Forms

DWS preliminary assessment form
Immigration sponsorship form
Visa application form
Immigration health check forms
Immigration police check forms
Medical registration
Medicare provider number form
Australian Medical Council (AMC) forms
Specialist recognition form

DWS preliminary assessment form

Employers must ensure that their vacancy is in an approved District of Workforce Shortage in order for an overseas trained doctor to obtain access to Medicare rebates. This process is administered by the Department of Health and Ageing.

You can ascertain whether a particular general practice (GP/family physician) location is currently classified as a District of Workforce Shortage by searching a database of general practice localities. This database is updated quarterly.

Using the information gained from searching the database you can print off a form to request a Preliminary Assessment of District of Workforce Shortage for a potential work location. This preliminary assessment form can help employers recruiting overseas trained doctors by giving them assurance for a 3 month period that the position is in a District of Workforce Shortage. This preliminary assessment is available for all employers, not just GPs.

Immigration sponsorship forms

If an employer wishes to sponsor an overseas trained doctor they need to apply to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for approval using a sponsorship form.

DIA recommends that sponsors and overseas trained doctors initiate as many of the immigration processes as possible, simultaneously. The sponsorship and visa applications forms can be lodged at the same time, as soon as the employer has selected a suitable candidate.

Visa application form

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship provides a useful visa document checklist of the visa application process.

There are several documents that an overseas trained doctor needs to attach to their visa application.

Immigration health check forms

Overseas trained doctors need to have a health check for immigration purposes. To organise a health check, the doctor needs to fill in the health check forms and make an appointment with an approved doctor. The check will include a medical and radiological examination and tests for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The visa applicant will also be advised what checks are required for family members included in their visa application.

The results of this health check are sent directly from the doctor who performs the check to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration police check forms

As part of the visa application process, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) requires a statement from the police authority, of each country that an overseas trained doctor has lived in for more than 12 months over the past 10 years.

If the doctor is already in Australia and either has not had a police or penal check before or, it is over 12 months since their last Australian visa was obtained, they will also have to obtain a clearance from the Australian police in the State or Territory where they are living. A Police check --- Consent to obtain personal information form is available for download here from the DIAC website in PDF format.

Medical registration

Many Australian Medical Boards will not grant medical registration until the overseas trained doctor has the appropriate Australian visa, but they can give a written indication that the overseas trained doctor should be able to practise in Australia, subject to medical registration processes administered after they arrive.

For details on eligibility for (and how to apply for) conditional or full medical registration it is best to go to the Medical Board in the Australian State or Territory where the doctor wishes to practise.

Medicare provider number form

If the overseas trained doctor (OTD) will be treating private patients or working in general practice, they will need to apply for a Medicare provider number once the appropriate Australian visa has been granted. This is not required for doctors who will be working exclusively in a public hospital and treating public patients. To apply for a Medicare provider number, the OTD needs to complete the Application for a Medicare Provider Number form on Medicare Australia's website.

Specialist recognition form

Overseas trained specialists who wish to provide medical services that qualify for Medicare rebates at the higher specialist or consultant physician level, need to obtain recognition as a specialist from Medicare Australia for Medicare billing purposes. Temporary and permanent resident overseas trained specialists are treated slightly different under these arrangements and details of application processes for recognition as a specialist for Medicare billing purposes can be found on Medicare Australia's website.

AMC forms

The Australian Medical Council (AMC) administers the national examinations of overseas trained medical practitioners seeking to practise medicine in Australia. More information on AMC forms is available on the AMC website.

In addition to these components, each practitioner must also meet the AMC's English language proficiency requirement.

The AMC provides a practice test for the Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) examination, which is accessible online.