Frequently Asked Questions
General
About Australia
About New Zealand
General
Q. Why are we asking you to complete such a detailed registration form?
A. By completing the online registration form and providing us with your details we are able get back to you with a fully informed response regarding suitable positions, necessary immigration pathways and medical registration requirements.
Q. What is the correct visa and medical registration to apply for?
A. As part of our free service, on acceptance of a position through Challis Recruitment we will coordinate and guide you step by step through the entire application process for your visa and medical registration. Please keep in mind these application processes can take anywhere from 6-8 weeks up to 3 months (plus) for approval.
Q. Who will pay for my travel and accommodation?
A. All reimbursement / payment of travel and accommodation expenses are negotiated on a case by case basis by Challis Recruitment directly with the prospective employer.
Q. How will my private information be used?
A. All Australian companies must abide by the federal privacy legislation. For further information please refer to our privacy statement.
Q. How will you contact me about suitable positions?
A. All candidates are contacted immediately upon receipt of their registration, by either email and/or telephone. Following our initial contact, candidates are then informed regularly regarding all suitable positions that arise via email.
Q. What is my contract with you, if any?
A. Unlike other agencies, Challis Recruitment does not require its candidates to sign a contract with us. We do however have terms and conditions that we require our candidates to abide by.
Once you have been offered and have formally accepted a position you will be legally employed by the sponsoring hospital/medical facility.
Q. What will using your recruitment service cost me?
A. Using Challis Recruitment’s services is free of charge to all candidates
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About Australia
Q. How long can I work in Australia?
A. Most Medical Practitioners travel to Australia on a temporary Visa which enables them to live and work in Australia for up to 4 years through on-going sponsorship. We are also able to assist candidates interested in longer contracts or permanent residency.
Q. How long is a typical employment contract?
A. Overseas trained doctors are usually offered contracts of a minimum of 6 months, though most contracts are for 12 months. As visa and medical registration processes are extensive for both the candidate and employer, contracts less than 6 months are unusual. It is also not uncommon for candidates to extend their initial contracted period.
Q. What are the salaries like in Australia?
A. Salaries for doctors in the public hospital system differ from state to state, working on an award scale that ranges from approx $50,000 - $250,000. As the cost of living in Australia is significantly lower than the UK and most of Europe, the salaries generally paid to medical practitioners provide for a very comfortable lifestyle due to the high standard of living in Australia.
Q. Do I require medical indemnity insurance?
A. Whilst working in the public health sector and treating public patients you will be covered under the employer-indemnified medical indemnity cover contract. On commencement of a position, should you wish to confirm your cover, your employer is required to provide this information to you.
It is also common for medical practitioners to personally take out additional indemnity cover, and this is recommended.
Q. Will the Australian publicly-funded healthcare system (Medicare) be available to me during my stay?
A. The Australian Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with a number of countries such as the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Finland, Italy and Malta. To find out further information on the cover provided through these reciprocal agreements please visit www.hic.gov.au/yourhealth/services_for_travellers/vtta.htm
It is advisable to take out private health insurance especially if you are not a resident of a country with a reciprocal health care agreement with the Australian Government. For more information, please visit the following site www.immi.gov.au
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About New Zealand
Q. How long can I work in New Zealand?
A. Most Medical Practitioners travel to New Zealand on a Work Visa. Through this pathway you are able to stay in New Zealand for the length of your employment contract, up to a maximum of three years. We are also able to assist candidates interested in longer contracts.
Q. How long is a typical employment contract?
A. Contracts usually range between 6 and 12 months, although occasionally contracts of 3 months are available. As visa and medical registration processes are extensive for both the candidate and employer the majority of contracts offered are for 6 months minimum.
Q. What are the salaries like in New Zealand?
A. Salaries for doctors working in the public hospital system differ slightly due to the different District Health Boards which are responsible for hospital funding. Even though the salaries may seem a little low compared to other countries, the cost of living in New Zealand is relative to the salary scales and generally speaking salaries paid to medical practitioners provide for a very comfortable lifestyle.
Q. Will New Zealand’s publicly-funded healthcare services be available to me during my stay?
A. To access publicly-funded health services, you must be lawfully in New Zealand at the time of seeking services and be a holder of a Work Visa which:
- is a current Visa that is issued for a period of two years or more, or
- is a current Visa that allows you to remain in New Zealand for a period of time that, when added together with the time you've already been lawfully in New Zealand, amounts to two consecutive years or more (e.g, people who have had their Work Visa renewed).
New Zealand has Reciprocal Health Agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom which entitles residents of these countries to publicly funded health care for immediately necessary medical treatment only during their stay in New Zealand.
We strongly recommend that you apply for comprehensive health insurance for the duration of your stay in New Zealand.
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