Overseas Trained Doctors
Area of Need
Districts of workforce shortage
Medical registration
An overseas trained doctor (OTD) is defined as a medical practitioner whose primary medical qualification was not obtained from a medical school located in Australia.
In order to access rebates from Medicare there are some restrictions whereby overseas trained GP’s have to work in either an Area of Need (AON) and/or District of Workforce Shortage (DWS). These areas are located in Coastal, Outer metropolitan or Rural settings.
The positions that you will be offered by us will therefore reflect this situation but we will make every effort to meet your lifestyle aspirations and career objectives.
Area of Need
Most OTDs are required to work in an Area of Need (AON) unless they are eligible for full Australian medical registration or have completed the standard pathway for specialist or GP assessment.
Generally, an AON is any position/location in which medical practitioner positions remain unfilled despite recruitment efforts over a period of time. AON applies to both public and private sector positions.
Districts of workforce shortage
OTDs (or International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who were first recognised after 1 January 1997 are restricted from providing professional services that attract Medicare benefits for a period of 10 years. This restriction is enforced under section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 and is commonly called the ‘10-year moratorium’.
Exemptions to the restrictions can be granted if the OTD works in a district of workforce shortage (DWS). A DWS is an area in which the general population’s need for healthcare has not been met. Visit the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing for more information on DWS.
To find out if an area is a DWS, visit the DWS searchable database
Changes to the Health Insurance Act 1973 are underway and will lift these restrictions from New Zealand citizen and permanent resident doctors. Click here to find out more.
Medical registration
For an overview of the process involved in obtaining medical registration in Australia, visit Doctor Connect
For information on the Australian Medical Council assessment process, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and pathways to recognition, click here.
For information on the State and Territory Medical Boards, visit the following:
New South Wales Medical Board
Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria
Medical Board of Queensland
Medical Board of Western Australia
Medical Board of South Australia
Medical Council of Tasmania
Medical Board of the Australian Capital Territory
Northern Territory Medical Board
National Registration and Accreditation Scheme
Changes to nationalise the accreditation and registration process are currently underway. Click here to find out more.
Related Pages
GP Salaries and tax in Australia
Overview of general practice and GPs in Australia
Female GPs in Australia
Medical FAQ
Aster Medical, providing a holistic, ethical recruitment service
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