For qualified medical doctors, Australia is offering a range of exciting career opportunities. Due to staff shortages, the national government, as well as individual states and territories, are relaxing the immigration laws to welcome suitably qualified or training medical professionals to enter the country to play an active role in providing quality health care provision. According to Dr Bruce Swanson of the South Australian Department of Health, policies to encourage people from overseas to fill available medical jobs in Australia is the only logical solution, especially in the short to long term.

In a recent paper released by Dr Swanson, he postulates that a major undersupply of doctors and other medical staff is the underlying reason for not achieving the desired benefits and goals of the public health system. He goes further to highlight that under the current policy conditions, between 3,000 and 4,000 doctors are required to meet the ongoing demands of public health. Accordingly, only 1,800 Australians complete medical school each year at present, leaving a deficit of 1,000 to 2,000 per annum which must be filled by temporary and permanently migrating doctors. Additionally, this trend will continue to exacerbate in the future, with an estimated 30% to 50% of the Australians medical workforce in the foreseeable future coming by way of imported talent. The figures in proportion, are much the same applied to the various positions within the medical fraternity.

An additional complicating factor in providing healthcare in Australia is the sheer size and landmass of the country, with many people living in rural and sometime remote locations, away from the centralised health services based in cities. In response to this, there are increasing numbers of medical jobs available in Australia that are not only located within the main centres, but opportunities to secure positions in more relaxed, rural and scenic settings.

Recent events including natural resource booms, families and retirees moving away from the cities and increasing domestic tourism have led to large numbers of potential patients moving outside the major hubs of healthcare provision. Many are considered to be high users of healthcare services, as a large proportion are elderly and most are away from their usual support networks. In response to these factors, increased wage offerings and support from territorial government is encouraging more healthcare professionals to accept and embrace medical jobs in rural and outback Australia.

No matter if you are a city slicker, a weekend camper or a roaming spirit, the range of medical jobs in various locations in Australia will suit your lifestyle.