Career Advice

Radiologists - Live in NZ & Locum in Australia

NZ Ferns.png
  • Fancy some tropical sunshine?
  • Like to earn extra $$$ for a special gift, project or just the mortgage?
  • Want to give your family a new experience in a new location?

There are all sorts of reasons New Zealand radiologists love to come and locum in Australia, but how does it work?

Here is an overview of the steps we take at Prescript to make it easy for you….and some wonderful locations to inspire you!

By the way, I’m a New Zealander, from Nelson, who moved to Australia 15 years ago. I will always be a Kiwi though and visit family regularly. My experience gives me an affinity with other New Zealanders, and the questions you may have about working here, whether for a few days or longer term
— Nicola Speer

WHAT IS A LOCUM?

A locum, meaning in this case, a temporary job in a hospital or imaging clinic, gives an immense amount of freedom and scope for Kiwi radiologists. We guide you through to make it seamless and time efficient – see more on this below.

Typically you can locum for a minimum of 5 days, through to monthly blocks. Some radiologists have come to locum and loved it so much, they have transferred into a permanent role in Australia and stayed.

Another option for anyone wishing to spend a few months or a year exploring Australia, is for us to arrange back-to-back locums for you in locations that appeal to you. This is a wonderful way to see the country, and be paid.

The admin & organisation is very much taken care of by Prescript. This typically includes flights for you as the doctor, being booked and paid for; accommodation for the duration of your locum; and a rental car. 

You are paid a generous daily rate, in Australian dollars. We work personally with you to ensure you have all the information you need regarding how you’re paid and how to understand your tax obligations.


WHERE CAN I LOCUM?

Now for the juicy bit! When you have a country as vast and diverse as Australia, you’re never going to be short of choice. In fact, choosing just where you want to go, can sometimes be a bit daunting and that we can certainly provide help with.

When we talk to New Zealand radiologists, we discuss all aspects of time-availability and professional skill and interest, but also your personal and lifestyle preferences and those of your family, if you’re traveling with a partner and children.

Considerations to discuss with us may be about the time of year, climate and season. It may be regarding your preferences for city life, out-back adventure, tropical beaches, rural locations or Aboriginal communities. It may be you have family ties or friends somewhere here in Australia and want to spend some time with them. Whatever the case, it’s important to let us know so that we can accurately tailor this into the locum work we arrange for you.


HOW TO LOCUM?

Let’s break this into some easy steps – the details will be personal and tailored to you, but we hope this gives you some sense of the way the process flows.

  1. Connect via the button below or directly with me – this is an easy and quick process and there is never any obligation, it just gives us a starting point for learning what you may like to do.
  2. I'll chat to you at a time to suit – after work-hours is fine too. Either by telephone or Skype,  your choice. 
  3. We talk through registration and confirm your eligibility to work here.
  4. Then it’s all about the 'WHEN & WHERE'.
  5. Fly in, connect with your new locum location and enjoy the change of scenery – Sweet as!

If you’d like to explore the idea of a locum in Australia, or indeed, if you’re considering a permanent move here, please drop me a line or contact us through our easy registration form below.

Thank you!

Nicola Speer //  0405429799 // nicola@prescript.com.au

RANZCOG 2016 ASM

Going to RANZCOG 2016 ASM? Prescript hopes you have a successful and productive conference.  Perth is a great city to explore - let us know your tips to share in the comments below.

Discover Perth’s city neighbourhoods, the alabaster sands of the clean, uncrowded beaches and meet Rottnest Island’s friendly quokkas.
— australia.com

Click to find the best of PLACES TO SEE AND THINGS TO DO IN PERTH from australia.com

Did you know Prescript is perfectly placed to help O&G doctors with locum and permanent positions across Australia? Ian and Elissa would love to hear from you.

Top Tips for New Arrivals To Australia

The Prescript team has a lot of experience in helping doctors relocate to Australia from overseas and we are experts at navigating the various regulatory obstacles that doctors encounter along the way. So you’ve got your AHPRA and visa paperwork done – congratulations! Now apart from getting over your jetlag, here are 6 key things to do on arrival down under.

1. Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN)

In order to be paid in Australia, you need a Tax File Number (TFN) which you can apply for online here. Note that you can only do this once you are actually in the country. It can take up to 28 days to get a TFN but you can still be paid in the meantime, though it will be at the highest tax rate.

2. Enrol with Medicare

If your home country has a reciprocal agreement with Australia, enrolling in Medicare will ensure that you are covered for basic medical expenses whilst you are here. To register, go to a Medicare office with your passport and evidence of your visa. Click here for details of office locations

3. Open a Bank Account

Opening a bank account is a straight forward process as long as you take your passport and have a postal address to open your account (your hospital accommodation address will do initially). The “Big 4” banks are Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), National Australia Bank (NAB), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) and Westpac.

I would recommend choosing one of these four for the simple reason that in Australia you still get charged for using another bank’s ATM, and the big banks have the most ATMs nationally.

It’s also common for banks to charge a nominal monthly fee for an everyday transaction account but if you pay a certain amount in each month, those fees are usually waived.

4. Get Connected

There are three main mobile networks: Telstra (best coverage but most expensive), Optus (decent coverage, not as expensive), Vodafone (coverage has improved massively after once being known as “Vodafail,” competitive pricing and good deals on roaming and international calls).

If you already have a phone that you’re happy with, it might be a good idea just to get a SIM-only plan which shouldn’t set you back more than about $40 per month.

Having a Pay as You Go phone might make you feel like a teenager again but they are surprisingly good value. If you’re getting a pay monthly plan, you will need to show your passport and visa in order to be approved.

5. Check Your Driver’s Licence

This isn’t something that you will need to organise when you first arrive but there are a few things to be aware of regarding driving in Australia. First and foremost - we drive on the left!

Depending on the state or territory that you’ll be living in, laws and regulations on driving will differ. In most parts of the country, visiting drivers are not required to obtain an Australian driver’s licence for the first 3 months provided your overseas licence or international driving permit remain current. You must have your licence with you at all times when driving.

Beware - kangaroos are most likely to bounce into the road at dawn and dusk! 

Refer to the following state departments for further information about licences: ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA

6. Stock Up on the Basics

Coles and Woolworths are the two main supermarkets operating across Australia. They can be found in every town and there isn’t much to set them apart from each other. Some stores will even have an international food section where you can stock up on treats from back home such as Cadbury’s chocolate, packets of Taytos and Wine Gums. Bon appetit!


I specialise in placing doctors in locum and permanent roles across Australia. At Prescript, we pride ourselves on providing a highly personalised concierge service to doctors looking for the next step in their career. Interested to find out more? Get in touch on ian@prescript.com.au or 1300 755 498

O&G Doctors - 5 great reasons to work with us

As an O&G doctor working in a close-knit professional network, you may think that you can rely on job boards and who you know to find your next position. However, there are several reasons why you should think twice before embarking on a solo job hunt.

Prescript Recruitment specialises in connecting you with the best opportunities available. Here are several great reasons to let us help you find your next locum or permanent role:

The power of anonymity. 

Prescript’s ‘explore first, apply later’ method allows you to canvass the market anonymously.  We will find out all the details that you want to know about an opportunity before you decide to make a formal application. In a network as intimate as healthcare, you will want to be discreet about your intentions to move on – particularly where your current employer is concerned.

Take advantage of our large network. 

As medical recruitment specialists, we are perfectly placed to find you opportunities in great places to work across the whole of Australia. You can engage Prescript on a retained assignment where we will tailor the search to find you exactly what you are looking for.

Let us negotiate for you. 

Do you love everything about the job that you just interviewed for but think that your skills and experience justify a higher salary or larger equity share than is on offer? As well as a great daily/hourly rate for your locum work, do you also want holiday-style accommodation for you and the family? Prescript can negotiate all of this with your prospective employer on your behalf.

Outsource your admin. 

There is a lot of admin involved with applying for and starting a new locum or permanent job. Luckily for you, admin is one of our specialties. Helping you write a great CV or tweak your existing CV, applying for additional provider numbers on your behalf (and chasing up with Medicare as needed), helping you with credentialing paperwork, writing your invoices, chasing up your invoices for payment, organising travel arrangements, getting your IT logins set up before you start work – these are just some of the ways that we can help to make your life easier.

The best things in life are free. 

You can engage Prescript to find you job opportunities and it won’t cost you a cent. It is in our best interests to not only find you the best opportunity that we can but also to provide you with an unparalleled level of service that will make you want to use us again in future and refer us on to your colleagues and friends.


Ready to take the next step? Call or email me - 0434 401 379 I ian@prescript.com.au or click below to request a call, register as a candidate or subscribe to updates from Prescript.

Radiology - Locum Vacancies Now to 2018

Discover New Places

Prescript has partnered with great places to work all across Australia. To request a call or to receive our latest locum vacancies, please provide your name and email below:

Are you available for any of the dates below?

What's included?

  • Return Economy Flights
  • Self-contained accommodation
  • Car-hire 

Canberra (RMO) - Fixed Term Contract

Resident Medical Officers (RMO) - Fixed Term ContracT - CANBERRA

Prescript is partnering with The Canberra Hospital to recruit Resident Medical Officers (RMOs) who can start as soon as possible for fixed term contract positions until 5 February 2017. 

  • Rotations in critical care, surgical and medical rotations are available
  • Competitive salary and benefits
  • Welcoming and friendly city with excellent amenities and transport links

About the Role

You will be providing day-to-day medical care for patients of the ACT Health Directorate under the supervision and direction of the hospital’s experienced senior medical officers. 

The Canberra Hospital understands the importance of continued broad based clinical exposure and so offers a wide range of rotations for RMOs. A special effort is made to ensure that all RMOs have access to rotations that are going to contribute to the accreditation of the terms for their prospective colleges.

Benefits

ACT Health offers competitive remuneration for medical officers, in addition to an attractive education and training reimbursement allowance. Some reimbursement of relocation expenses is available to medical officers recruited from interstate or overseas.

About You

To be able to apply for this position you must have current general or limited registration with AHPRA or be eligible for registration via the Competent Authority Pathway.

Find Out More

For more information about this position, please contact Ian Ormesher on 02 8399 5370 or ian@prescript.com.au 

Want to know more about life in Canberra? Read our Prescript Location Report for the best of things to do & see.