New Pathway Now Open for Specialist IMGs

The new AHPRA expedited specialist pathway is available to specialists with qualifications from the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand.

Following the launch of the new pathway on 21st October, we can now share some further information and help answer some of your questions.

Key Points:

• The cost is significantly cheapest: $2,652
• Supervision: You will be supervised for your first six months in Australia
• Processing times for paperwork to be completed will be reduced to 4-6 months rather than 12 months.
• You will get specialist registration on the Expedited Specialist pathway, but you will not get a fellowship.The Medical Board encourages SIMGs to consider applying for fellowship. When you apply, you can give them permission to share your contact details with the relevant specialist medical college. The college can give you information about the process to get fellowship.
• Moratorium: GPs on this pathway will still be subject to the 10-year moratorium unless they meet exemption criteria
• Income: Medicare have confirmed that they will be changing their guidance in relation to the provider number applications. Doctors applying via the Expedited pathway will be able to apply for a specialist provider number and access full VR Specialist rates.

For those just starting on the PEP Specialist Pathway, switching to the AHPRA Expedited Pathway may expedite your entry to Australia. If you’re further along in the PEP process, staying on that pathway could provide more certainty and the benefit of RACGP Fellowship. We are here to help, so if you would like to discuss your options please get in touch with  our friendly team on info@transitionmedical.com or call +44 (0) 7983 685945.

A New Era in Healthcare

We are delighted to share further information about an exciting development for the healthcare system paving the way for  Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs). Set to launch on 21 October 2024, the new Expedited Specialist Pathway offers a fast-tracked route for eligible internationally qualified medical specialists to begin treating patients in Australia. It is designed to reduce paperwork as long as their qualifications are on a pre-approved list maintained by the Medical Board of Australia.

Who Is Eligible?

Medical specialists with certain qualifications from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand will be the first eligible candidates to apply for the pathway.  Other specialist fields such as anaesthetics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and psychiatry will be added to the accepted qualifications list by December 2024.

How Does the Qualifications Assessment Work?

International qualifications are nominated by Australia’s specialist colleges, such as the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). These qualifications are then assessed by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) measuring them against an established framework to ensure they are substantially comparable to local qualifications.

To ensure patient safety, all specialists entering via this new pathway must adhere to the same standards as other medical professionals. These include:

•       English language proficiency
•       Criminal history checks
•       Recency of practice requirements

International specialists on this pathway will undergo a six-month supervised period, an orientation to the Australian healthcare system, and mandatory cultural safety education.

Why Was This Pathway Developed?

The Expedited Specialist Pathway is one of the key recommendations from the Kruk Review,  to alleviate pressure on the healthcare workforce by allowing competent, qualified SIMGs to integrate more efficiently into the system.

The traditional Specialist Pathway, which requires individual college assessments, will remain in place for those SIMGs who do not qualify for the Expedited Pathway. Transition arrangements are also available for SIMGs already on the Specialist Pathway who may be eligible for the new expedited process.

What is still to be confirmed?

Although Ahpra have released further information we are still awaiting confirmation of  new pathway fees and processing times. there are also queries around fellowship and how this new system will integrate with Medicare.

Once further guidance is released we will share it on our website.

Conclusion

The introduction of the Expedited Specialist Pathway marks a significant milestone in how international medical specialists are integrated into the Australian healthcare system. By reducing paperwork and streamlining the application processes.

Further reading

AHPRA Release Fast Track Pathway 14th Oct 2024

RACGP PEP Pathway

GP Salary Australia – How much can you earn

When Will the New AHPRA Pathway Be Released?

The Medical Board of Australia (AHPRA) announced in April this year that they would be introducing a new fast-track registration process for internationally trained specialists like GPs, anaesthetists, obstetricians, and psychiatrists.

There has been a news release in September from AHPRA stating that this new pathway, initially prioritising GPs, is on track to open in October, however subject to Ministerial approval.

This is a potentially exciting initiative which aims to address healthcare shortages by recognising and validating overseas qualifications more quickly, allowing these skilled professionals to start contributing to Australian healthcare sooner.

What Does This Mean for GPs?

It’s difficult to predict what this will mean for GPs and how this may change the current pathway to FRACGP specialist registration however it is anticipated that it should be faster and (hopefully) a cheaper pathway.

It is likely that you will continue to have the requirement to verify documents via the AMC verification process however it will remove the need for the RACGP PEP program and its associated costs. This should then also streamline the Medicare provider number application reducing the processing time.

Until the pathway has been released, we don’t have any further information to share however Transition Medical will be one of the first to know and share how this will affect you.

Should I Wait For the New AHPRA Fast Track Pathway or Apply Now?

This depends on your circumstances and timeframes. If you are eager to get to Australia asap, then I would suggest to continue with current RACGP PEP pathway. Until the new fast track pathway has been approved by Ministers there is no set date for release. There is the possibility that this can be delayed.

If you have time to wait until the end of October then we will know what this means and how to proceed.

Background to the fast track pathway

The new AHPRA fast track pathway is being released in line with recommendations from the Kruk Review into health practitioner regulatory settings which was published in December 2023. The report criticised the lengthy and complex process for overseas trained doctors to enter Australia and published recommendations.

On the back of this report, AHPRA removed the need for overseas trained doctors to undergo an in person identity check in December 2023, allowing GPs to apply for all their paperwork whilst overseas and not wait to start work once they had arrived.

Further Reading

AHPRA Fast Track Pathway

AHPRA Update

RACGP PEP Pathway

FAQs Moving to Australia

Your PEP Specialist Pathway Journey

Introduction

Supervision and Membership Requirements

Supervised Practice

Educational Activities

Workplace Based Assessments

These help to assess your competence and include areas such as clinical information-gathering and interpretation,
making a diagnosis, decision-making and reasoning, clinical management and therapeutic reasoning. You will complete these while completing your training program.

If you’re a GP thinking about relocating to Australia, you may have many questions. This may be early stages of thinking or you might be ready to move and want to find out more.

Here we answer your most frequent questions regarding working as a GP in Australia

Where can I work? –  All overseas trained GPs are required to work in an areas which is Distribution Priority Area (DPA). This is in place for the first 10 years of your medical registration and you may hear it as your ’10 year moratorium.’

All the GP jobs on our website are suitable for you to apply. The areas where we find jobs are around Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane, Tasmania, the Central Coast and regional cities such as Busselton, Broome and Rockhampton.  Check out the workforce locator map here to check the geographical classification of any location in Australia.

How long are the contracts? – Generally 2 years, some more rural practices may consider 12 months. 

What is the Expedited Specialist Pathway? – The expedited Specialist pathway is for specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) with an international specialist medical qualification in General Practice. This offers a fast-tracked process, as you can apply directly to AHPRA  for specialist registration without having to undergo a separate specialist college assessment.

What is the Practice Experience Program (PEP) Specialist Stream? It provides a pathway for international medical graduates with overseas specialist qualifications to gain Fellowship with the RACGP. Please visit the PEP Specialist Stream webpage for more details.

Will I still get specialist registration? Yes, depends on which pathway you choose as to when. On PEP  once all Fellowship requirements have been met. On Expedited pathway you will receive it from registration.

What is WBA? – Workplace Based Assessment- completed approximately 6 months from commencing employment, provides a framework for evaluating performance and progress in practice. 

What’s does the PEP pathway to Fellowship look like? 

Do I need to sit exams on the PEP Pathway?

If you are considering a move or just want to chat through options we have a dedicated team who will guide you through every step of the whole process. Visit our latest GP jobs or contact us directly for more information. 

How long does the paperwork take? – Depending on which pathway you take, we advise allowing around 6 months for Expedited Specialist Pathway and approximately 9 months from job acceptance to visa approval for PEP Specialist stream pathway.

Do I have to work under supervision? Yes for PEP Pathway, but just for 6 months if you’re substantially comparable. A period of self -reflection, peer review and clinical case analysis. There are no exams if you are substantially comparable.  The expedited Specialist Pathway also includes a six-month period of supervised practice, as well as an orientation covering Australian healthcare and cultural safety.

Will my earnings be affected during supervision? – No, in fact while completing the supervision period, you will have access to the full Medicare rebate (A1 rates) This means you bill the same as a vocationally recognised GP whilst working towards FRACGP.

Further Reading

RACGP 

Medical Board of Australia

DoctorConnect

Find out more about why Perth is so popular

If you’re considering applying for GP jobs in Australia, you’ll certainly need to think about the financial aspects of moving to Australia. You might want to think about the cost of living in Australia as well as the Australian tax system and how it affects your take-home pay. If you own property in the UK and plan to keep it, you might also want to know how Australia taxes any income earned for overseas properties.

Average GP Salary Australia

Average GP salaries in Australia are excellent with most GPs earning between AUS $300,000 to $500,000+. Our GPs have a higher wage in Australia than they did in the UK.

GPs in Australia often earn a percentage of the billings rather than a fixed salary. This takes into account the number of patients they see, the complexity of the consultations and the number of hours worked. Our GPs have found that this payment system gives them more control over their take-home pay.

Paying Tax as a British GP Working in Australia

As a general practitioner,  we will help you relocate to Australia initially on a Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa (TSS 482). You will be classed as an Australian resident for tax purposes. 

Australian residents must declare any income earned from anywhere in the world. However, can also take advantage of Australia’s tax-free threshold and tax offsets. Australian residents also typically receive a lower tax rate than foreign residents.

Australia’s Tax System: How to Pay Tax

Before you begin working as a GP in Australia, you’ll need to apply for a tax file number, also known as TFN. The Australian financial year ends on June 30th and most people will need to file an annual tax return prior to this date. You’ll primarily be taxed on income and the amount you pay will depend on whether you’re an Australian or foreign resident.

Paying Tax in Australia as an Australian resident

Australia residents are entitled to claim a tax-free threshold of AUS$18,200 per year. This means you’ll only be taxed on income over the minimum threshold. You’ll also need to pay the Medicare levy, roughly 2% of your income, which helps support the country’s healthcare. In general, Australian residents using a TFN typically pay lower tax rates than foreign residents.

If you’re an Australian resident but only have a temporary resident visa, generally you won’t pay tax on any foreign income. Find out more

Paying Tax in Australia on Offshore Bank Accounts

If you decide to keep your UK bank account, you’ll need to report any interest or other income earned in your Australian tax income. Failing to declare this information could lead to financial penalties.

Working as a GP in Australia

Once you’ve secured a work visa and arrived in Australia, you need to apply for a TFN and complete a tax file number declaration. 

You must provide the declaration to your employer within 28 days of starting your GP job or you’ll need to pay the higher tax rate. After completing this initial paperwork, your employer will deduct taxes and submit them to the government.

We will help you get set up with all the relevant paperwork when you arrive.

Returning to the UK

While most of our GPs choose to make Australia their home for life, some decide to return to the UK. When you leave Australia, you’ll still need to submit a tax return. If you’re departing before the end of the tax year and don’t plan to return, you can lodge an Australian tax return early.

Ready to Move to Australia?

View our excellent GP job vacancies located throughout Australia or speak to one of our specialist recruitment professionals. Transition Medical is here to support you throughout every stage of your move from finding outstanding opportunities, securing Australian work visas and getting settled in your new home. Read our testimonies to learn about other GPs that we’ve helped make the move.

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