Postgraduate trainees

A postgraduate or occupational trainee position must be designed specifically to add to or enhance the overseas trained doctor’s (OTD’s) level of skill in their present occupation or area of expertise. These positions should only be made available for doctors seeking to upgrade their skills for use on return to their home or another country on completion of training and are not intended for doctors seeking work in Australia.

To take up one of these training positions, an OTD's entry to Australia must be on a special occupational trainee visa.

The main requirements for an OTD to gain postgraduate or occupational trainee visa approval is that:

• The position is a genuine approved postgraduate or occupational trainee position;
• The organisation who will be providing the training (i.e. the hospital/employer) formally nominates the OTD for the position;
• The OTD passees the required health checks (including HIV and hepatitis B tests);
• The OTD meets the character requirements;
• Evidence of adequate health insurance arrangements for the duration of the OTD's stay in Australia must be provided.

As applicants must meet a number of requirements for entry to Australia for postgraduate or occupational training, you should advise the OTD not to make travel arrangements until their visa application has been approved. More specific information on the immigration requirements and application process is available from the website of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.