Recruiting for Healthcare Positions Overseas

Navigate the Visa System While Recruiting for Healthcare Positions Overseas

Allied health practitioners, nurses and other healthcare professionals who want to work in Australia can apply for visas to visit and work, and must meet requirements for their registration and the competence assessment.

Working as an allied health practitioner in Australia enables you to broaden your professional horizons in one of the world’s best healthcare systems.

Allied Health opportunities in Australia

Overseas Allied Health professionals who aspire to work in Australia are presented with a diverse array of opportunities. They can choose from various options, including permanent, temporary, or locum positions, in both rural and metropolitan regions. For detailed information regarding visas, please refer to the section below.

There are over 200,000 Allied Health professionals currently employed in a diverse range of jobs across Australia. These professionals include:

Australia has a two tier medical system (called Medicare), with two types of employers for most allied health professionals – private and public. Once visa requirements have been fulfilled, Allied Health professionals can then decide whether they would like to work in the public or private health sectors.

There are many providers of health care in Australia, including:

Are Allied Health jobs in high demand in Australia?

In Australia, a multitude of job opportunities await Allied Health professionals. However, certain specialized fields are currently experiencing an exceptionally high demand. These include:

Allied health was the fastest-growing healthcare sector and there are around 200,000 registered allied health professionals in Australia.

Job locations

Australia, being a vast and geographically diverse country, offers countless possibilities for finding Allied Health employment across rural and metropolitan regions. The job prospects in rural and remote areas of Australia vary depending on the profession, as some professionals may find numerous opportunities, while others may find the major cities more suitable for initiating their job search.

Queensland and Victoria present ample job openings in both their respective state capitals, Brisbane and Melbourne, as well as in rural locations. On the other hand, New South Wales, South Australia, and the Northern Territory currently attract Allied Health job seekers primarily to rural and remote areas.

Exciting jobs for Hospital Pharmacists in rural and remote regions

Non-metropolitan hospitals are witnessing an unprecedented demand for Hospital Pharmacists. Have you ever pondered over the prospect of working in a close-knit community, far removed from the hustle and bustle of capital cities, perhaps even across vast stretches of desert? Consider the opportunity to contribute your skills in an outback hospital located within one of Australia’s expansive rural centers. Explore our current job listings and embark on your thrilling journey today.

Visa requirements

Visa requirements vary depending on your country of citizenship and where you are professionally licensed.

Skilled visas (state nominated)

Skilled visas (State Nominated)

Employer sponsored and temporary visas

Working holiday visas

Will I need to register as a professional before working in Australia?

In order to legally practice in most Allied Health professions, it is necessary to undergo registration with the appropriate regulatory body in your specific field. This registration process can be time-consuming, sometimes taking up to 18 months to complete. Therefore, it is advisable to thoroughly research and initiate this process well in advance of your travel to Australia. For registered professions (for example physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, psychology, podiatry, dental and medical radiation practice) you register with the relevant National Board through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). Self-regulated professions, such as dietetics, audiology, speech pathology, sonography and social work, are usually assessed by their professional association. Allied Health Professions Australia, the peak body, can point you to the right organisation. Most professions also need a positive skills assessment for a skilled visa, see skills assessments and assessing authorities.

Will my qualifications be recognised in Australia?

In order to pursue a career as an Allied Health professional in Australia, it is essential to hold a tertiary-level degree, diploma, or certificate from a recognized educational institution.

Moreover, it is worth emphasizing that qualifications and experience obtained in specific countries and regions, such as the UK, Western Europe, New Zealand, South Africa, and North America, are frequently given preference over others.

When seeking employment in Australia’s healthcare sector, the following attributes are also highly valued:

Proficiency in the English language.
A minimum of one year of professional experience in the field.
A clean record, devoid of any current or past disciplinary actions or criminal convictions.