How to use State Applications to get a Job in Australia as UK Junior Doctor
In the UK, we are used to the national, centralised means of applying for training jobs, including foundation, core training, and specialty training.
In Australia, doctors are used to a similar process, but it is state-based rather than national.
This is one of the most common ways for UK doctors to find their first job in Australia, especially those looking to start in February (the start of the Australian medical year).
In this article, we will break down:
✅ Who they are suitable for and what kinds of jobs you’ll find
✅ How they work and typical timelines
✅ Pros and cons, and tips for success
🇦🇺 What are state recruitment cycles?
State recruitment campaigns are annual, centralised processes (similar to Oriel) that are organised by each state to manage applications for their open positions. The applications run through a portal, with a set process, to a particular timeline and schedule.
A point of caution: every state runs a very unique process. This is true of timelines, how jobs are released, how you apply, how your application is reviewed and scored, and how many offers you get.
We are writing detailed guides for each state process, which you can find at the bottom of this page.
🩺 What kinds of jobs will I see advertised?
You will see advertised all grades, and both training and non-training jobs. The advertised jobs will be year-long posts with start dates in line with the state’s academic year, which is late January / early February.
🗓 When do they open for applications?
The window for applications vary for each state and varies each year, but typically applications open in June and July and interviews begin in August or September. Offers will then start to roll in shortly after. Once you accept an offer, you will have 4 to 5 months to sort out AHPRA registration and visa applications before starting your job in February.
🥼 Who is eligible to apply using this process?
You may have heard that only Australian graduates can apply through the annual recruitment cycle, but this is only partially true. As a UK doctor or other overseas candidate, you are eligible to apply through the state process but with some caveats.
The process varies by state, but commonly applications are structured in ‘rounds’, with different jobs released in different rounds. Foreign doctors are typically only eligible to apply in later rounds, with Australian/NZ citizens, PRs, and IMGs who hold general AHPRA registration given precedence.
With that said, don’t let it put you off, as there are still lots of jobs left in the later stages.
💻 Should I apply through these rounds?
Whether you should apply or not depends mainly on the time of year rather than your personal preference for which path you choose.
If you are looking to come around the February period (which is the start of the academic year in Australia), it’s likely that you will find the majority of jobs posted on these state rounds. Additionally, you might get little success applying directly to hospitals or using recruitment agencies (unless you wait until the conclusion of the state application process and see if anything is left over).
If you are looking to come to Australia “out of cycle”, for example, around August after completing a year of training in the UK, it is not possible to use this route. Instead, you will have to apply directly or with agencies.
🤔 Can I apply to more than one?
You can definitely apply to more than one state. Each state uses a completely separate system so there are no rules against applying to more than one state. Also, one state won’t be aware if you are applying elsewhere.
If you are not fixed on one particular state, it actually makes sense to increase your chances by making multiple applications, but be prepared to be confused as they are so different!
❓ How do the application processes work?
As mentioned, application processes vary significantly by state, each being very different. Some, like NSW, operate more like a job board where you search for specific jobs and apply to each.
Others, such as Victoria, run a much more centralised system akin to Oriel where you apply once centrally, list preferences of health services (which are like NHS Trusts) and are allocated to one based on your application score.
Regardless, here is a (very) general overview of the steps you can expect:
👉 Register for your account on the relevant state website(s)
This is simple and usually just involves registering on a form on the state’s website.
👉 Submit required evidence and documentation
You will have to submit your CV, cover letter, and pathway eligibility evidence. An example of pathway eligibility could be your completion of foundation training certificate from the UK, which indicates that you are eligible for registration under the “Competent Authority Pathway”.
As a UK citizen, you have no requirement to submit any evidence supporting your English language standard.
👉 Nominate references
An online referee report needs to be filled out and submitted. Note: In some states, this is a scored reference where your referees will be asked to score you in a range of elements.
👉 See a list of all the available health services or specific jobs
As explained above, in some states, you can apply to those which you want to. In others, you will rank your top preferences.
👉 Expect interviews
In the centralised Victorian process, this is a single interview that is more similar to a virtual, recorded OSCE than an interview. In other states, such as NSW, you will do more traditional interviews with each hospital that is interested in potentially hiring you.
👉 Feedback from hospitals
At this stage, you will receive feedback from hospitals and be notified of outcomes with any offers.
👉 Finalise offer
Lastly, you will follow up with the hospital to finalise your offer and agree with the steps to get you sorted out with the AHPRA registration and visa applications before starting your job.
☝️ What are the pros and cons of applying through these routes?
Pros of State Recruitment Campaigns
🔹 You get access to all available jobs in the entire state with one centralised application instead of individual cover letters, CVs, and interviews for each hospital.
🔹 There is a clear calendar of dates for interviews and when offers are given out. So, the process feels more structured and reliable than applying directly when you have to keep on top of it all.
🔹 As the same process recruits many doctors, who are all starting at the same time, there is good camaraderie and lots of opportunity for socialising with all the new doctors (including the Australian starters).
🔹 For the same reason, there may be better integration when you start. All the doctors starting at the same time get their inductions together, which tends to be better organised than if you are the only one starting on one particular day. When you move country, the little things like having a swipe card, functional IT logins, and a tour of the hospital before you start working are really helpful!
Cons of State Recruitment Changes
🔻 These are annual recruitment cycles and are predominantly advertising jobs with start dates in February, which is the start of the Australian academic year. Hence, if you plan to come immediately after completing your F2 in August or September, you may not find an open match for that time. Applying directly gives you more flexibility.
🔻 Due to the preferencing and matching process, you are likely to only get one job offer from each state at the end of the process. You can reject the offer you get and apply again in a later round, where you can rank again from the available positions that remained from the first round.
🔻 Some hospitals will want you to either apply directly to them or have an additional interview with them on top of applying through the campaigns, which is confusing and frustrating!
📈 How can I improve my chances of success?
✅ Get organised. Don’t miss deadlines as these are fixed and non-negotiable.
✅ Invest in your CV and cover letter. They both offer a great way to stand out, and will always be a key part of your application regardless of which state you are applying to.
✅ Make sure you jump through the hoops carefully and don’t make any silly mistakes. Prepare early so you have what you need in advance. This varies by state but might include details of referees, EPIC account, CV, cover letters, etc.
ℹ️ Where can I find links to get started?
👉 ACT
Application portal
Messly Guide (coming soon)
👉 New South Wales
Application portal
Messly Guide (coming soon)
👉 Northern Territory
Application portal
Messly Guide (coming soon)
👉 South Australia
Application portal
Messly Guide (coming soon)
👉 Tasmania
Application portal
Messly Guide (coming soon)
👉 Queensland
Application portal
Messly Guide (coming soon)
👉 Victoria
Application Portal
Messly Guide
👉 Western Australia
Application portal
Messly Guide (coming soon)
📚 Continue Reading
🚀 This article is part of Messly's Ultimate Guide to Working in Australia. The guide covers all you need to know as a UK doctor to understand your options, research your move, find work, get registered and move out to Australia.
✈️ There are four routes to finding a job in Australia. In this detailed guide, we explain how each works and the pros and cons of each, so you can kick-start your search for your dream job Down Under
📃 If you're planning to submit applications for jobs in Australia, you'll need your CV to stand out from the crowd. This detailed CV-writing guide will help you make an excellent first impression and get you through to the interview stage.
📜 A well-written and carefully personalised cover letter is a super power that many doctors overlook. We explain here how to craft the perfect cover letter, with a full worked example for you to crib from.
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