Locum Diaries | A GP Obstetrician’s Adventures In WA & NT

I’m Marcia Beere - Recruitment Partner at Prescript Recruitment. I work with hospitals and practices across regional Australia to help them find the doctors they need.

At Prescript, we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia. We love hearing about what our doctors have been up to while locuming in regional communities across the country.

We recently received some fantastic feedback and photographs from one of our GP Obstetricians about their locum adventures in WA and NT.

““I tell all my colleagues how happy I am with the service you provide, and this morning I realised I had probably not told you!””

— Prescript Doctor Feedback

“The work here has been challenging, interesting and sometimes fun, here are some pics of flying out remote this week!”

— Prescript Doctor Feedback

“The team with Hugo and Stef really makes it easy so thank you. And especially to you (Marcia) for your support! I am very grateful.”

— Prescript Doctor Feedback

The Australian regional doctor shortage is a widespread issue which has a significant impact on the healthcare of communities everywhere. Locuming in these locations will make a real difference.

Many Prescript doctors choose to complete several locums in multiple locations, often taking their families with them. We have had doctors in the past travel around the country with their partners and children while they locum in various hospitals and practices. It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore some of Australia’s beautiful locations and spend quality time with your family while being able to maintain your clinical career.

So ask yourself, doctors, are you up for an adventure? Are you looking to earn a higher daily rate while exploring the country with your family? Would you like to assist regional communities in Australia? If so, we’d absolutely love to hear from you to explore locum options for you - tailored to suit your individual needs and preferences.

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About Marcia Beere

Marcia Beere is Prescript’s Recruitment Partner with a focus on locum, permanent and fixed-term positions across regional Australia.

There are three ways to contact Marcia:

1. Call Marcia on 0416 544 788 

2. Email marcia@prescript.com.au 

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript’

“My extensive experience of medical administration in several hospitals means I have seen first hand how the doctor shortage impacts regional communities. I am committed to helping solve this issue.”

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“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript' to ask a question online (with option to upload your CV)

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”

Doctors - Seven Top Tips For Permanent Job Applications

“Hello, I’m Nicola Speer - Prescript’s Senior Recruitment Partner. In this article, we explore best techniques for doctors to find and secure a permanent role that meets your criteria – clinical, financial and lifestyle.”

Firstly – What are your reasons for looking for a new role? Getting an understanding of this helps define the steps you can take.

Some possible reasons are:

➕ “I’m keen to take the next step forward in my career, gain experience in a more senior role, or one that gives me specific exposure to particular modalities / interventional work I have trained in.”

➕ “Location – for my family and me, we would like a move to somewhere better suited to our lifestyle, but I still want to have a well remunerated, clinically challenging role – Even with a sea change/tree change.”

➕ “I have been working in an Area of Need (or DWS) role, and am now eligible to seek positions in locations that are outside that restriction so would like to find the right role and location for myself and my family.”

➕ “For me, it’s about earning capacity; I feel I can get a better remuneration package and conditions elsewhere but it’s not easy to explore all options without spending time and effort, and potentially breaching the confidentiality I wish to maintain at this early stage.”

➕ “I have been approved to find a role that meets Area of Need specifications. We wish to move to Australia but don’t know where to start.”

➕ “I’m not actively looking for a new role; however, I always like to keep an open mind with opportunities that come up.”

Whatever your motivation and reason, I would suggest some of the following tips/ideas to get started, and see you through to being settled and happy in a new role.

1.Start Early

Before you even form a plan, have a confidential discussion where you can begin to gather information to better enable you to make good decisions.

ACTION: Book in a confidential call with one of Prescript’s Senior Recruitment Partners - Nicola Speer or Rebecca Doyle – Both have extensive experience and enjoy listening to your initial thoughts and ideas, work-shopping, giving opinions and information and looking at specific roles to explore further based on your criteria.

2.List your Criteria and Questions

➕ What can I not compromise on?

➕ What are reasonably flexible points for me?

➕ What are my top 3 motivating factors for seeking a new role, or considering one that comes up?

➕ What should I expect in a new position? (Sometimes it’s hard to know how our current situation compares to others in the market – we can help with comparisons)

3.Define a Clear Picture of your Current Situation

List what you would define as ‘Push Factors’ (Factors that are either negative, or lacking in your current role and therefore act as motivators to seek a better situation) and ‘Pull Factors” (What would really appeal in a new position and draw you towards it – money, location, clinical interest, promotion/progression, leadership, team/environment etc).

4.Think About Time Frame

Is there a date for you that would be ideal for securing and starting in a new role? OR, are you flexible and would rather wait for the right position to be found?

We strongly suggest giving yourself as much leeway as possible from the time you start having initial conversations, to securing a position. This takes into account the process needed to look at positions, make visits, negotiate and obtain a role, as well as attend to your current work and living commitments so that you can have adequate notice and time to move.

DID YOU KNOW?

Most of the permanent roles we work with doctors to secure are not advertised formally

TOP TIP: Don’t sit back and wait to see your ideal position on a website or industry publication.

Instead, be proactive – Speak to us, even if it’s just to say that you want to keep a new role on the radar, and what this would potentially look like.

Doctors who have done this, consistently end up securing a position that is tailored to their needs and wishes and often exceeds their first thoughts.

5.Explore and Get Certainty

In the job seeking process, we adopt a transparent and positive flow of communication that supports you as a radiologist to get a full understanding of the prospective role before you make any commitment. 

This includes:

✔️ In depth discussions of all aspects of a role including: position/scope/location/future growth/remuneration/benefits.

✔️ Talking to clinicians and directors (once you’re happy to) in order to explore options and discuss first hand.

✔️ Visit – Whether for a paid locum where you meet people but also experience hands-on, the site/s, OR, if you’ve flown/travelled there to meet and discuss (this is a critical part of understanding if a particular role is the right one for you - we will facilitate and organise all logistics if this for you).

6.Money

We know its an important factor and will support you in negotiating a salary/remuneration package, plus benefits that suit you. We work with providers in both the public hospital system and the private sector, that recognise talent and consistently reward radiologists with the best packages.

7.Location, Family and Lifestyle

It’s not all about work, even though it’s often the major factor that shapes our decisions.

Family requirements - now and in the future – partner’s work/children and schooling play a huge part in the job seeking process, and this is something we discuss and factor in right from first discussion.

Location – We all like different places and climates. Identifying what these factors are for you will really make a place feel like home and is an important part of job seeking.

Lifestyle – Why compromise on health and happiness? We don’t want you to do this, and that’s why we consult closely with you to find out what this means for you and your family.

We genuinely hope that you feel comfortable to speak to us, even if it’s an initial discussion that’s about general ideals and thoughts and you’re not necessarily active yet in looking at a new position – We are here for long term assistance and to support you in your career as a doctor.

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About Nicola Speer

Nicola Speer is Prescript’s Senior Recruitment Partner for Radiology with a focus on locum and permanent positions across Australia, New Zealand and globally.

Nicola is very happy to answer your questions.

There are three ways to contact Nicola:

1. Call Nicola on +61 405 429 799 

2. Email nicola@prescript.com.au 

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript' to ask a question online (with the option to upload your CV)

“I am delighted to work with Rebecca & James at Prescript to help deliver a whole new model of service for doctors and our clients. My own passion for healthcare, lifestyle and wellbeing means I can bring these elements into Prescript and offer wonderful experiences and solutions for the people we partner with.”

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“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript' to ask a question online (with option to upload your CV)

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”

Why Prescript? We Have The Best Quality Standards

Paperwork is an inescapable fact of life with medical recruitment. Every time Prescript helps a regional hospital, clinic, practice or department find their next locum or permanent doctor an avalanche of credentialing and checks needs to be completed.

Each client we work with has different requirements - it varies from public hospitals to private clinics; from State to State and from region to region. Take NSW Health for example - there is meant to be one set of paperwork required for all locum doctors, yet each district health area varies slightly (or widely!) from each other in what they request.

Managing all of this and ensuring Prescript doctors start on time takes a lot of organisation. We are incredibly fortunate that the highest standards with credentialing are in-bedded in our everyday activities, led by Stef McLaughlin (Prescript’s Credentialing, Quality and Giving Manager).

““Paperwork, credentialing and travel logistics can sometimes be such a headache! My role is to ease the pain and guide all our doctors through the process. Hopefully the hospitals, clinics and doctors I work with feel they are well supported by me and the Prescript team.””

Stef has designed our internal processes and procedures to meet the different needs of each of our clients and also to be compliant with our external JAS-ANZ-accredited auditors, Certex. Prescript is certified by Certex regularly to ensure we reach the specific standards for NSW Health.

Underpinning everything are the Prescript Quality Standards (PQS). This is our internal checklist to make sure that every doctor we place in a new position has met a consistent level of checks. Why do we have PQS? It is precisely because all our clients have their own different, yet overlapping credentialing that we thought it essential that we could rely on our own foundation of standards.

A lot of PQS goes on behind the scenes, but we want the doctors that choose to work with Prescript and our clients to have peace of mind that we take quality and standards seriously.

What are Prescript Quality Standards (PQS)?

All Prescript doctors will have been through our PQS checklist before starting in a locum or permanent position:

✔️ PQS Prescript Interview Report - with one of our medical recruitment partners

✔️ PQS Registered with Prescript as a candidate

✔️ PQS Answered disclosure questions

✔️ PQS Medical Board Registration checked

✔️ PQS Shared a copy of driving licence and passport

✔️ PQS Provided proof of qualifications - Primary Degree and Fellowship

✔️ PQS CV updated for recent work history

✔️ PQS Right to work checked (citizenship and visas)

✔️ PQS Google keyword search

✔️ PQS Three reference reports (two as a minimum)

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And There’s More.

➕ In addition to external audits, we have a cycle of internal audits for PQS.

➕ The credentialing, management and recruitment teams review internal processes on a tri-annual basis.

➕ We are a Corporate member of the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA) that complies with the RCSA Code for Professional Conduct, which means we will provide a legally compliant, ethical and professional service.

➕ Prescript are members of the Association of Medical Recruiters of Australia and New Zealand (AMRANZ).

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“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript' to ask a question online (with option to upload your CV)

We’d love to hear from you!

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“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”

Introducing Our Locum Community for Radiologists!

Dear FRANZCR Radiologist,

Imagine being in an exclusive community of FRANZCR Radiologists who experience real-time access to amazing locum opportunities around Australia. 

Apart from the fantastic pay and start to finish concierge service, Prescript’s locum experience means you can take your family along with you while you make a real impact in hospitals and practices across Australia.  

The Australian regional doctor shortage is a widespread issue which has a significant impact on the healthcare of communities everywhere. Your expertise is highly sought after and will make a real difference.

So ask yourself… are you up for an adventure? Are you looking to earn $3k - $4k per day while exploring the country with your family? If so, explore our community below.

Click here for all the information.

The Locum Community allows FRANZCR Radiologists like yourself and fellow colleagues, the opportunity to receive the following:

✔️ Real-time locum positions

✔️ Lucrative daily rates

✔️ Resort style accommodation

✔️ Travel & Logistic management

Click here to join our Locum Community. No perks, costs or gimmicks. Simply a select group of Radiologists who are looking to Locum and experience the best it offers.

As a bonus, we also include our 5 Steps to an Amazing Locum Experience PDF which offers our combined 45 years worth of experience facilitating world class locums.

Let your career take you around Australia through the Prescript Locum Community.

Click here for all the information.

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“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript' to ask a question online (with option to upload your CV)

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”

Hugo Reveals All - Getting Paid Promptly and Smoothly

Hi, I’m Hugo Scales, Finance and Payments Manager at Prescript. I thought I’d share with you a bit about my role and the impact it has on helping the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Prescript will celebrate four years in April, so we are a relatively new company, but one that has seen significant growth in that time. This growth includes members of the Prescript team of course, and I am a beneficiary of that, I joined the team in September 2017 to assist with finance and payments. 

What is a Finance and Payments Manager in the big picture at Prescript Recruitment?

At Prescript, we provide a bespoke time-sheet, invoicing, finance and payroll service to our Doctors. This is just a part of what we offer. What sets us apart from many of the larger recruitment agencies is our personal touch to keep those we look after happy. This high level of service is reflected in all of our financial processes, as well as throughout everything we do at Prescript.

I provide our clients and Doctors with administrative support for billing and invoicing. I also sometimes assist the Doctor if they require support in establishing themselves as Pty Ltd companies in order to invoice the hospitals for their services - which I facilitate for them.

Other hospitals and clinics might pay Doctors directly but may require that their reimbursements are invoiced separately, or that at Prescript, we arrange payments via our payroll service. So, there are various processes that keep me on my toes and give the position variety.

Getting Paid

Promptly & Smoothly

But honestly the best variety for me comes from relationships, varied but always interesting relationships that I establish with hospital personnel and our many and varied Doctors, Junior Doctors and Consultants that I communicate with daily. All in the expectation of making their workload more manageable and therefore enjoyable.

It's a great feeling knowing that the part I play can make a big difference to doctors, hospitals and practices across the country. I look forward to watching Prescript grow in the medical recruitment industry and expanding to further cities and countries.

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About Hugo Scales

Hugo is Prescript’s Finance and Payments Manager. He makes sure doctors are paid correctly and promptly.

There are three ways to contact Hugo:

1. Call Hugo on 1300 755 498

2. Email hugo@prescript.com.au 

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript’

“I make sure you are paid correctly and promptly. Happy to answer your questions and talk you though all the different payment methods available.”

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Meet the Prescript Recruitment Team

We work with doctors for locum, ongoing and fixed-term positions across regional Australia. Connect with Prescript here ⬇️  

➕ Recruitment - James Hill, Rebecca Doyle, Nicola Speer, Marcia Beere - Dedicated recruitment partners. Helping you throughout the entire recruitment process.

➕ Marketing & Vacancies - Grace Clueit - Rapid promotion of locum, ongoing and fixed-term vacancies - helping doctors discover jobs with ease.

➕ Credentialing & Logistics - Stef McLaughlin and Lee Kabigting - Adhere to the highest JAS-ANZ-accredited standards of quality and credentialing. Management of paperwork and travel logistics - making sure doctors start on time.

➕ Finance & Payments - Hugo Scales - Prescript's Finance & Payments Manager ensures doctors get paid promptly and smoothly.

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“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript' to ask a question online (with option to upload your CV)

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town”

Introducing Our Locum Community for Radiologists!

Dear FRANZCR Radiologist,

Imagine being in an exclusive community of FRANZCR Radiologists who experience real-time access to amazing locum opportunities around Australia. 

Apart from the fantastic pay and start to finish concierge service, Prescript’s locum experience means you can take your family along with you while you make a real impact in hospitals and practices across Australia.  

The Australian regional doctor shortage is a widespread issue which has a significant impact on the healthcare of communities everywhere. Your expertise is highly sought after and will make a real difference.

So ask yourself… are you up for an adventure? Are you looking to earn $3k - $4k per day while exploring the country with your family? If so, explore our community below.

Click here for all the information.

The Locum Community allows FRANZCR Radiologists like yourself and fellow colleagues, the opportunity to receive the following:

✔️ Real-time locum positions

✔️ Lucrative daily rates

✔️ Resort style accommodation

✔️ Travel & Logistic management

Click here to join our Locum Community. No perks, costs or gimmicks. Simply a select group of Radiologists who are looking to Locum and experience the best it offers.

As a bonus, we also include our 5 Steps to an Amazing Locum Experience PDF which offers our combined 45 years worth of experience facilitating world class locums.

Let your career take you around Australia through the Prescript Locum Community.

Click here for all the information.

---

“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript' to ask a question online (with option to upload your CV)

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”

I Discovered How To Escape The Rat Race... Now I'm sharing My Secret

Here at Prescript, we are often talking to Radiologists who want to have a bit of a break from their current employment but are not in a position where they want to resign altogether. It’s a tricky situation because they know they are feeling a little flat, want to do something different or just need a break from it all, however, the role they currently have really suits their lifestyle and/or career path. 

I was in this position myself back in 2016. I didn’t want to give up the great role I had, but I had been working exceptionally hard, and I strongly desired a decent European trip, longer than the usual four weeks annual leave that was available to me. When my partner and I got the invite to our friends 40th birthday in Northern Italy, that was the catalyst to make it happen. We decided to take a sabbatical from work to spend time travelling through Europe.

From the point of having the leave confirmed, suddenly everything felt exciting as we had so much to look forward to. We decided that rather than hop from city to city, we would visit fewer countries and spend more time in each of them. We put down our personal wish lists and started planning an itinerary that ended up including UK, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Greek Islands and Croatia. 

“We were carefree and invigorated which was just what the doctor ordered. ”

While overseas we were able to spend quality time with some dear friends who live in some of the places we visited. We also had some friends from Australia join in for parts of our adventure. We hiked in the Swiss Alps, the Pyrenees in Spain and on the steep hills of Cinque Terra in Italy. We had a sommelier take us around the Piedmont wine region. We had a personal tour and tasting at a beautiful prosecco winery an hour from Venice. We ate and ate and ate all the delicious cuisines on offer. We visited art galleries and museums. We caught trains, planes, ferries, buses, and even took on driving a car in peak hour Barcelona (now that was an adventure). We were carefree and invigorated which was just what the doctor ordered.

On returning to Australia, we were constantly asked if we were depressed now we had returned to ‘normal’ life, but we didn’t feel this way at all. Instead, we felt gratitude for the fact that we were able to take time away to have that amazing experience and felt genuinely refreshed, happy and full of life again. It truly was an exceptional experience where we lived life large, saw beautiful places, spent quality time with great friends and had a lot of laughter along the way.

If you’ve been feeling like a sabbatical is in order and perhaps would like to travel yourself but would prefer the financial security of generating income at the same time, please make contact with me as we have numerous options available both here in Australia and abroad. 

For example, Teleradiology is a fantastic option if you’d like to travel while continuing your career as a FRANZCR Radiologist, working 7 days on / 7 days off from anywhere in the world.

Click the button below to read more about Teleradiology with Prescript.

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About Rebecca Doyle

Rebecca Doyle is Prescript’s Senior Recruitment Partner for Radiology with a focus on locum and permanent positions across Australia, New Zealand and globally.

Rebecca is very happy to answer your questions.

There are three ways to contact Rebecca:

1. Call Rebecca on 0434 401 379 

2. Email rebecca@prescript.com.au 

3. Click 'Candidate Contact' to ask a question online (with the option to upload your CV)

“I have been very privileged to spend my career working in highly regarded organisations such as Prescript Recruitment, Johnson & Johnson Medical and St Vincent’s Hospital. Within these organisations you will find cultures of honesty, respect and well-earned reputations for their high standards of service and customer care.”

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Meet the Prescript Radiology Recruitment Team

We work with FRANZCR Radiologists for locum, ongoing and teleradiology positions across regional Australia. Connect with Prescript here ⬇️  

➕ Recruitment - James Hill, Nicola Speer and Rebecca Doyle - Dedicated recruitment partners focused solely on Consultant Radiologists.

➕ Marketing & Vacancies - Grace Clueit - Rapid promotion of locum, ongoing and teleradiology vacancies - helping Radiologists discover jobs with ease.

➕ Credentialing & Logistics - Stef McLaughlin and Lee Kabigting - Adhere to the highest JAS-ANZ-accredited standards of quality and credentialing. Management of paperwork and travel logistics - making sure doctors start on time.

➕ Finance & Payments - Hugo Scales - Prescript's Finance & Payments Manager ensures Radiologists get paid promptly and smoothly.

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“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript' to ask a question online (with option to upload your CV)

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town”