Important advice
- A significant number of employers find that their Area of Need applications are initially being rejected because the information provided is incomplete or the information provided is not in the format and order required by the particular State or Territory Health Department. It will save you a great deal of time if you ensure that you have included all requested information according to the instructions provided. This also means using the same terminology as the Department, wherever you may otherwise use an alternative name.
- Advise your applicant OTD to NOT sell their house or quit their existing job overseas until you and they have received confirmation from the appropriate authorities that they have the appropriate medical registration and visa for the position.
- Make sure that the OTD will be able to obtain a Medicare Provider Number if it is required for the position.
- Help your OTD to understand and take into account ALL costs associated with moving to, working and living in Australia. These costs include things such as medical registration costs, specialist recognition fees, application fees, interview fees, costs of travel and moving, school fees for any children (in some States and Territories an OTD may have to pay substantial school fees even in public schools) and health insurance (OTDs are not eligible for healthcare benefits).
- Make your OTDs aware that most recognition and registration processes need to be renewed (often each year). In many cases, these renewals must be initiated by the doctor. Reminders to renew are seldom sent. The onus is on the doctor to take action in a timely way. If they forget, they may be required to undergo the entire process of registration/recognition again. This means that they will not be allowed to work in the position until the situation has been restored.
Renewals of some things, such as District of Workforce Shortage or Medicare provider numbers are not assured, although it is unlikely that renewal would be refused. If you are in a position to do so, it would be helpful to set up a schedule of such reminders for your OTD/s.
Examples of common renewals required for doctors practising in Australia are medical registration (annually), Medicare Provider Numbers (annually), and Specialist recognition (requires annual fee to remain registered as a recognised specialist).
- Let OTDs know that, if they are a temporary resident who receives notification from a Specialist Medical College that they have been recognised for the purpose of providing services that can attract Medicare benefits, the College will NOT notify Medicare Australia. The OTD must notify Medicare Australia of this fact and apply to them for a Medicare Provider Number. However, if the OTD is a permanent resident, the Colleges automatically notify Medicare Australia.
- If the OTD will be accompanied to Australia by a partner/spouse who is also a doctor and wishes to work in Australia, make sure that they both apply for registration and visas at the same time. Once in Australia, it is much more difficult for a spouse to subsequently become registered to practise because of the requirement for unbroken employment as a doctor between application and registration in Australia.
Equally, should the spouse wish to work in another form of employment, make sure they check this with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship first to ensure that they may do so, or can apply for separate visas, if necessary.
Last updated 11/07/2008