Working as a GP in Australia can be one of the greatest opportunities for some doctors. Australia offers a unique work/life balance that can be an ideal option for families and singles. Australia is one of the world’s best countries to live and work. If you have succumbed to the lure and want to work as a GP in Australia, we have compiled some important and essential information that will assist you in this exciting new step of your career.
GP Jobs in Australia
HealthStaff Recruitment specialise in the recruitment of both national and internationally trained GPs. If you are looking for GP jobs in Australia, we have a variety of opportunities available in a range of leading and reputable hospitals, surgeries and practices. Have your CV and a cover letter readily available, so you can apply for the opportunity you desire. To find GP jobs in Australia, please view our GP job vacancies.
To learn more about working as a GP in Australia, please refer to the information below. Use the headings to navigate yourself to the areas of information that concern you. If you have further questions or would like to access our GP recruitment services, please feel free to contact us.
How Does The Recruitment Process Work?
We offer free GP recruitment services, where we will assist you in securing your desired position. For this recruitment process to begin, you must send us your updated professional resume (CV). Your CV must include the following:
- Duties and responsibilities of any past GP jobs you have held
- How many hours per week you worked
- Dates of employment (be specific)
- Job title
- A minimum of 3 professional references (telephone or email)
Once we receive all of your information we will contact you to discuss the location and preferences for employment. We may also ask to meet you to further discuss your clinical skills and experience. We may also send you some forms that will help to identify your clinical skills.
Once we have obtained all relevant information from you, and have also verified your references we will start submitting you to hospitals (and surgeries, practices etc.) based on your specified location and preferences. If a hospital is interested we will arrange a mutually convenient time to host a telephone interview. This will allow you to ask important questions and assess the suitability of the position.
Once a job offer is made, we will arrange your contracts along with any other assistance you require such as visa and registration. Should you require assistance in applying for a visa or registration we will assist you throughout the process.
GP Registration in Australia
To work as a GP in Australia, you must be registered as a general practitioner with the Medical Board of Australia. As specified under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law a general practitioner must be registered in a defined medical category. These registration categories include:
- General registration
- Specialist registration
- Provisional registration
- Limited registration
- Non-practising registration
- Student registration
If you would like to register as a GP in Australia or require further information pertaining to the GP registration process, please refer to the Medical Board of Australia website.
Registration process for International Trained General Practitioners/Family Medicine Doctors
The RACGP is the specialist medical college for general practice and you will need to apply to the RACGP for a comparability assessment to determine if you are eligible for this pathway. This assessment will consider your specialist general practice qualification, the nature of the training, methods of previous assessment, general practice experience, continuing professional development (CPD) and continuity of practice.
If our assessment shows that you are substantially or partially comparable, then you are eligible to apply for the RACGP Practice Experience Program – Specialist Stream (PEP-SP).
To begin the PEP-SP, you will need to have an approved job offer so that you can complete six months of supervised general practice. You’ll also need to meet some education requirements and undertake workplace-based assessments.
Contact us for more information about the registration process and options available throughout Australia
English Language Skills Requirements Australia
Internationally trained GP’s or those who did not complete their secondary education in Australia, must provide evidence of their English language proficiency before registration can be granted in Australia.
All GP’s seeking Australian registration must demonstrate an academic level 7 in the IELTS test. The individual must also meet the minimum score in each test component. The test results must be obtained no longer than two years prior to registration. To learn more about the IELTS test please refer to the IELTS website.
New Zealand Registered GP’s
GP’s who have obtained fellowship with the RNZCGP and would like to work as a GP in Australia have to apply for assessment of their qualifications with the RACGP and are eligible to apply for the PEP Specialist Stream
- The RACGP pathway for overseas GP’s is the Practice Experience Program (PEP) and please review the information at the RACGP website:
For more information regarding the cost of living in Australia, what happens when you arrive in Australia, childcare, schooling, accommodation and the factors you should consider before employment in Australia, please refer to the following:
- Australian Living Expenses (also contains accommodation, childcare and schooling information)
- What happens when I arrive in Australia?
- What should I consider before employment in Australia?
For more information on our services or for further information regarding anything you have read on this page, please feel free to contact us on our quick contact form. If you would like to find any GP jobs in Australia, please refer to our GP job vacancies.