IMG Rover

Everything you need to know before and after arriving at Northern Health

Moving to a new country to start a new job is a lot. Add Australian paperwork on top and you’d be forgiven for wanting to hide under your hospital scrubs. Don’t. We’ve got you. This Rover collects the most useful things to know for IMGs joining Northern Health. It’s not exhaustive — so always double-check the official sources at the back. If anything in this document is wrong, outdated, or missing, we want to know.
Table of Contents

Onboarding Process

When your offer lands, an onboarding pack lands with it. There is a lot in it. Some bits need you to physically be in Australia, but most can be started from home — and you don’t get paid until it’s done.

Before you fly:

  • AMC verifies your identity and qualifications.
  • AHPRA Registration online (long — start it early).
  • Certified copies of passport and degree, notarised.
  • Certificate of Good Standing from every regulator you’ve held registration with.
  • Police check (UK applicants: ACRO).
  • CV in AHPRA format, signed and dated.
  • Offer of Employment + Position Description accepted and signed.
  • Valid English language competency proof as per AHPRA’s approved guidelines.
  • Apply for the appropriate visa.
  • Healthcare and Insurance.

It is important to note that certain countries provide Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) so you may be eligible for some Medicare cover. Medicare is Australia’s universal health insurance scheme. If you’re not covered by an RHCA, it’s highly recommended that you have private health insurance or even travel insurance policy to cover you for any hospital or medical treatment.

Ambulance Victoria Card

You may want to arrange ambulance cover, as some private health funds don’t include ambulance treatment. Medicare does not cover ambulance transport, and emergency call-outs can be expensive, so ensure you have adequate cover. Ambulance Victoria Membership: A$55/person/per year.

Dentist Cover

Dental work is not covered by Medicare and is quite expensive so consider adding this to your private health insurance.

Wallet Warm-Up

Rough guide to fees you’ll meet along the way: AMC verification on portal ~$500 · AHPRA provisional/limited registration ~$860 · Health check ~$700. Plus, notarising, police checks, flights and the Airbnb you’ll live in for the first fortnight. Visa applications are made to the Department of Home Affairs — fees vary by visa type.

The Flight Workaround

If your visa is dragging but AHPRA looks imminent, a tourist visa is a legitimate way to avoid rescheduling flights. Talk to medical workforce first.

Your People

Your workforce (email: northerndoctorsworkforce@nh.org.au), medical education unit (email: medicaleducationunit@nh.org.au) and IMG rep, are here to advocate for you. You are not the first person to feel overwhelmed, and you won’t be the last — so reach out early.

Different Pathways into AHPRA

Which one applies to you depends on where you are trained: medicalboard.gov.au/Registration/International-Medical-Graduates

Five registration pathways for International Medical Graduates

Figure 1: Five IMG registration pathways — Competent Authority, Standard, Specialist, Expedited Specialist, and Short term training. Competent Authority and Standard lead to general registration; Specialist and Expedited Specialist lead to specialist registration.

Competent Authority – Trained in UK, Ireland, NZ, USA or Canada. Your degree is recognised as equivalent to an Australian one.

Standard Pathway – Trained anywhere else. You must pass AMC exams (MCQ gives you limited registration, and both will give you provisional or general registration) or AMC MCQ + complete WBA for General registration. Note: No WBA at Northern Health currently.

Medical Board of Australia standard pathway flowchart

Figure 2: Standard pathway to general registration for IMGs. Shows primary qualification verification, AMC exams, supervised practice, performance reports, and final general registration.

Time to obtain general registration: 12 months if performing at the expected level as demonstrated by work based reports (WRIG-30) for 47 weeks FTE and completed the required mandatory rotations in Emergency, Medicine and Surgery. Often takes 1–3 years depending on exams and rotations.

Once You Arrive at TNH

  • Meet your IMG Affairs Coordinator — Kai Cooper — kai.cooper@nh.org.au
  • Discuss onboarding and mandatory training requirements
  • Receive ID Badge and IT access
  • Receive clearance from workforce to commence working

ORIG-30, WRIG-30 and IMG Assessments

There are a number of assessments required by AHPRA. It is YOUR responsibility to ensure you are proactively following up with your appointed AHPRA Principal Supervisor to arrange a time to complete these AHPRA assessments. It is important to remember that all AHPRA related documents need to be signed off by your Principal Supervisor ONLY.

On You, Not On Them – It will be YOUR responsibility to chase your AHPRA primary supervisor for these meetings. Diaries fill up fast — book a recurring slot early and you’ll thank yourself.

ORIG-30 – Orientation report to be completed at 3 months after initial commencement. One-time form to ensure you have been introduced to the structure of Australian healthcare. Completed with Principal Supervisor. Send copy to IMG Affairs Coordinator and submit to AHPRA via online upload portal.

WRIG-30 – Work performance report. Initial report submitted alongside ORIG-30 at 3 month mark. Then complete a new WRIG-30 after each term/rotation to track progress.

WRIG-30 Key Points:

  • Must be signed by AHPRA Principal Supervisor.
  • If you and supervisor don’t work in same specialty, complete IMG assessment form with Term Supervisor or Consultant.
  • Term supervisors listed on Northern Doctors website.
  • WRIGs cannot be done prospectively — “to” date cannot be in future.
  • Registrant sections need initials, not just ticks.
  • Send all AHPRA forms to Medical Workforce for filing.
  • Forms found on AHPRA website: medicalboard.gov.au/registration/forms.aspx
  • IMG assessment forms on NorthernDoctors website.

Things to Sort Out Once You Land

Provider & Prescriber Numbers

One prescriber number. Different provider number for each Northern Health site. Refer to list of TNH sites on your AHPRA approval. Apply immediately. Reach out to workforce if you have issues. Required to claim under Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). You can commence working without provider number but sooner is easier. More information: servicesaustralia.gov.au

Australian Mobile Phone Number

Required prior to work. Major providers: Optus, Telstra, Vodafone.

Tax File Number (TFN)

Apply for TFN from Australian Taxation Office (ATO) before starting work, although you can commence without one if application pending. TFN is unique identifier for Australian tax system. More information: ato.gov.au. Australia’s tax year runs 1 July to 30 June. All individuals must lodge tax return at end of financial year. Suggestion: Use accountant for first return.

Australian Bank Account

Needed to receive salary. Opening requires ID, personal details, proof of address. Major banks: Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank (NAB), ANZ, Westpac.

Salary Packaging

Way for employees to receive part of pay in benefits rather than cash, reducing taxable income. Reach out to Salary Packaging team directly. Can be set up at any point.

You can salary-package A$9,000 of rent or mortgage per financial year tax-free — roughly an extra A$3,000 in your pocket annually. There’s also a meals & entertainment card for restaurants.

Living in Melbourne

Housing

Melbourne rental market is competitive. View as many places as you can in first week. Be ready to offer slightly above listed price. Common websites: realestate.com.au, domain.com.au, flatmatefinders.com.au.

Have ready: self-description, proof of income, references from prior landlords. Bond + first month’s rent paid upfront via BPAY. Allow ~2 weeks Airbnb as buffer.

If need employer reference, use IMG affairs coordinator details: Kai Cooper — IMG Affairs Coordinator — 03 8405 8045 — kai.cooper@nh.org.au

Popular suburbs:

  • Epping Lalor – Closest to Northern Hospital; walkable, affordable rentals, multicultural community, major shopping and train access.
  • Thomastown Mill Park – Good transport links, family-friendly neighbourhoods, budget-friendly.
  • South Morang Wollert – Newer housing, train line, shopping and dining.
  • Mernda – Further out but newer homes and direct train line.

Transport

  • Melbourne has extensive public transport — bus, tram, train.
  • MYKI Card – Reloadable smart card. Buy at 7-Eleven. Fines ~A$270. Plan trips at ptv.vic.gov.au.
  • Driving on left. Hook turns in CBD. Speed cameras everywhere.
  • Buying a car – Roadworthy Cert required, rego may need renewing, VicRoads client number required.
  • Convert driving license to Victorian within 6 months via VicRoads.
  • E-scooters & bikes – Lime/Neuron, helmets mandatory.

Finding Your Way Around Northern Hospital

The Northern Hospital campus is large. These wayfinding aids are saved on the intranet and in the Medical Education Unit.

Northern Hospital Level 1 wayfinding map with wards and departments

Figure 3: Level 1 wayfinding map for Northern Hospital showing Emergency, Radiology, Surgery, wards, lifts, main entrances, and the alphanumeric grid system.

Northern Hospital comprehensive department directory

Figure 4: Department directory for Northern Hospital with location codes for Emergency, Medical Imaging, Specialist Clinics, Wards 1-23, Allied Health, and support services.

Where to Turn for Support

Registration & Pathways

Advocacy & Union

Wellbeing & Peer Support

Medical Indemnity – Avant, MIPS, MDA National

Northern-Specific

Acronyms: AHPRA – Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency; AMC – Australian Medical Council; APRI – Application for Provisional Registration; ORIG-30 – Orientation Report; WRIG-30 – Work Performance Report; WBAT – Work-Based Assessment Testing; TNH – The Northern Hospital; JMO/HMO – Junior/Hospital Medical Officer; PMCV – Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria; SPPA – Supervised Practice Plan/Agreement.

Northern Health Sites:

  • Northern Hospital Epping – 185 Cooper Street, Epping VIC 3076
  • Northern Specialist Care – 230 Cooper Street, Epping VIC 3076
  • Bundoora Centre – 1231 Plenty Road, Bundoora VIC 3083
  • Kilmore District Hospital – 1 Anderson Road, Kilmore VIC 3764
  • Broadmeadows Hospital – 35 Johnstone Street, Broadmeadows VIC 3047
  • Craigieburn Community Hospital – 121 Lygon Drive, Craigieburn VIC 3064
  • Mernda Community Hospital – 35 Flourmill Drive, Mernda VIC 3754
Thank you for reading. We hope this Rover makes the first few months feel less like a paperwork triathlon. If you spot anything wrong, outdated, or missing, we want to know. Send feedback to medicaleducationunit@nh.org.au with subject “IMG Handbook Feedback”.