AUSTRALIA LOCUMING INFORMATION

If you want warm weather and a great range of locuming options, Australia could be the place for you! There is a great range of locum work available in most specialties! Locum work is available in the major centres and also in the rural areas.

It’s easy to get longer term locum placements if that’s what you want, or if it’s shorter placements you’re after, these are also achievable.

We have placements available in smaller hospitals where you can gain fantastic hands on experience and we have locum placements available in the major centres. Whatever you’re looking for, we can make it happen for you.

So if you’re after a beach holiday that’s paid for by the hospital, or you want to experience the metropolitan buzz of Australia’s amazing cities, all you have to do is contact MedRecruit and we’ll make it happen for you.

There is a bit to know about locuming in Australia that we’ll cover here:

Medical registration in Australia for locums – New Zealand and Australian graduates

In Australia, you need general medical registration in the state that you are working in.

As a New Zealand or Australian graduate you are eligible for this after your first year practicing as a doctor.

If you’re a New Zealand graduate, MedRecruit will give you all the necessary paperwork for the state you’re going to work and we’ll make it as easy as possible.

Check out the resource in the ‘FREE Resources’ section for more info.

Tax in Australia for locums

The tax year in Australia finishes on June 30 every year.

Enrolling for a Tax File Number (TFN)

To work in Australia you need a TFN. You can apply for this when you are in Australia. Once your application has been submitted you are considered a TFN holder and are eligible to start work pending the actual number.

It is easy to apply for a TFN online by visiting www.ato.gov.au. Select ‘For individuals’ -located on the left hand side of the screen, then go to ‘Apply for a tax file number’, then ‘Online individual tax file number (TFN) registration’.

Income Tax

In all hospitals in NSW and in most other Australian hospitals, locum doctors will go on the hospital payroll. This means that tax is PAYG (Pay As You Go). If you are not working a full year in Australia, or if your time there crosses more than two tax years, you should be able to claim a lot of this back at the end of the tax year (June 30). We recommend getting an Australian accountant to process you tax return.

Payment for locum work in Australia

Doctors working in NSW are paid on hospital payroll. If you are contracting MedRecruit will pay you seven working days after receiving your timesheet. Therefore, as soon as you have finished each assignment (or each fortnight if the job is longer than two weeks), submit your time sheet plus evidence of other agreed expenses e.g. taxis. Filling out the online timesheet is the best way to expedite this process. Let us know if you are GST registered.

Pay Packaging

Pay packaging is a fantastic Australian invention that will be offered at some of the hospitals we offer placement at, even if you are a locum (for placements greater then 3 months). Essentially it allows people up to $9000 of income to be tax free if you can account for it with relevant receipts, of which paying off a credit card is one of them. Even if you are there for less than a year you can compress the full amount into the time you are there, thereby drastically reducing your tax bill.

GST in Australia

As most doctors will be going onto the hospital payroll it is not necessary to register for GST. If you are not going onto the payroll you must be GST registered if your annual turnover for this month and the last eleven months has exceeded $75,000 and your turnover for this month and the next eleven months is expected to exceed $75,000.

Disclaimer

Information contained in this document is provided in good faith and is believed to be accurate at the time of publication. While all care is taken in the preparation of this document MedRecruit cannot be responsible for unintentional errors, omissions or changes in circumstances subsequent to publication. You are advised to consult your personal accountant when it comes to tax matters.