Elective Recruitment recruits for the healthcare sector. We provide recruitment services to public and private hospitals, corporate organisations and GP and private specialist practices. 

We are experts in doctor recruitment with extensive knowledge of the doctor talent market. We recruit to locum and permanent positions in all specialities, at all seniorities.

We'll reach out via your preferred method - email, phone, or both! Just let us know what works best for you.

We cover all of Australia! 

Check out our jobs page to see a selection of our current vacancies.

Partnering with a recruitment agent gives you expert advice on current workforce trends, salary expectations, and long-term career planning, empowering you to make informed decisions.

We have established networks across Australia with access to jobs not advertised in the public domain.

Searching for a job via an agent gives you the security of privacy and discretion. You can enquire and learn about opportunities, confidentiality, without lodging a formal application until you are comfortable doing so.

Your agent will save you time by managing the negotiation, credentialing and onboarding process for a smooth transition.

For international doctors relocating to Australia, we will provide guidance and support throughout the process, including registration and visas where required.

Elective Recruitment can offer general advice on how to improve your CV. For more detailed advice we can put you in touch with our partner organisations who specialise in doctor career coaching, application guidance and interview preparation.

Contact us at hello@elective.com.au for more details.

Elective Recruitment is committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles as set out in the Privacy Act. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy or contact us at hello@elective.com.au.

Register a vacancy here or contact us at hello@elective.com.au or +61 2 9137 4300

Our services include locum recruitment, permanent recruitment, executive search and retained campaigns.

Learn more about our approach or register a vacancy here.

Elective Recruitment specialises in sourcing doctors that you cannot find yourself. If you have an urgent, critical or hard-to-fill role you can leverage our extended global network to source the best talent in the market.

We can offer advice on talent acquisition, market trends, salary benchmarking and retention strategies to ensure you have the most competitive and compelling offering available to you.

Learn more about the Elective Recruitment approach here

We offer a range of recruitment solutions and our fees vary depending on recruitment scope. Please get in touch with us at hello@elective.com.au to discuss your specific hiring needs or see our client services page for more information on the recruitment services we can provide. 

We offer a guarantee period for candidates placed into permanent or fixed-term positions. For further information on our terms of business please contact us at hello@elective.com.au or +61 2 9137 4300

To be eligible to work as a locum doctor in Australia, you must meet the following criteria:

Medical Registration: You need to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). This registration can be either general registration or specialist registration, depending on the type of locum position you're applying for.

Visa and Residency Status: You must be legally authorised to work in Australia. This means being an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident. Some Temporary Residents may also be able to locum depending on the specific visa conditions. New Zealand Citizens can also locum in Australia without needing to meet any further immigration requirements.

If you are unsure whether or not your registration or residency status allows you to work as a locum doctor, please contact us for advice.

Providing travel expenses and accommodation is not mandatory, however, many regional and rural hospitals will provide travel expenses and accommodation for locum doctors for the locum duration.  

A fleet vehicle or hire car may also be provided depending on the location, proximity of accommodation to the hospital and on-call requirements of the role.

Confirmation of what expenses will be covered will be detailed in writing to you ahead of any locum assignment.

Locum rates are generally offered at hourly or daily rates with the exception of GPs where a percentage of billings can be negotiated. The rates can vary depending on several factors such as the location and the urgency of the position that needs to be filled. 

Hospitals and clinics usually set their own pay rates, however, in some circumstances, they can be negotiable. Any additional paid or unpaid breaks, overtime rates, and on-call rates will be confirmed for each assignment.

For an overview of rates in your speciality please see our specialty pages.

As a locum doctor how you are paid will depend on how you are engaged by the hospital and recruitment agency. Each state, hospital and clinic has their own requirements for the engagement of locums and we will guide you on the structure for each assignment.

If you are engaged as a Direct Locum you will be paid directly by the hospital or clinic. In this arrangement, you can be paid via PAYG, ABN Sole Trader or through your own ABN company or Trust.

If you are engaged as an On-Hire Locum you will be paid by Elective Recruitment. In this circumstance, you can only be paid as PAYG or through your own ABN company or Trust. 

For further information please contact us at hello@elective.com.au or +61 2 9137 4300

If an issue arises at work you must inform your supervisor at your workplace, and the health and safety representative, where applicable, of your concerns. You must also notify Elective Recruitment as soon as possible.

You can contact us at any time if you have any questions or need to discuss work health and safety matters. We value your input, and your point of view and concerns are important to us.

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registered doctors can work anywhere in Australia unless subject to any restrictions or conditions listed on your registration or restrictions such as section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973. 

To learn more about where you can work and where the current opportunities are, get in touch with us today. 

The length of time you can work in Australia depends entirely on the type of visa you hold. There are many different visas available, each with its own set of conditions and work limitations.

For more information, please contact us.

In the public sector salaries vary from state to state and are based on fixed Government award rates. Packages can be made up of; base salary, allowances, on-call payments, shift penalties, rural and remote incentives, and superannuation.

We will discuss the relevant salary package with you, and work on your behalf when negotiating remuneration before you commit to a position.

Average salary packages for doctors in Australia are:

Junior Doctors: $60,000 - $110,000

Registrar: $100,000 - $200,000

GP: $150,000 - $350,000

Consultant: $200,000 - $500,000

In addition to attractive salary packages, you may have access to benefits such as annual leave, conference leave, dedicated professional development time and allowances, salary packaging and more. It is also not uncommon for employers to offer assistance with relocation expenses. The amount of assistance will depend on your level of seniority and the length of your contract.

Contact us at hello@elective.com.au for more information.

The applicant (doctor) is responsible for application fees. In some circumstances, you may be able to claim some expenses back as part of a relocation allowance. 

You may be entitled to a relocation allowance as part of your offer. This may include short-term accommodation on arrival and some expenses. This will be negotiated as part of the offer process and depends on location, level of seniority and length of commitment.

Doctors working in Australian public hospitals will be working under the current Enterprise Bargaining Agreement applicable to that location. If not covered under a specific award, the Fair Work system (the national system) covers most Australian workplaces.

Your agent will advise and guide you of the relevant award and legislation applicable to your position.

The typical employment contract length depends on the type of position and arrangement. Contracts can be fixed-term or permanent. 

Submit your CV and we'll guide you on any additional requirements. 

No, our service is completely free for job seekers. 

We never submit your CV without your consent. You're in control of where your information goes. We'll work with you to find the perfect match before sending anything out.

Elective Recruitment can offer general advice on interview preparation. For more detailed advice we can put you in touch with our partner organisations who specialise in doctor career coaching, application guidance and interview preparation.

Contact us at hello@elective.com.au for more details.

Each state and hospital has a specific set of mandatory paperwork requirements that must be completed to secure a position. We will guide you on the relevant requirements for your chosen role.

As a basic checklist, you can expect to provide:

• Full current CV
• 100 points of ID
• Evidence of working rights
• Medical registration or licenses
• Qualifications
• References

Some hospitals and health services have immunisation requirements or ask for evidence of specific vaccinations. 

This can include but is not limited to: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (dTpa), Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Varicella, Hepatitis B, Influenza, COVID-19, Tuberculosis (TB)

We will guide you on all the relevant requirements you’ll need to meet for each role.

As part of your terms of employment, you may be covered by your employer's Medical Indemnity Policy. However, as the onus of responsibility is on the Practitioner to ensure that they have the correct indemnity insurance cover, it is recommended that all doctors working in Australia have their own private medical indemnity cover at all times. 

Please note, if you do not hold additional medical indemnity to the indemnity provided by your employer there may be circumstances in which you are not covered

Employers may require you to hold a Medicare Provider Number for the position. This number allows your patients to claim Medicare benefits for the services you provide. You may be required to have a provider number for refer and request purposes, or for rebatable services as well. We recommend that if you are eligible, you register with PRODA to apply online for your provider numbers.

For most hospitals and clinics you will be required to provide details of 2-3 referees. Your referees should be those who have worked with you in the previous 12 months in a supervisory capacity or at the same level in the same specialty for GPs/Consultants. 

Ensure you speak to your referees in advance and ask permission to use them as a referee,  and if they can complete and return the reference form promptly. 

The Medical Board of Australia requires all applicants for initial registration to demonstrate English language skills suitable for registration. To demonstrate English language proficiency you must be a native English speaker or hold a valid certificate.

For more information see the AHPRA English Language Skills Standards (Medical). If you have any questions contact us directly at hello@elective.com.au

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) need to complete a pathway to be eligible for registration with the Medical Board of Australia. 

There are four pathways:  

• Standard Pathway

The Standard pathway is for IMGs seeking general registration who have a recognised primary qualification in medicine and surgery and are not eligible for the Competent Authority pathway or the Specialist pathway. 

• Competent Authority Pathway 

The Competent Authority pathway is for IMGs seeking general registration who have graduated from a medical school in a country recognised as competent by the Medical Board of Australia and completed the experiential component required in that country in a supervised position. The four competent authority pathway countries are the United Kingdom, the United States, the Republic of Ireland and Canada.

• Specialist Pathway 

The Specialist Pathway is for overseas-trained specialists who wish to be recognised and work as a Specialist in Australia.

• Short-Term Training in a Medical Specialty Pathway

The pathway is for IMGs who are overseas-trained specialists or specialists-in-training wishing to undertake a short period (usually up to 24 months) of specialist or advanced training in Australia.

The Australian Medical Council provides a guide to self-check which pathway you may be eligible for. 

If you are looking for further guidance on which registration pathway may be right for you, this is something our team can help you with. Contact us directly at hello@elective.com.au

The processing timeframe for medical registration in Australia will vary depending on your pathway. There are several steps involved in the registration process for IMG’s, and they include:

• Australian Medical Council (AMC) primary source verification
• Specialist College Assessment 
• Registration with the Medical Board of Australia
• Visa
• Provider Number

International relocation expenses will depend on the duration of your relocation (permanent or temporary) and how many family members will accompany you. 

You will need to factor in the following expenses: flights, shipping, temporary accommodation on arrival, hire car, application fees for registration and visas, medicals, solicitor fees, postal or courier fees, and insurances. Additional items such as importation of luxury vehicles or relocating with pets can add additional costs. 

It is important to prepare a budget for the move and plan for hidden expenses.

Under the Health Insurance Act 1973, international medical graduates (IMGs) are restricted on where they can work and access Medicare benefits.

Known as the 10-year moratorium, the restrictions remain in place until the service period is completed and the doctor becomes a permanent resident or Australian citizen.

There are many urban, regional and semi-rural areas (as well as more rural and remote areas) where you can still work. For further information about where you can practise in your specialty contact us for an assessment.

Elective Recruitment can put you in touch with a MARA registered migration agent for any visa queries that you have.

Contact us at hello@elective.com.au for more details.