination - Employer nominates a position
Visa Application - Employee applies for a visa 

Medical Practitioner visa (subclass 422)
Doctors should generally apply for a Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457) but this visa is an alternative visa for doctors registered to work in Australia. employers must lodge a separate Sponsorship Application for each doctor sponsored.
In limited situations, such as where a rural community or local council is seeking to sponsor a doctor, this visa will be the most appropriate. It can also be used where the doctor is a contractor and not an employee. It is reasonably common in Australia for medical practitioners to work as contractors.
 
Information about visas and Immigration issues can be found on the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs .

Q: How long will a temporary Visa allow me to work in Australia?
A: A doctor will be able to work in Australia for up to 4 years on a Temporary Working Visa as long as a health care facility sponsors them.

Q: How long does it normally take to get registered in Australia?
A: There is no short answer, but the absolute minimum period of time for a simple junior doctor application with no complications would be about 6 weeks. A typical application should allow for 3-6 months, to be on the safe side.

For complicated or senior placements, 6 months would be a minimum amount of time to safely allocate and this should be considered when contemplating start dates.

Q: What sort of drivers license do I need?
A: You can drive for up to three months after becoming an Australian resident in all States and Territories, if you have a driver's license from another country in English or with an official translation.

After the initial three months, you will be required to apply for an Australian driving license. The rules for obtaining an Australian driving license vary among the States and Territories and some may require you to complete practical driver testing

More information about obtaining an Australian driving license in particular States and Territories.

Q: What is the taxation rate in Australia?
A: ATO

Q: What is the currency conversion to Australian $?
A: Currency Converter

Q: When do I become a resident for tax purposes in Australia?

A: There are two basic tests to ascertain whether you are a resident for tax purposes in Australia:

  1. Did you spend more than 6 months in Australia? If you spend more than 183 days in Australia during an Australian tax year (1/7 to 30/6) you are tax resident in Australia from 1 July.
  2. Where do you reside (i.e. where do you eat, sleep and hang-up your clothes)? You are a tax resident from the date of first residing as a matter of practice.

For practical purposes you will probably be an Australian tax resident from the date of first arrival.

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