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05 Dec 2022
New resources offering a clearer path for international health practitioners looking to work in Australia have been published by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
The newly developed information and guides are available on a special Ahpra webpage aiming to help international applicants understand the steps involved in applying for registration as a health practitioner in Australia.
The resources include a Reference Guide and Checklist for international applicants, as well as a Qualifications assessment table and a comprehensive set of FAQs.
The renewed focus on smoothing out the process for international medical registration is part of Ahpra and the National Boards’ response to the pressures on the health workforce across Australia.
‘We are acutely aware of the pressures on the health workforce and the need to get internationally qualified applicants registered and into the workforce as quickly and safely as possible,’ Ahpra CEO Martin Fletcher said.
‘Our registration requirements for practitioners who have qualified overseas, or in Australia, are robust and help assure the public that their practitioner is safe to practise in Australia.
‘We hope these newly developed resources help international applicants navigate the important process to becoming registered in Australia,' Mr Fletcher said.
‘We’re pleased to see these new resources on the Ahpra website. All the information an international health professional needs to know about registering in Australia is concise with the inclusion of useful guides and checklists to support the process,’ Lisa Schilling, Project Director, International Recruitment Program, Department of Health, Victoria, said.
‘We all have a role to play in helping internationally qualified health practitioners get into the health workforce sooner. These new resources are a significant step toward that.’
Ahpra and National Boards are responsible for ensuring internationally qualified applicants are suitably trained, qualified and safe to practise before granting registration.
To work in Australia, international applicants also need to ensure they meet visa and immigration requirements, as well as securing employment. These are separate processes to obtaining registration.