April 2007

UK doctors eye Victoria

Young medical professionals in the United Kingdom have shown enthusiastic interest in moving to Victoria because of the Health careers for a healthy future recruitment campaign.

Minister for Health Bronwyn Pike said hundreds of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other health professionals visited the Victorian recruitment stand on the first day of the Opportunities Australia Expo.

Ms Pike was in London to launch the campaign roadshow that also took in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh during late March and early April.

‘Increasing competition for skilled health care professionals across Australia and internationally means it is vital that Victoria attracts doctors whose qualifications will be recognised in Australia,’ Ms Pike said.

‘The reason for targeting UK doctors is that there will soon be many practitioners out of work there.

‘From April last year National Health Service hospitals wanting to employ doctors from outside the European Union have to prove that a ‘home-grown’ doctor cannot fill the vacant place.

‘This means many international medical graduates undertaking postgraduate education can’t continue their training.

‘Many of these doctors would be ideal to recruit to Victorian hospitals.

‘It has been reported that around 30,000 junior doctors have applied for 22,000 specialist posts—leaving as many as 8,000 unemployed after July.

‘Because of the training similarities the doctors we recruit from the UK will meet the requirements to practise here,’ she said.