Planning Arrival and Start Date

Now that we have matched you with the right job and you are moving through the registration process, we need to know the key things that will affect when you can start work. Typically, a lot is happening in your home and work life around this time. It is important to keep an ongoing conversation about your start date with us at Doctor Connect Registration and to speak with your new practice in Australia so that we are all on the same page.

Start Date

Your start date is recorded on your Service Agreement (contract with the practice), AHPRA, RACGP Part B and C, Medicare Provider Number. Practice staff and doctors at your new Australian practice and people working in this field are aware that there can be delays caused by processing across ECFMG, AHPRA, Immigration and Medicare Provider Numbers. Working together, we can make this whole process smoother.

Since the developments of the Kruk Report, enabled faster and smoother registration, the overall process is smoother. You also benefit from our Doctor Connect Recruitment team, who can answer all of your queries and will remind you of any outstanding paperwork.

Review Start Date

When you have lodged your AHPRA paperwork we will meet with you to confirm timings for the final steps. You will also have personal requirements to consider including handing in your notice, and school terms.

When your AHPRA is lodged we can work with you to make a plan of when to:

1. Hand in your notice,
2. Travel and start work.

Key Considerations

• We’re working with these processing times and update this list regularly.
• Immigration has been difficult to predict, and some passports can have longer immigration processing times. With the 482 Skills in Demand (SiD), we know how long your immigration will take.
• There are two stages of Immigration

1. Nomination (processed and paid for by the practice), and
2. Visa Application (processed and paid for by the doctor)

• For Immigration, you will need to plan for a

1. Medical Check for all members of your Family, and
2. Police Check /s for adults in your family

Remember that after you have received your Visa you will need to have payment ready for your PEP Specialist Pathway to complete Part C and get the Medicare provider number. After your Part C is complete, your Medicare Provider Number needs to go to the:

1. RACGP PEP Approved Placements – (currently takes up to a week), who send it on to
2. Medicare Provider Number Application Team – (currently taking around 14 calendar days)

In summary, when you receive your visa and Part C, you can confidently expect you will be eligible to work in about 3 – 4 weeks. All processing, including Medicare Provider Number, and ABN can be completed while you are not in Australia. You need to be here for TFN but you can start work without that.

When can I safely plan to arrive and start at my practice?

Typically doctors plan to arrive about 1 – 2 weeks before the expected end of the Medicare Provider Number Application process. This allows you to spend 1 – 2 weeks settling into your new practice. There will be orientation, connecting with RACGP and your supervisor, meeting colleagues, learning the IT system, shadowing and getting ready to start.

Accommodation Considerations

Your new practice manager will be able to give you some advice on suitable locations and may also be able to attend the in-person property viewing with you. Although there can be challenges in finding accommodation, around 4 weeks’ notice should enable you to find a suitable long-term rental. Most doctors aim to be able to move into the rental on the first night, where possible, which saves you paying the higher rates of a B&B.

Working Together

This is a cascading workflow, so we complete one step before lodging the next. To make this as fast as possible, our friendly Doctor Connect team is ready to work with you to help confirm everything we need for the submittal of the next stage when you receive certification back from the current stage. Please do reach out to ask questions, so that we can achieve this as soon as possible.

Sometimes it can be a matter of luck that things move faster or slower. There may be many applications or public holidays that can create delays. If we have all the documents ready, we can move more quickly. It is always good to be thinking about what your next step should be. If you can work with our colleagues to get the right information, and answer any queries, then this can go much faster for each step and overall. Let’s work together to get you started in your new practice as quickly and smoothly as possible!

Timings are crucial when planning this move. Your practice has committed to you, so we have the responsibility to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays. It is vital to know how long each stage of the process will take.

We look forward to working with you on this journey, to help you find the right job, work through the registration process, and to welcome you when you arrive.