New Zealand offers more than career opportunities—it offers peace of mind. The 2025 Global Peace Index ranks New Zealand third worldwide, reflecting exceptional performance across societal safety, political stability, and low levels of conflict. Its Global Peace Index score of 1.282 places it firmly among the world’s most secure nations. This top-ranking position underscores…
From left to right – Taylor, Debbie, Chris, Angela & Rachael
When healthcare professionals choose to relocate across continents, their decision often reflects more than career advancement – it’s also about finding purpose, balance, and a sense of belonging. For Sri Lankan couple Subhashini and her husband, securing roles in South Australia offered not only competitive remuneration and meaningful career progression, but also a welcoming community…
If you’re a radiologist trained in the UK and are exploring opportunities to work in Australia, here’s the latest update on the recognition of your qualifications. The Medical Board of Australia has taken further steps in assessing international specialist qualifications as part of its commitment to maintaining high standards in medical practice across the country.…
International medical graduates (IMGs) planning to work in Australia or New Zealand now need to use MyIntealth, the new system launched by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). This platform replaces the previous EPIC service for verifying medical qualifications. MyIntealth explained MyIntealth is a new online portal where doctors can: Upload and verify…
Medical professionals across New Zealand are navigating a time of change and challenge. Whether you’re a junior doctor or a senior specialist, the demands of the job can be intense—long hours, stress and the emotional toll from high-stakes patient care. As the healthcare landscape evolves and demands increase, there’s growing recognition of the need to…
The Medical Council of New Zealand now recognises Chile, Luxembourg and Croatia as having health systems comparable to New Zealand’s to apply for provisional general registration via the Comparable Health System pathway. You can apply for registration through this pathway if you have recent experience in a comparable health system. The council currently recognises 29…
RANZCR’s latest edition of Inside News is out now! The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists have released their quarterly publication of Inside News – June 2025 edition. Featured articles include ASM Countdown, Lungs in Focus and 90 Years Young. Our specialised recruitment team at Hospital Staff Solutions is ready to provide advice. Our…
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) has launched a new Defined Scope of Practice Pathway for International Medical Graduates (IMGs). This initiative creates an additional route for qualified overseas-trained specialists to contribute to Australia’s healthcare workforce. Operating alongside the existing specialist assessment process, this pathway allows IMGs to be assessed…
The New Zealand Government has announced a new visa option to help families spend more time together. From 29 September 2025, eligible parents of New Zealand citizens or residents will be able to apply for the new Parent Boost Visitor Visa. What is the Parent Boost Visitor Visa? This is a long-term visitor visa that…
You may have heard that AHPRA has launched the Expedited Specialist Pathway for internationally qualified Psychiatrists who meet the eligibility criteria, and we’re here to help! Through this pathway, Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) holding an eligible qualification can apply directly to AHPRA for specialist registration, bypassing the need for an expensive and time-consuming specialist…
To get a Skills in Demand (SID) Subclass 482 visa approved, the job must be genuine and full-time. The nominee must be employed under a written contract, and a copy of this signed contract must be given to the Department. This is required for the 482 nomination to be approved and is enforced by condition…
Changing employers in Australia is possible while holding a Skills in Demand (SID) or Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 visa but there are specific conditions and procedures to follow. Condition 8607 As a primary holder of a 482 visa, you must: Work only in your nominated occupation. Work only for your sponsoring employer (or…
From 01 July 2024, changes have been made to visa conditions which impacts holders of the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa. This change is part of the Australian Government’s Migration Strategy. They aim to tackle worker exploitation and boost productivity by enhancing the job flexibility of temporary migrants. This update to the visa rule…
RANZCR’s latest edition of Inside News is out now! The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Radiologists have released their quarterly publication of Inside News – June 2024 edition. Updates on proton therapy, SABR and more; Reframing the future of AI; Exploring RANZCR’s 2025-2040 horizons.
Australia’s Medical Board, through AHPRA, has announced a new fast-track registration process for internationally trained medical specialists. This initiative aims to address healthcare shortages by recognising comparable overseas qualifications more efficiently, aiding quicker integration into the Australian health system. Key Points: The program will initially focus on general practitioners, anaesthetists, obstetricians and gynaecologists, and…
Where would we be without them? International Nurses’ Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. It’s a chance to acknowledge our highly skilled and committed nurses’ daily work to deliver excellent healthcare. Nurses have always been the healthcare mainstay; midwives, theatre nurses, ED experts, nurse…
If you are a medical practitioner and a UK citizen, take full advantage of the reciprocal health agreement with New Zealand, reducing the need for some health insurance. New Zealand has a high reliance on overseas-trained radiologists, psychiatrists and emergency medicine physicians. Doctors coming from the UK acclimatise well to the NZ health…
RANZCR’s latest edition of Inside News is out now! The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Radiologists have released their quarterly publication of Inside News – March 2024 edition. Meet the College’s newest AM recipient. Discover the science of goal setting and how ambition affects wellbeing. Learn more about the 2024 research, awards,…
We are looking for radiologists, psychiatrists, GPs or emergency medicine specialists trained in the UK, Canada or USA to work short-term in Australia and New Zealand. If you’re looking for career flexibility, diverse experiences, or personal growth, locum work offers exciting pathways to explore possibilities that lie beyond the confines of your daily routine. Exploring…
AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) has announced regulatory changes to fast-track international practitioners, notably the abolition of in-person ID checks. From 18 December 2023, the requirement for in-person identity checks in Australia has been eliminated, signaling a shift towards more…
Join Hospital Staff Solutions on a festive journey through some of our top New Zealand holiday destinations for our doctors to visit. Most of our medical specialists who have newly arrived in New Zealand this year will be looking forward to their first Kiwi summer. Many of our doctors are excited to be trading…
The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa lets skilled workers whom their employer nominates to live and work in Australia permanently. While the general age requirement for this visa is that applicants must be under 45 years old at the time of application, several exceptions can allow some workers, including medical practitioners, to qualify for…
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), hosts conversations and interviews with people in the community through their podcast Taking Care. Discussions include current issues, common questions, addressing myths and what can be done to best protect the public and support the safe delivery of healthcare in Australia. In Taking Care episode 65 ‘Coming to…
As a medical specialist considering a new position, it’s important to ask relevant questions at a job interview to check the position and work environment align with your professional goals and expectations. Together with the employer finding out about you, make sure you leave the interview feeling informed about the position. Here are some questions…
Meeting health requirements is an essential part of the visa application process for Australia. The health requirement is in place to protect public health and prevent undue strain on the Australian healthcare system. The specific health assessments you need to undergo can vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for and your…
New Zealand is still a popular choice for overseas doctors, and with an aging population and a shortage of skilled medical professionals, there is a growing demand for skilled and experienced overseas medical specialists. Many New Zealanders typically head overseas after finishing their training, to pursue post graduate fellowships, overseas opportunities or to travel the…
Hospital Staff Solutions will be attending this year’s Royal College of Psychiatrists International Congress in Liverpool, 10-13 July 2023. If you’re a Psychiatrist looking to move to New Zealand or Australia, visit our exhibition stand to meet Angela and Rachael – our team of specialist recruiters. Hospital Staff Solutions have been around for…
When applying for a medical specialist job in New Zealand or Australia, employers are looking for key information that indicates you have the qualifications, training and experience to transition to a position in their department. If you haven’t applied for a job for a long time, creating your CV/resume can be a daunting task, especially…
What you need to know… The Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) 482 visa is a temporary, employer sponsored visa for skilled foreign workers employed in specified occupations and allows employers to sponsor workers with suitable skills and qualifications where a suitable Australian worker cannot be sourced. Applicants must be working full time (at least 38 hours…
How to prevent burnout and prioritise your wellness as a medical professional. A career in medicine is more than just a job, it’s a lifestyle, and while it’s an incredible privilege to help and support patients and their families through some of their toughest challenges, it can take a toll on you if you let…
To attract skilled healthcare professionals, New Zealand introduced a Green List Immigration policy that targets overseas medical specialists. This makes it easier for them and their families to immigrate and work in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand has long been a preferred destination for overseas medical specialists seeking to further their careers and experience a…
Forbe Advisor have ranked the world’s cities for best work-life balance. Auckland, New Zealand is placed 5th and is the first city outside of Europe to rank in the top 10 in the Work-Life Balance Index for 2023. Many factors were analysed, including average working hours, minimum annual leave, sunlight hours and proportion of remote…
Last week has been a big one for our government here in Aotearoa New Zealand. Following Jacinda Adern’s resignation as Prime Minister, we welcome our new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, who hasn’t wasted any time in reshuffling some key ministerial portfolios. This is positive news for the health sector, with Dr Ayesha Verrall moving into…
The number of internationally trained practitioners arriving to work in Australia is rising back to pre-pandemic levels, supporting a surge in graduates and bolstering the nation’s largest-ever health workforce. In the first three months of 2022-23, new applications for International Medical Graduate registration have risen by 56 percent. To support this surge, Ahpra (the registration…
As we look forward to 2023, we wish you all the best during this festive season and hope you get to spend time with those nearest and dearest to you. Have a safe and happy holiday from all of us at Hospital Staff Solutions 🙂
The New Zealand summer is beckoning and with the borders now fully open, why not consider a sabbatical or working holiday in 2023? If you are medical specialist currently working in the United Kingdom, Canada or USA, we have opportunities for 6, 12 or 24 month locum contracts, where you can immerse yourself in ‘Kiwi’…
Kevin is a USA-trained Consultant Psychiatrist originally from Texas and had been living in Washington State until moving to New Zealand. In November 2021 Kevin and his partner relocated to live and work in Wellington, New Zealand. The young professional couple were keen to embark on an overseas adventure and specifically decided on New Zealand having visited previously and as Kevin states,…
Our specialist doctors will be pleased to know that Immigration NZ has increased the number of parent resident visas granted each year and reduced the income thresholds. Michael Wood, NZ’s Immigration Minister, says they “recognise the importance for migrants resettling here to have a pathway for their parents to join them” and that “re-starting the…
Exploring New Zealand as a tourist is quite different from deciding where to settle; but what you experience as a doctor visiting Rotorua, you can also enjoy as a resident! One of our Specialist Radiologists, who moved from South Africa to Auckland at the beginning of 2020, chose to move from Auckland to Rotorua when…
Hot of the press is the news that overseas medical specialists wanting to move to New Zealand can fast track their pathway to residence from 4th July 2022. Immigration NZ has announced that overseas doctors 55 years and younger can arrive on a work visa from July 4th then apply for residence from September 2022.…
In case you missed the memo, international doctors who are working in Australia can now more easily stay permanently. The government has recognised the contribution that medical specialists have made during the COVID-19 pandemic and is encouraging them to apply for permanent residence. Doctors are highly valued, and retaining international medical graduates will greatly help…
Hospital Staff Solutions has been around for well over a decade, placing medical specialists in jobs across Australia and New Zealand, and helping doctors and their families relocate to this beautiful part of the world. Rachael Allan joined Angela and Rachel nearly two years ago and is our specialist Psychiatrist and Clinical Psychologist recruiter for…
Medical specialists who have been hesitant to make the move to New Zealand because of border restrictions, the MIQ system and the unknown of when they can see their extended family, now have more certainty and can plan with confidence. The MIQ isolation system made it difficult and uncertain for people to visit family overseas…
As we start the new year, thankfully we’re back on track with NZ’s borders open to medical specialists. International flights are also resuming from South Africa for medical specialists considering NZ to live and work in 2022. If you’re a doctor who has been waiting for the “right time” to come, that time is now!…
Changes to New Zealand’s border restrictions means the end of New Zealand MIQ for medical specialists overseas who want to come to NZ to live or to locum. The MIQ system for critical health workers has been a laborious hit and miss situation and will finally come to a close for fully vaccinated medical specialists…
For international medical specialists waiting to travel to Australia, the good news is that after 18 months their international borders are finally open. As Australia takes steps to gradually lift restrictions, doctors due to start in a medical specialist or AON position can enter the country and start their new jobs. In addition, fully vaccinated…
If you’re a doctor already working in New Zealand or you’re a specialist doctor wanting to come to NZ before July 2022, we’ve made the application requirements a little easier for you to follow. Here we’ve extracted what you need to know about NZ residence for specialist doctors from Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) recently published…
If you’re a doctor looking to come and live and work in New Zealand, you may be wondering about how to go about finding a rental property or what location to live in. We’ve compiled some helpful information and links to give you an overview about rental accommodation in New Zealand. Finding a rental There…
You have your Medical Council registration, your job lined up, Critical Purpose Visitor Visa, flights on standby… now just to get a place in managed isolation! You’re ready to come and your employer wants you to start in November/ December, or early 2022 at the latest. You’ve tried, without success to book a place via…
Radiologists, what a great opportunity to find out about working in Australia or New Zealand! This week Angela and Rachel are attending the American College of Radiology Virtual Career Fair. If you or any Radiologist colleagues are interested in a no obligation chat about jobs in New Zealand or Australia, please feel welcome to register…
Although the New Zealand border remains closed to non-residents or citizens, you may still be able to enter the country if you have a critical purpose for coming such as a health or disability worker. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/covid-19/border-closures-and-exceptions/entry-to-new-zealand/critical-purpose-reasons-you-can-travel-to-new-zealand#critical-health-workers If you are deemed a Critical Health Worker and been offered a job you can apply for a critical purpose visa. This is…
After months of uncertainty, New Zealand and Australia’s trans-tasman bubble will open meaning quarantine-free travel from Monday 19th April 2021. This is fantastic news for many people who have loved ones on both sides of the Tasman, as well as a much-needed boost for our economic recovery. Eligibility and criteria for quarantine free travel between…
It’s hard to believe that we are now into October, with Christmas just around the corner. This has been the year of constant changes with the most recent centered around mandatory isolation. For anyone travelling to New Zealand and arriving from 3 November onwards, you will legally be required to have a voucher for managed…
It is certainly a different world we live in now, where meticulous planning of any travel is required – especially international travel. Border restrictions are now common place around the world, in the hope of reducing the spread of the virus which has caused havoc globally. Currently anyone arriving into New Zealand will have to…
Immigration New Zealand have recently updated information about exceptions to border closures, including those deemed critical health workers from overseas who are not New Zealand citizens or residents. From the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) site: “Critical health and disability workers are current or new (start date March to 31 December 2020) employees who hold a…
New Zealand immigration recently extended the exemption for border closures to the 31st August 2020. This applies to critical health workers who may be current or new employees (start date March to 31 August 2020) delivering critical services within the NZ health and disability system. For more detail click the following link: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/covid-19/border-closures-and-exceptions As most…
We did it! After months of restrictions due to COVID-19, New Zealand has now moved to Alert Level 1. New Zealand has seen no new reported cases of the virus in the past few weeks, putting us in a rare category of countries who have managed to eradicate COVID-19. For the majority of the population…
April 2020 It’s certainly been a surreal few months as we adapt to a new ‘norm’ during the COVID-19 pandemic. In New Zealand where we are currently based, the Hospital Staff Solutions team have joined much of the population who are in isolation and working from home. For those front-line staff who continue to provide…