We’ve spent a number of years advising and supporting doctors moving to New Zealand. Naturally, uplifting your life to a new country can be an overwhelming experience; there is so much to consider and organise- both practically and psychologically.

We asked a few new Docs what they thought and came up with these top picks. These are websites that they found most useful for information about the medical sector in New Zealand, immigration, the economy and our political environment, finding a place to rent or buy (and the furniture to go inside!), and most importantly having fun!

1.       Medical Council of New Zealand: If you can’t get registration you can’t work in NZ!

https://www.mcnz.org.nz/

2.       Immigration New Zealand: Figure out which is the best work visa for you and your family.

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/

3.       Curious about how our country ticks? Everything you need to know is here, from tax rates to schools to environmental policy.

https://www.govt.nz/

4.       TradeMe: The one stop online shop for real estate, rentals, cars, boats and all the new and used goods you can think of. Have a browse.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/

5.       Eventfinder: The main place to find out what’s happening at a town near you; family events, concerts, holiday programmes.

http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/

You can be assured that the resources are out there to support you in your move.  We are aware, however, that while your own research is great, there is no substitute for real, local knowledge, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’re a doctor thinking about a move to NZ!

• 2-4 week blocks available
  
• AU$2500 – 3000 per day
  
• Accommodation and airfares paid
  
• RANZCR qualified (or RANZCR eligible considered)
  

We’re looking for expressions of interest from general Radiologists available to cover locum shifts for an established private practice in Perth, Western Australia. Our client is recognised for its excellence in providing consistent, caring and professional services, and utilising advanced, state of the art imaging technology.

You could work at a number of their community-based branches, which provide comprehensive radiology services in the southern suburbs of Perth. There is flexibility to accommodate specific skills and experience. The work is general radiology - plain x-rays, CTs, ultrasounds and imaging-guided procedures. Mammography experience is preferred but not essential.

Ideally these assignments will suit RANZCR qualified Radiologists.  Candidates who are RANZCR eligible (i.e. have been working in New Zealand for at least two years) are encouraged to apply.

Email angela.shaw@hospitalstaff.co.nz or phone +64 9 446 3330 for more information.

• 8 weeks (28 October – 21 December 2014)
  
• Great hourly rate
  
• Accommodation and transport 
  

We are looking for an emergency medicine doctor to fill an urgent upcoming requirement at Thames Hospital in New Zealand.  Thames is a small town nestled at the mouth of the Coromandel Pennisula one of NZ’s most stunning coastal locations. The area is renowned for its fishing, diving and all things seafood, in addition pristine beaches, breathtaking hikes, bushwalks and natural native scenery. 

The sucessful applicant will need to have sound experience working in an automonous capacity within an ED environment.  Thames hospital is a 48 bed rural hospital providing general surgical Assessment, Treatment & Rehabilitation and medical services. It has a busy Emergency department with a broad case mix of approximately 14,000 patients per annum. The hospital has recently had a rebuild and features a brand new emergency department with two fully equipped resuscitation bays as well as a small short stay unit and monitored beds.

If you have some availability over the next 2 months to spend some or all of the time at Thames Hospital please contact Angela Shaw – 0275 463330

When you think about New Zealand, what may come to mind is our enormous outdoor adventure playground, the beauty of our lakes and mountains, or the long sandy white beaches with barely a soul in sight.

You may also think that jobs for doctors are mostly in the main centres of Auckland, Wellington Christchurch or Dunedin.

The reality is that we currently have a number of positions in our regional centres, where the lifestyle is laid back and the cost of living is low. The beauty of living and working in small town New Zealand is that you will gain a sense of balance between work and family life whilst doing what you love. You’ll also be close to all that you dream of; with lakes, rivers, mountains, beaches and wineries on your doorstep.

Coromandel
Renowned for its natural beauty - rural farmland, misty rainforests and pristine golden beaches, The Coromandel is blessed with hundreds of natural hideaways, making it an ideal place to escape, relax and unwind (taken from http://www.thecoromandel.com/) . Thames is nestled in the heart of the Coromandel and you’d be living and working in one of the most beautiful and relaxed places in NZ.

Taupo
Sitting in the middle of the North Island, on the edge of Lake Taupo, this town is a thriving tourism hub and close to many of New Zealand’s great sites and activities. Whether you enjoy skiing, fishing, boating, or hiking, you’ll find it all in Taupo. Visit http://www.greatlaketaupo.com/ for more about the Taupo lifestyle.

Northland
You will be spellbound by the magic of the Northland region; an area where you are never more than 30 minutes from the most glorious beaches and coastline you can imagine. Many people live at the beach and easily commute to work. In summer everyone flocks to Northland with their caravans and boats and the holiday vibe makes it a fantastic place to be. Visit http://www.northlandnz.com/ for some stunning photos and information.

ED Physicians
ED physicians provide just as vital a service in our smaller towns as they do in the big smoke. Most hospitals in small towns provide healthcare for a significant regional population. Working in these close knit communities, you’ll be truly valued for what you do and you can really make a difference.

We need board eligible ED physicians who are interested in relocating to New Zealand permanently or for a short-term period of 6 – 12 months. These positions would ideally be suited to doctors who perhaps are waiting to sit their boards or have trained in another specialty however chosen to work in Emergency medicine.  You will need to have had at least three years emergency medicine experience in the USA, Canada, UK or other comparable health system. 

A competitive salary package, relocation assistance and an unbeatable lifestyle are on offer. Benefits include 6 weeks paid vacation leave, 2 weeks CME leave, 2 weeks public holidays, 25% non clinical time, 40 hour weeks and a tax rate of 33%. 

Contact us here for more information about jobs in regional New Zealand.

Permanent Position

New Zealand is a young thriving country of 4.5 million people offering stunning natural scenery, a mild climate and culturally diverse communities.

The low cost of living, low population and government funded healthcare makes NZ an affordable and relaxed practice environment. You will gain a sense of balance between work and family life whilst doing what you love – caring for people!

We have a general Radiologist position available in the sunny Hawke’s Bay region, on the east coast of the North Island, where the lifestyle is laid back and the cost of living is low. Blessed with a Mediterranean-style climate, Hawke's Bay is one of New Zealand's warmest, driest areas. Full of Art Deco character and agricultural heritage, the Hawke's Bay region's wineries, orchards and artisan food producers make for an enviable lifestyle.

We are looking for someone interested in relocating to New Zealand permanently or for a minimum period of 12 months. Applicants will be general Radiologists with subspecialty training and interest in breast, MSK and MRI.  If you are an International Medical Graduate working in Australia, you may be eligible to work unrestricted as a specialist in New Zealand.

A competitive salary package, relocation assistance and an unbeatable lifestyle are on offer.  If this sounds like something you would like to pursue then contact Angela Shaw, email: angela.shaw@hospitalstaff.co.nz or phone: 64 9 4463330, to find out more. 

Whether you want to pick up the odd shift or to change your lifestyle entirely……locum work has the flexibility for you to work as much or as little as you like. The pay isn’t too bad either!

If you feel like a change, locum jobs can be just as rewarding and challenging as permanent jobs, with the bonus of being able to move on or take a holiday in between. It’s also valuable work experience; providing you with opportunities to expand your horizons and keep up to date without compromising your career.

If you are already working as a doctor in New Zealand or Australia, picking up some extra work is easy.  It’s a straightforward process to register with us for locum work. Of course there’s a bit of paperwork; in the best interests of both you and our clients we need the relevant information to place you in the right jobs.

If you are a doctor with comparable qualifications and experience from overseas looking for an opportunity to work and travel, locum work is ideal. See if you are able to locum through us and experience all that New Zealand and Australia have to offer.

When you locum with Hospital Staff Solutions, you receive a high touch, personal service. Our specialised consultants have strong professional networks across NZ and Australia and knowledge of the best locum jobs. We minimise the paperwork and optimise your opportunities to achieve the work/ life balance you desire. Contact us now for more information!

We're currently looking for Radiologists available to locum in Tasmania. Take a look at our job board for details: Jobs in Australia

So, why might you like to locum in Tasmania? What will blow you away about the place is the wilderness, the astonishing coastline and the island's remoteness.

It's quite hard to explain the sheer scale of Tasmania. There are huge gorges, fast-flowing rivers and long stretches of untouched forest and coastline. More than 40 per cent of it is protected in national parks and World Heritage Areas.

Its coastal waters are among the clearest of all temperate seas, with forests of 30m kelp. Some of the inland caves contain Aboriginal rock art dating back 12,000 years.

Ten years ago, the island was an unknown quantity as far as tourism was concerned. Now it's a popular place to visit to relax and rejuvenate.

It is the sort of place that just nurtures you. The air and water are so pure, the wilderness so vast, the sea so clean. You are also surrounded, day after day, by intense beauty and the chance to engage with nature properly. You get to see all kinds of animals, from wallabies outside your bedroom to black cockatoos flying through the forest canopy.

When you're out canoeing you might pass offshore islands that are havens for wildlife, and birds soaring above fluted cliffs that tower 3000m above the sea.

Hobart

We can't write about Tasmania without talking about it's capital, Hobart. Everyone loves Hobart, particularly Salamanca Place with its cobbles, pavement cafes, and old harbour. After decades in the shadow of Sydney and Melbourne’s food scene, Hobart has come into its own and now has a successful Taste Festival. Talented young chefs are using fresh, locally sourced produce such as paua, oysters, ocean trout, berries and organic vegetables to create a distinctive Taswegian cuisine. People rave about Monty's on Montpelier, Me Wah, Smolt and the new gourmet sensation, Garagistes, which serves unusual things such as smoked eels and fried pig's ears. You can even get a good English-style pint at Preachers, which is just up the hill from Salamanca Place.

Tasmania has its fair share of culture and sport as well. Among the highlights are MONA, a world-class private art gallery in Hobart, and a magical golf links called Barnbougle Dunes, near Bridport. Also worth seeing are some of the oldest convict ruins at Port Arthur.

Parts of this article taken from NZ Herald article by Mark Webber, March 6 2014

ED doctors, are you looking for a change of scenery? Out of the busyness of Brisbane city, close to the coast and everything that sunny, warm Queensland has to offer, this is an opportunity for you to locum in a modern, well equipped 194 bed hospital. We'd like  a start date within the next couple of months if possible, with availability for up to a year.

Why not take some time out, experiencing all that Queensland has to offer! You can work and have plenty of time to explore the Queensland region (and the rest of Aussie too).

We could tell you all about Queensland.....or leave it to the experts....look at this fantastic article! Click here to read all about the Spirit of Queensland.....

Opportunities like this don't come along often so get in touch now to find out how we can help you locum in Australia. We are with you every step of the way, assisting with your Medical Council application and relocation.

Over a third of New Zealand's population lives in the Auckland region. It’s a diverse city, and you can enjoy a cosmopolitan lifestyle or live on the outskirts of the city centre and have the best of both worlds.

Surrounded by water and islands, Auckland is a great place to anchor your working life and make the most of everything on offer; the cuisine, culture and coastal scenery, the newly revitalised waterfront districts like the Wynyard Quarter, and hip shopping and dining precincts like City Works Depot and Britomart.

Close by are the wild west coast beaches and the Hauraki Gulf and islands, including beautiful Waiheke Island and its vineyard restaurants.

Auckland made the list of the Lonely Planet’s world’s top cities for 2014 alongside Paris, Zurich, Shanghai and Vancouver, so it’s in good company. Auckland’s packed calendar of festivals and events, the vibrant Māori and Pacific culture, and impressive line-up of major sporting events all got special mention too.

So, what about work? Auckland is served by four busy public hospitals, several private hospitals (including Mercy Ascot, the largest private hospital in NZ) and many private clinics. There are usually a number of job opportunities for Doctors and other health professionals on offer at any given time. Here’s an overview.

North and West Auckland

Waitemata District Health Board (DHB) serves the largest DHB population in the country - more than 560,000 people. It is also the second fastest growing of New Zealand's 20 DHBs.

Waitemata DHB employs around 6,800 people in more than 30 different locations and manages a budget of over a billion dollars a year, serving residents of North Shore City, Waitakere City and the Rodney district.

Waitemata DHB operates North Shore Hospital, on the shores of Lake Pupuke in Takapuna, and Waitakere Hospital in west Auckland. 

Central Auckland

Auckland District Health Board is a major provider of health care services to people domiciled in the district and to people from elsewhere.

They have approximately 10,000 staff employed in the provider arm which equates to a little over 8,000 full-time equivalent positions (FTE).

Auckland DHB has three major facilities: Auckland City Hospital (Grafton) which is New Zealand's largest public hospital, Greenlane Clinical Centre (Greenlane) and the Buchanan Rehabilitation Centre (Pt Chevalier). Each year they have approximately 150,000 inpatient events, 100,000 First Specialist Assessments, and 250,000 Follow-Up contacts.

Auckland City Hospital is New Zealand's largest public hospital as well as the largest clinical research facility. There are approximately one million patient contacts each year, including local hospital and outpatient services. The hospital has the largest elective surgery delivery system in New Zealand with 22,000 elective discharges, approximately 52% of which are for other DHB populations.

It's also the largest trainer of doctors in the country with approximately 1,477 medical staff of whom about 685 are in various stages of training.

South Auckland

Middlemore is the largest hospital operated by Counties Manukau DHB.  They offer secondary-level (hospital and specialist) care and a selected range of community and domiciliary services for the population of Counties Manukau - the area that stretches from Otahuhu to Port Waikato.

Middlemore Hospital is one of the largest tertiary teaching hospitals in New Zealand.  Annually, they admit more than 91,000 in-patients, and handle in excess of 354,000 day-patients and outpatient attendances.  They employ around 4,700 staff (4,100 full time equivalents).

The hospital provides niche specialist tertiary services for regional and national consumers in orthopaedic and plastic surgery, burns, spinal injury rehabilitation, renal dialysis, and neonatal intensive care.

Other Facilities include inpatient services at Kidz First Children's Hospital, the Manukau Surgery Centre, Pukekohe Hospital, Franklin Memorial Hospital, Botany Downs Maternity Unit and Papakura Maternity Unit as well as dedicated mental health and rehabilitation units.    Outpatient services are primarily provided at Manukau SuperClinic™ and Botany SuperClinic™.

(Information for this article provided from Auckland Tourism , DHB websites and Healthlink as at 21 March 2014)

For more information about current opportunities at these hospitals and private hospitals and clinics around Auckland, contact us now!

Welcome to Victoria, Australia

Victoria is located in the South-East of Australia, bordering the coast, and is the smallest mainland state. With a diverse range of lifestyle options, there's something for everyone in regional Victoria.

In this article we talk about options for ED Physicians and provide some links to the wealth of information available about living in Victoria (it's so fantastic, we'd quite like to move there ourselves!)

Victoria’s regional health services all offer competitive salaries and relocation or housing assistance. For ED Doctors, comparable FACEM qualifications are preferred, but Senior Medical Officers with at least three years post graduate experience are also welcome to contact us about opportunities in these hospitals.

We have positions in four of the main centres in the region, so you can take your pick!

Peninsula Health provides health services to the communities across Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, one of Australia’s premium beach locations.  

Their Emergency Departments treat 85000 presentations per year between two hospitals. Frankston Hospital, the larger tertiary level centre, is undergoing expansion which will incorporate a new ED to be completed in October 2014.  In addition to more beds, the new department will have brand new state of the art facilities and is being strategically designed to ensure better patient flow and shorter waiting times.

The lifestyle here is fantastic; Click Here for more information about Mornington Peninsula.

Euchuca Regional Health (ERH) is a public hospital in the port town of Euchuca- Moama, nestled alongside the famous Murray River, 2.5 hours north of Melbourne.  Euchuca-Moama offers a balanced lifestyle, excellent education facilities and state of the art entertainment facilities.

Their ED has approximately 16,000 presentations per annum and is supported by senior and junior medical officers and VMO staff.

Click Here for more information on what Euchuca-Moama has to offer.

Ballarat Health Service is located only 65 minutes’ drive north west of Melbourne and is Victoria’s largest inland city, with a population of about 96, 000. Ballarat, located strategically at the centre of some of Victoria's most important freight, tourist and commuter transport routes, offers affordable housing, no traffic, and lack of urban sprawl. 

Their hospital is a regional trauma service and receives referrals from throughout the Grampians Region. The ED has an annual attendance of 54,000 patients (27% paediatrics with an admission rate of 18%.)  This is a well-run department with good morale and excellent support staff.

Click Here for more information about Ballarat.

Albury Wodonga Health (AWH) is located in a unique regional centre - bridging two States and within easy access to the capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.  Albury-Wodonga offers relaxed country living with the facilities of a large modern city.  The area is a renowned gourmet food and wine region, with rich historical sites, a dynamic arts and cultural scene, and first-class health, education and sporting facilities.  It is also surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, including the Murray River and the Australian Alpine region. Together, the cities are home to over 90,000 people - one of the largest inland populations in Australia. 

Albury Wodonga Health is located on two sites, one in Albury, NSW, (formerly Albury Base Hospital) and the other in Wodonga, and combines 280 beds. Their two emergency departments are the Regional Trauma and Orthopaedic Centre for North East Victoria and the NSW catchment area and service a regional catchment population of 250,000.  The combined ED presentations per year are approximately 60,000 with 19% paediatric.

Click Here for more information about Albury Wodonga.

If you're an ED Physician looking for an exciting opportunity overseas please contact us!