Visas for General Practitioners (GPs) Initiative

The Visas for GPs initiative will manage growth in Australia’s medical workforce by regulating the number of doctors entering Australia through the skilled migration program to work in the primary healthcare sector.

The objective of the initiative is to redirect overseas trained doctors from areas that are well serviced, to areas that have lower access to services such as rural, remote and regional areas of Australia.

From 11 March 2019, a Health Workforce Certificate (HWC) will be required for an employer to nominate a position in the following occupations for filling by a doctor, who would require a visa to work in Australia:

• General Practitioner (ANZSCO 253111); 
• Medical Practitioners not elsewhere classified (nec) (ANZSCO 253999); and
• Resident Medical Officer (ANZSCO 253112).

An HWC will be required for employer nominations for positions in these occupations for the following visas:

• ENS visa (subclass 186);
• RSMS visa (subclass 187); and
• TSS visa (subclass 482).

Under this initiative, the number of doctors entering the primary healthcare workforce through the skilled migration program will be reduced by about 200 doctors a year, over a period of four years.

This initiative will direct doctors into areas that have lower access to services such as rural, remote and regional areas of Australia.

Further information regarding the Visas for GPs initiative, HWC and RWA is on the Department of Health’s DoctorConnect website.

Nomination applications for doctors that do not contain the HWC will be subject to processing delays. For more information please refer to the Visas for GPs initiative.

For more information regarding visas for General Practitioners (GPs), get in touch with us at info@australasiaeduconnect.com.au.

Sources:

• https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/skilled-migration-program/recent-changes