About the Area of Need (AON) program in Australia

This page explains the Area of Need Program and how to apply for an Area of Need position.

LocumsPRN is now MedRecruit

After several years of working with doctors around Australasia, Geoff and Charlie have decided to focus on other exciting opportunites. The friendly folks at MedRecruit having been helping overseas doctors with the Area of Need program for several years. Visit them for more information for overseas doctors working in Australia and New Zealand.

The term Area of Need (AON) applies to a medical position rather than a geographical area. The position may be within a public or private service or hospital. A position may be declared AON when advertising has failed to attract a suitable candidate for that position and that the position is essential. Overseas Trained Doctors are entitled to apply for fill such positions and can apply to gain temporary registration from the Australian Medical College (AMC) and relevent college to fill the position for a set period.

Steps in the AON Registration Process:

1. Health Services apply to the Workforce Planning Unit in their state to have a position declared Area of Need.
2. The employer selects an overseas trained doctor considered suitable for the position.
3. The College and the AM AMC will conduct an assessment in parallel to confirm the applicant’s suitability for the Area of Need position.
4. The AMC and College recommendation is received by the Board who will notify the employer of the decision regarding registration. This assessment process generally takes between 8 to 12 weeks.

Costs vary according to the College where the application is lodged.

Australian Immigration: Visa Process for Temporary Medical Practitioner

Australian Immigration: Temporary Medical Practitioner Sponsorship Process

1. The employer Applies to become a sponsor.
2. The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs approves the sponsorship.
3. The sponsor recruits a person to fill the position. The person can be already in Australia on a temporary visa, or overseas.
4. The doctor applies for a visa. If the doctor is already working in Australia (for example already on a medical practitioner visa) they must obtain a new visa before they change employer. Members of the doctor’s family should also apply for visas. They should be included in sponsorship and visa applications.
5. The State or Territory Medical Council Approves the doctor for registration.
6. The doctor Once the visa is granted, if the doctor will be working in general practice, they apply for a Medicare provider number. This is not required for doctors who will be working exclusively in a public hospital.

Area Of Need State Links

New South Wales
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/othp/

Australian Capital Territory
http://www6.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-workforce-otdt-act.htm

Victoria
http://www6.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-workforce-otdt-vic.htm

Queensland
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/careers/

Western Australia
http://www.health.wa.gov.au/unmetarea

South Australia
http://www.health.sa.gov.au/medicalofficer

Northern Territory
http://www6.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-workforce-otdt-nt.htm

Tasmania
http://www6.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-workforce-otdt-tas.htm

New South Wales AON Registration
http://www.nswmb.org.au/registra3a.htm
NSW policy and procedures to assess the suitability of medical practitioners who are not eligible for general registration to work in designated Areas of Need.

Dept of Health and Ageing: Policy guidelines for determining a district of workforce shortage
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/Publishing.nsf/Content/health-workforce-workforce-policy.htm

Temporary Medical Practitioner
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/tmp/index.htm
The information in this area is about the Temporary Medical Practitioner visa and includes procedures on how to sponsor someone and how to apply.

Australian Medical Council
http://www.amc.org.au/
The Australian Medical Council administers the national examinations of overseas trained medical practitioners seeking to practise medicine in Australia.

For a no obligation discussion about your employment options in New Zealand and Australia please contact us via our enquiry form. Please include a contact phone number.