Australia is the smallest continent and 6th largest country in the world. Its capital is Canberra but largest metropolis is Sydney, the vibrant commercial and state capital of New South Wales. Its cities and metropolitan areas are sophisticated and cosmopolitan with a huge and diverse variety of cultural and leisure pursuits.
Australia has a robust and dynamic economy, high standards of living, low crime rates, a competitive tax regime and world class medical facilities. The population, at just over 20 million, is mainly concentrated around the Eastern and South Eastern coasts.
The diverse geography of Australia makes it a fascinating country to explore. Scenery ranges from tropical rainforests, coastal vineyards, stunning sandy beaches, the vast Outback and the Snowy Mountains.
The climate varies from tropical regions in the north through the arid expanses of the interior to temperate regions in the south. Seasonal fluctuations can be great with temperatures ranging from above 50 ° Celsius to well below zero. Minimum temperatures are moderated by the lack of mountains and the influence of surrounding oceans. The country as a whole is fairly arid.
Specialists and Family Physicians (GPs) can work in metropolitan areas where Medical Schools and hospitals are of the highest international standards and CME programs are well developed or in the rural areas where there is huge scope for independent clinical practice and the development of clinical acumen and decisiveness.
Doctors in training can complete specialist and family practice training under the auspices of the Australian and New Zealand Postgraduate Colleges which offer excellent programs and training opportunities.
All physicians must demonstrate English langauge competency. The Academic IELTS with a minimum overall score of 7 is the required standard. Those who have been working in an English language environment can apply for exemption from testing.
All physicians must be registered with the AMC in addition to the State Medical Boards. The AMC will oversee specialist assessments which are undertaken by the appropriate post graduate colleges. All foreign qualifications must be verified by the ECFMG. Registration takes 4-6 weeks.
Each state has its own Medical Board for which a separate application must be made. This is done on arrival, after AMC Registration has been granted.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship of Australia processes applications and this can be expedited by on line application.
New Zealand is a country of stunning natural beauty with a relaxed enviable lifestyle. Wellington is the world's most southern capital city and Gisborne, the first city to see the sun rise each day.
New Zealand has population of just over 4 million, 80% of whom live in cities or towns which are within easy reach of each other. The economy has been recently transformed from a predominantly agrarian one to a free market economy dependent upon trade. Wine production and tourism are dominant. Salaries are often lower than in other First World countries but the cost of living is lower and New Zealand boasts an excellent quality of life.
The landscape ranges from tropical beaches and small islands to snow covered mountains and volcanoes, forests, fishing lakes and rivers.
A wide range of opportunities exists at all levels and in most specialities throughout the country and there is a large and cosmopolitan population of international physicians. Specialists and GPs are in demand and there are excellent training opportunities for recent graduates. Hospital facilities are world class.
This licensing body processes all medical licenses within a time frame of 4 weeks to several months depending upon the type of licence requested and the complexity of the application. Australia and New Zealand share the same postgraduate Royal Colleges, details of which can be found in the Career Section.
An IELTS pass averaging 7 is required as proof of English language proficiency for non native speakers