The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has announced a groundbreaking change in its registration process for overseas-based health practitioners. Effective 18 December 2023, in-person identity checks in Australia will be abolished.
Responding to recommendations from the Kruk Review, Ahpra CEO, Martin Fletcher, expressed enthusiasm for the change, highlighting its potential to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy for international health practitioners. “Ahpra is committed to continually improving the pathways for all internationally qualified practitioners to enter Australia and join our health system, while maintaining high standards that make the Australian health regulation system safe,” he said in Ahpra’s statement. This streamlined process benefits both practitioners and their employers, saving both time and money without compromising the crucial minimum standards that uphold public safety. It's important to note that the requirement for a domestic and international criminal history check remains unchanged.
What does this change mean for overseas-trained doctors?
Registration for overseas-trained doctors will automatically be finalised without you having to make a return trip to Australia! Medicare provider number applications take approximately 1-3 months to process, and we cannot submit them until your ID check is done. However now we will be able to submit them straight away, so you’ll be able to commence working in Australia shortly after your arrival, saving you a lot of time and money!
Thinking of making the move to Australia? Now it’s even easier – contact the team at Wavelength today.
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